A lot of us will have noticed that there’s a new feature on the skyline – and it’s not yet another skyscraper, but something much, much taller.
The skies above Manchester city centre have been dominated since the new year by an enormous beam of light, which gently pulses.
And, as dozens of people have pointed out, it looks unnervingly like an alien invasion…
Others have questioned if it’s a bat signal trying to summon Batman (if it is, he’s ignoring us).
Despite it launching back on New Year’s Day and being quite widely-publicised, some people have still said they had no idea it was happening – or what it represents.
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The light beam is actually a huge, free art project – arguably the city’s largest-ever – created to celebrate babies.
The incredible spectacle has been commissioned by Factory International, the brand-new, £186m arts venue that’s set to open later this year.
The artist behind is is Luke Jerram, famed for his large-scale art installations – he was also behind the 10m Floating Earth at MediaCity last year, which sadly deflated in the bad weather, as well as the giant Museum of the Moon at Bluedot Festival.
First Breath pulses gently every time a baby is born in Greater Manchester, and is meant to represent their first breath.
You can get right up close and walk around Manchester’s light beam, with Factory International sharing a handy video guide of how to get there (down Liverpool Road past the Science and Industry Museum; turn right onto Water Street; pass through the security gate; head up the ramp).
Mancs who have gone down to the installation, or spotted it from across the region, have been full of praise for the project.
One person wrote on our Instagram post: “We were walking the dog on salford wetlands and the beam perfectly lined up with the full moon !!!!! It was amazing.”
Someone else described it as ‘absolutely stunning’.
One Facebook, someone said about the beam of light: “Went to see this tonight…astounding and the start of something very beautiful in Manchester.”
And on Twitter, a user posted: “Visited the new temporary art installation ‘First Breath’ on my way home from work. Needless to say I’m not a spiritual person in the slightest but standing under those lights on my own in silence I felt so moved. Worth a visit for those in Manchester.”
Luke Jerram said: ”I want to reveal, celebrate and connect the hidden community of people giving birth each day in Greater Manchester. Disconnected and yet going through the life-changing experience at the same time, there are on average over 70 babies born each day in the city.
“This new artwork is designed to celebrate the moment a child is born – the extraordinary moment when they take their first breath and a new life arrives in the world.”
First Breath will take place between 4pm and 10pm, every day between 1 and 29 January 2023.
Expectant parents due in January 2023 from all backgrounds and pregnancy journeys can sign-up to First Breath at factoryinternational.org/first-breath.
Featured image: The Manc Group / Factory International
Art & Culture
Tickets officially go on sale for rare 70mm IMAX screenings of Dune: Part Three in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Tickets have now officially gone on sale for rare 70mm IMAX screenings of Dune: Part Three in Manchester.
Arriving on screens from 18 December and gearing up to be one of the most anticipated films of the year, Dune: Part Three – which is the third and final instalment in director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise – will be screening in IMAX 70mm at Vue Manchester Printworks, one of only three venues to show it in this format nationwide.
There are only 40 other venues across the globe showing the film in IMAX 70mm, and Manchester is the only city outside of London to screen the blockbuster this way too.
Based on the novels of Frank Herbert and set nearly two decades after the previous film, Dune: Part Three features an ensemble cast of all-star names led by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.
Alongside them will be Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rebecca Ferguson, Robert Pattinson, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin.
After seats for a special early screening of the film in IMAX sold out in less than 30 minutes last month, the IMAX 70mm showings – which officially went live today (20 October) – are expected to be snapped up fast by film fans in Manchester.
“A decade in the making, Denis Villeneuve’s epic Dune trilogy is reaching its dramatic conclusion this December,” explained Dean Cross, who is the Senior Screen Content Manager at Vue.
“As the only venue outside of London to be screening Dune: Part Three in IMAX 70mm, it’s a privilege for us to offer this unique way to experience the film.”
Dune: Part Three is coming to Vue Manchester Printworks on 18 December, and you can book your tickets here.
Featured Image – Warner Bros.
Art & Culture
Free pints and live craft experiences coming to a Manchester pub for one night only
Daisy Jackson
A pop-up pub takeover is opening its doors in Manchester, where you can get your hands on a free pint as well as some amazing craft experiences.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti, who want to help us Brits break out of our daily routines.
Matt & Phreds on Tib Street will welcome The Uncommon Inn on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm to 8pm, giving visitors the chance to discover unusual creative skills and watch artisans at work, with a free pint in hand.
It comes after research commissioned by Poretti found that 61% of UK adults feel they are living on autopilot, while a quarter have not tried a new creative pursuit in five years or more.
Free pints and live craft experiences are coming to a Manchester pub for one night only / Credit: Supplied
The study also found that adults have an average of just 90 minutes of genuine personal time each day, with 58% spending that time watching television and 35% scrolling through social media.
Exhaustion and financial constraints came out as the main barriers preventing people from trying new things.
The Uncommon Inn has been designed to offer an alternative, bringing together a collective of specialist makers to showcase their skills in a familiar pub setting.
Visitors to the Manchester event can watch Giulio Miglietta embroidering personalised beer mats, using a vintage Singer sewing machine dating back to the early 1900s, alongside live hand-engraving and bespoke jewellery-style crafting using recycled silver.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti / Credit: Supplied
Other demonstrations include 3D body-casting by sculptor Ami of Angelcasts and personalised, hand-engraved glassware from Leigh Calligraphy. Sabira of Sken Studios will also demonstrate how recycled silver can be turned into bespoke bottle openers.
Guests will be able to enjoy complimentary pints of Poretti while watching the makers at work.
Caitlin Maley, Senior Brand Manager at Poretti, said: “Modern life moves at an overwhelming pace, and it’s all too easy to fall into autopilot mode where routine replaces curiosity.
“We believe in celebrating intentional craft, rare skills, and authentic human connection – values that are at the core of our brewing heritage.
“We created The Uncommon Inn to turn an ordinary pub visit into an inspiring journey. By bringing together our Masters of Crafts, from chainstitch embroiderers to live engravers and musicians, we’re inviting pubgoers to slow down, pick up a new skill, and enjoy a pint crafted with genuine passion.”
The Uncommon Inn is at Matt & Phreds in Manchester on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm until 8pm.
Daisy Jackson -
13th January 2023 
