On display now
40 Years of Checkpoint
Jamie Steward
Bradford’s West Indian community centre takes the spotlight in a vibrant new street artwork.
The latest in our BD: Walls street art series pays tribute to a longstanding and much-loved community hub.
40 Years of Checkpoint celebrates the importance and the resilience of Bradford’s West Indian community centre – Checkpoint, which opened at 45 Westgate back in 1982. The centre was set up to provide a permanent hub for Bradford’s Caribbean communities – to ‘promote Caribbean cultural unity and achievements’, in the words of its logo. Following a major refurbishment, it’s now preparing for a grand reopening on Saturday 13 December – all welcome.
The mural features Eric Clarke, a longstanding fixture at the centre who has been a key part of the community for decades, and Joyce Hamilton, who died seven years ago but was previously one of the heartbeats of Checkpoint. Here’s to another 40 years.
BD: Walls
40 Years of Checkpoint is part of BD: Walls, a collection of new street art commissioned by Bradford 2025 for walls across Bradford District – paying vibrant tribute to our heritage while celebrating our dynamic street art culture.
Lead Image © Andrew Benge
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