This spring half-term, families can explore a host of Manchester firsts at the city’s famous Science and Industry Museum.
Home to a host of inspiring innovations, clever contraptions and construction-themed activities designed to suit all ages, from 2 to 18 April families can explore the city’s revolutionary heritage and cutting-edge science through a range of hands-on activities and live science shows.
From an indoor ‘builders’ playground filled with larger-than-life foam cubes, bricks and cogs, to an incredible moving sculpture that brings cartoons to life, there’s loads of fun to be had whether your kid’s a dreamer or a hands-on builder.
In the newly revamped Experiment gallery, visitors can play with a new selection of interactive experiences.
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Here, you can use a thermal camera to learn about heat energy, make magnetic art and even throw some shapes on the museum’s new interactive shadow wall.
Elsewhere, in the brand-new Mega Makers indoor playground, little ones can build their own contraptions by stacking and connecting large foam cubes and bricks – drawing inspiration from the building work currently going on at the museum to restore and transform the historic site.
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Storytime is held daily between the hours of 1030-11am, and 1.30-2pm, with curious kids invited to settle down with the Explainer team as they enter into the world of Izzy Gizmo, a girl who loves to invent.
During storytime, children are encouraged to immerse themselves in her tale with actions and props before exploring the Mega Makers activity where they can go on to create their very own invention.
This means some areas including the Power Hall remain closed to the public and there is ongoing work being done to revamp the Revolution Manchester Gallery. However, there’s still plenty for families to do, see and enjoy during the holiday period.
Inventors of all ages can investigate clever contraptions with expert Explainers at Science Stops around the museum, discover how to take an idea from a curious concept to a real-life creation, then get crafty and design their own inventions to solve problems you never knew you had.
There’s plenty of fun activities for younger visitors too. Under fives can borrow one of the Construction Packs containing a high-vis jacket, hard hat and wooden tools—everything little ones need to ‘work’ around the museum.
Free tickets for the Spring Holidays are available now and can be booked in advance through the museum’s website (www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk) or by calling 033 0058 0058.
Feature image – Science Museum Group
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‘Disappointed’ Olivia Rodrigo issues statement to Manchester fans after Co-op Live postpones gigs
Emily Sergeant
Olivia Rodrigo has issued a statement to her Manchester fans after her run of gigs at Co-op Live have been postponed.
The US singer-songwriter was due to perform two massive sold-out shows tomorrow and Saturday (3 and 4 May 2024) here in Manchester at the city’s newest venue, the now-troubled Co-op Live, as part of her GUTS world tour – but, due to what has been referred to as “ongoing venue-related technical issues”, these gigs are now the latest in a long line of postponements.
New dates will be announced as soon as they’re confirmed, Co-op Live assured ticket-holders.
Co-op Live said in a statement: “Due to an ongoing venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed. Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund from their point of purchase.
“We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
The Drivers License singer also took a moment to assure her presumably-disappointed attending fans that she too was “disappointed” by the situation.
In a statement shared to her 37.2 million followers on Instagram yesterday, Olivia wrote on her Story: “Hello! I’ve been having such a great time in Europe so far and I’m soooooo disappointed that we’re unable to perform in Manchester due to ongoing venue-related technical issues.”
The 21-year-old told Manchester fans that “we’re doing our best to reschedule” the shows.
Her statement continued: “You can hold onto your tickets for further info or request a refund at your point of purchase. More info will be sent directly to ticketholders.
“I’m so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon.”
As previously mentioned, the massive arena was supposed to open for the first time to the public last night with a performance by US rapper, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, but it was called off at the eleventh hour and fans were turned away from the doors just minutes before they were meant to open.
Co-op Live has now confirmed that the reason for the cancellation was due to a piece of the HVAC (air conditioning) system having “separated from the ductwork”.
Because of this, rigorous testing on the rest of the system now needs to take place before fans can safely be welcomed inside.
The next expected show on the Co-op Live schedule is Keane on Sunday 5 May, before beloved Manchester boyband, Take That, play a massive run of shows from 7-11 May and extra dates on 11 and 12 June.
Featured Image – Publicity Picture
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Co-op Live confirms cancellations caused by part of air conditioning unit ‘falling from ceiling’
Daisy Jackson
The Co-op Live arena has confirmed the cause of tonight’s last-minute gig cancellation and subsequent postponement of future shows.
Reports said that an object had ‘fallen from the ceiling’ before doors to the public officially opened.
Co-op Live has now confirmed that ‘a component of the air conditioning system’ separated from the ductwork, and stressed that no one was injured.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, the artist who was meant to perform tonight, had said that ‘something happened with the venue while I was at soundcheck today’.
Oak View Group, which owns the venue, said that it had ‘made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue to postpone the performance’.
Tim Leiweke, Chairman and CEO of Oak View Group said: “The safety and security of all visiting and working on Co-op Live is our utmost priority, and we could not and will not run any event until it is absolutely safe to do so.
“Today was a very unexpected situation but without a doubt the right decision.
“I deeply apologise for the impact that this has had on ticket holders and fans.”
It’s believed that the issue with the HVAC system was an isolated incident ’caused by a factory defect’.
Co-op Live said: “We were not able to verify that all similar nozzles were free of such defects.
“In conjunction with wider stakeholders, Oak View Group has made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue, and to postpone the performance.”
The rest of the nozzles inside the huge arena will now be tested for similar defects.
They said in a statement: “We understand the need to reassure fans over future shows. We are working with artist management and promoters to limit the impact on the opening season schedule.
“Where necessary, we will identify alternate dates, and will continually reassess to provide fans with sufficient notice regarding imminent shows.
“Should shows be cancelled or rescheduled, fans will be contacted by their point of purchase and offered a full refund where preferred.”