Kala Sangam - Bringing people together through South Asian and Interdisciplinary Arts

Introduction

Kala Sangam was founded in 1993 by Dr Shripati Upadhyaya, a consultant Clincal Psychologist with a special interest in how the arts can help people with disabilities. His dream was to establish a unique organisation which delivers high quality South Asian arts through innovative collaborations that would be accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

In Sanskrit, Kala means arts and Sangam, a meeting point. Sangam also refers to a confluence of rivers, such as the Triveni Sangam in North India, where three rivers come together. Kala Sangam exists in order to bring people together through the arts.

Kala Sangam was founded in Leeds and later moved to Bradford, but it operates regionally, nationally and increasingly internationally. The organisation has gained valuable knowledge, practical experience and a credible reputation in the field of South Asian and interdisciplinary arts provision, and aims to become the major provider in this field in Bradford.

The four key areas of the company are Performance, Education, Health and Youth. The company delivers art and cultural activities that bring communities together by promoting understanding and mutual respect. Kala Sangam values diversity, ensuring fair access to services so that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy and participate in the arts. This work ties in with and is guided by the cultural vision for Bradford, which embraces the city's rich cultural heritage as a legacy for the future generations.