In the midst of the lockdown, folks were itching to get involved with something. Local people wanted a space to connect and to be heard. We wanted to celebrate who we are and what we are about through storytelling and creative art making. Over 2020 & 2021 a small team of dedicated creative community organisers curated a month long festival programme, with a mixture of digital, audio and in-person events across multiple art and community settings in Bradford. In 2022, the team curated a full festival programme over the 'Azaadi' ('Freedom') weekend, marking the 75th year of Independence and Partition.
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Our forum takes a borderless approach, yet recognises the importance of identity-related and place-based meaning-hood allowing us to locate ourselves & communities across local, global, political, ethnic and religious terrains. It is also a space for us, as diverse South Asian communities, to enjoy, be entertained, have fun and celebrate all of what makes us who we are. 'Our Stories, Our Culture, Our Way' - a space to tell stories where we can reclaim and rewrite the narratives that have traditionally been told about us. Bradford South Asian Festival is a gift to our communities, driven and led by British-South Asian's and we welcome people of all backgrounds to participate. At the heart of our festival is a commitment to inclusivity, diversity and community building.