Creative hub at the art of community

With its distinctive grey slate spire, the Deutsche Evangelica Kirche (German Evangelical Church) is a striking feature on Great Horton Road. Bradford-born composer Frederick Delius’s parents were founding members and the family name appears in the building’s stained glass windows.

Now, thanks to a gesture of goodwill by the German congregation, the building has become a creative hub under the name the Delius Arts and Cultural Centre. It is home to regular exhibitions, music recitals and arts workshops. Artists rent studio space in the adjoining former vicarage.

Originally a Wesleyan school, the building was bought by members of Bradford’s German community in the late 19th century for use as a church.

The Grade II listed building is owned by the German Church, which now leases it to the arts centre. The seeds for the project were sown last year when the church started planning for its future. Church treasurer Claudia Powell carried out a feasibility study, consulting the congregation, arts organisations and businesses, and the response was in favour of a cultural centre. “If the building was sold, it would probably end up as a curry restaurant or nightclub,” says Claudia. “The German Church could sell the building and make a big profit, instead it is providing a centre for cultural and creative growth, ensuring that Bradford’s artistic talent is kept here in the city.

“The German Church is doing this to say thank-you to Bradford for helping its German population through troubled times.”

In 1933, the Bradforder Erklaerung (Bradford Declaration) was made and signed at the church. “Unlike churches in Germany, which were forced to support Nazism, German pastors in Britain declared they would have nothing to do with Nazism,” said Claudia.

Today, the aim is to unite communities through arts projects. The current focus is on refurbishment; the centre, run by a board of trustees and staffed by volunteers, is aiming to raise £350,000 for re-wiring, roof repairs, disabled toilets and an extension to the church hall.

The German Church has provided significant funding and applications have been made to the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative. The centre has been awarded £50,000 from Waste Recycling Environmental Limited.

“Our aim is to set up partnerships with arts organisations, the Council, Bradford College and theatres,” said Claudia. “One strength of this building is its central location; it’s close to the college, city centre and bus routes. Artists are queuing up to rent studios; it’s really taking off.” The centre opened earlier this autumn with the British Sari Story exhibition, featuring traditional and new sari designs. It included a slate grey design reflecting Yorkshire’s weather by Bradford student Ramim Nazir.

The colourful, beaded saris shimmering beneath the stained glass windows of the old German church was a striking sight. “The exhibition linked Bradford’s German and Asian populations and their contribution to the city,” said Irene Lofthouse, arts events co-ordinator. “It showed what an effective exhibition space this is. We took the pews out for the exhibition and stored them at the Alhambra. It’s still very much a working church – the German congregation meets here once a month – but it’s also a wonderful arts venue. The congregation has been so supportive.”

During my visit a party of schoolchildren arrived for a workshop. They tried on saris, then created their own designs, using traditional Indian block prints. The workshop was led by Pava Sembi from Bradford arts company Kala Sangam, who’s keen to develop events for schools and community groups here.

Other recent events included the premiere of Liquid Barium by Bradford composer Jonathan Brigg, performed as part of the Delius Inspired mini-festival, family workshops and a heritage trail focusing on the Delius connections.

On the wall is a montage of brightly-painted handprints, the result of a creative workshop called ‘Delius’s Dad’ exploring the notion of inheritance.

The autumn season continues with atmospheric installations by local artists responding to the church interior. Co-ordinating artist Shaeron Caton-Rose said: “I was interested in creating new ways of looking at the space and its spiritual quality, its architecture and the connection people have had with it over the years. Each artist has a different medium that will transform the interior, hopefully encouraging visitors and church users to explore their own responses.”

The exhibition is comprised of Presence by Eva Mileusnic – described as “atmospheric interference using smoke, sound and books” – and Winged by Rebecca Strain, who says, simply, “recycled paper makes angel wings”.

The events are a taster for what the Delius Centre will offer when it officially opens next year.

“The idea is to create a rolling programme of events over the next four years, culminating in 2012, the centenary of Delius’s birth,” said Irene. “We hope to start the refurbishment this autumn, then have a big launch in spring next year.”

There are also plans to support the development of creative, cultural businesses. “We’d like to set up arts enterprise and business workshops, helping artists set up initiatives and signposting them to agencies like Kickstart and Fabric,” said Irene. “The more facilities there are supporting artists in Bradford, the better chance we have of keeping them here.”

Eleven artists are currently renting rooms for studio space upstairs. Down in the cellar, more studios are planned. Every inch of the three-storey building is being put to use. In the vestry there’s a photographic exhibition by Tony O’Connell, who has a studio here. Called Acts of Kindness, it captures people around Bradford helping others. Subjects include crime-fighting volunteer group Street Angels, based in the church hall. There are plans for a cafe, making use of a courtyard where a walnut tree planted by the German congregation stands.

“We’d like to make more use of the church hall for exhibitions, workshops, rehearsal space and dance shows,” Irene added. “And we’d like to work with older members of Bradford’s German population and Eastern European, Italian and Irish communities. The idea would be for them to share their history – stories of how they came here – for community workshops and schools’ Living History projects.”

• For more about the Delius Arts and Cultural Centre ring 07535 701900 or visit deliuscentre.org.uk.