Bradford’s Ramadan Pavilion is a striking celebration of creativity
Commissioned by the Ramadan Tent Project and the 2025 City of Culture, two artists have brought a splash of colour to the streets
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Visitors to Centenary Square in Bradford will notice something new over the next six weeks. Conceived by architectural designer Fatima Mejbil and artist Zahra Hussain, the Ramadan Pavilion — a series of striking pink arches in front of the city hall — aims to give physical form to the spirit of the holy month, blending themes of art, history and community.
The immersive installation has been commissioned and funded by the Ramadan Tent Project (RTP) as part of its ever-growing programme of special events and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. The space will also be part of RTP’s flagship Open Iftar events — the UK’s largest community gatherings during the month of Ramadan — including one at One City Park in Bradford on 22 March.
The structure, named Infinite Light, draws inspiration from western and Islamic architectural traditions. The top arches, influenced by the Venetian gothic style — as seen replicated in City Hall — are paired with a Middle Eastern-inspired lower arch.
“We wanted to create something universal and inclusive that brings people together in the true sense of Ramadan,” says Mejbil. “The history of Islam and cross-cultural exchange in this city goes back a long time and our design reflects that.”
The unusual colour was also a considered choice, serving as both an eye-catching visual statement and a tribute to the women-led nature of the project.
“Pink is warm, inviting and unthreatening,” says Hussain. “It’s also a contemporary take on the colours of sunrise and sunset, which are two significant times of day during Ramadan.”
The pavilion, which will light up at sunset each evening during Ramadan, aims to create an emotional response from both Muslim and non-Muslim visitors.
“We wanted people to experience the joy, connection and sense of community that define this month for us,” said Mejbil.
The Ramadan Pavilion is part of a wider Ramadan Festival organised by the RTP. Founded by Omar Salha, the organisation has been running for 12 years. The first Ramadan Pavilion was installed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2023, marking the organisation’s 10th anniversary.
Speaking about the significance of the pavilion, Salha says: “We wanted to invite people from all walks of life into a space where they could reflect on the meaning of Ramadan. Arts and culture are powerful ways to bridge communities and this pavilion is a striking representation of that.”
For the artists behind it, the installation also holds a deeper message about belonging.
“There’s so much artistic creativity within our community that often goes unrecognised,” says Hussain. “This project is a testament to that talent and the diverse cultural contributions of British Muslims.”
Alongside the pavilion, RTP’s 2025 Ramadan Festival includes a number of initiatives aimed at fostering interfaith dialogue and cultural understanding, including the Ramadan Run Club, encouraging businesses to Fast a Day and the Welcome Ramadan Conference. Launching at Windsor Castle on 2 March, Open Iftar events will be held throughout the month of Ramadan at prestigious venues across the UK, from the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Newcastle to Cardiff Stadium, the V&A Dundee and Belfast City Hall.
“Through initiatives like this, we hope to make Ramadan more accessible and open to everyone,” Salha says of the pavilion. “This is only the second one, but we see this evolving into a long-term legacy project. The first pavilion now has a permanent home in the Makkah Museum and we hope this one will find a similar legacy.”
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