AN ARTS company has received a major funding boost to allow it to make essential repairs and improvements to its Bradford city centre base.

Kala Sangam, based at the Grade II-listed St Peter's House on Forster Square, has been awarded £267,136 from Arts Council England to improve the facility and increase its "trading income".

The money will also be used to help reduce the organisation's energy costs and improve its long-term sustainability.

Ajit Singh, chief executuve officer at Kala Sangam, said: "We are delighted to have been successful with our capital grant, and we are grateful to Arts Council England and the Lottery.

"This significant grant will allow us to continue growing our income through use of the building, but also to save costs, with the environmental sustainability works set to make our building more attractive to the creative as well as commercial sectors."

Kala Sangam is a South Asian and collaborative arts company, which promote the arts, heritage, and culture of south Asia, both nationally and internationally.

In December, it received almost £48,000 from Biffa to help refurbish Indus Hall at St Peter's House, the centre's main events space with a capacity of up to 200 people.

Michelle Dickson, director for Arts Council England in the North, said: "Kala Sangam’s refurbished space in the heart of Bradford will enable it to develop partnerships with other organisations in promoting South Asian and inter-cultural arts, and to bring together diverse artists and audiences while increasing the quality of audience experience.

"I’m pleased that we have awarded funding to this project and look forward to seeing how Kala Sangam’s work develops."

The project was one of ten across the north of England to receive a share of £2,835,498 funding through Arts Council England's Small Scale Capital programme.

Craven District Council was also successful in its bid for funding, with the authority receiving £250,000 to create a "high-quality multi-use and theatre space" at Skipton Town Hall.

The Council, which owns and manages the building, plans to develop the venue to create a "cultural hub" for the district, with work due to take place this year and into 2017.

Councillor Simon Myers, the district council’s lead member for Enterprising Craven, said: "It is fantastic news that Arts Council England has granted us this funding, which will allow us to realise our ambitions for this historic building.

"We have exciting plans for the future, and this work will be instrumental in fulfilling those plans."