Art & Culture

Huge beams of light will illuminate the skies above Manchester this winter

This is going to be quite a spectacle.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 17th November 2022

The skies of Manchester will be illuminated by huge beams of light this winter as part of a new free art project.

The incredible spectacle will take place at the site of the soon-to-open Factory International arts venue, but will be visible from across the city.

The powerful beams of light will reach up into the clouds and will gently pulse.

It’s been created by artist Luke Jerram (the man behind the 10m Floating Earth at MediaCityUK and the giant Museum of the Moon at Bluedot Festival) and is called First Breath.

Each pulse of the lights is meant to represent the first breath of babies born that day in Greater Manchester.

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Factory International will host First Breath. Credit: Supplied

Audiences will be able to get up close to the artwork and walk in and around the lights.

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.

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“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.”

Factory International. Image by OMA 24

Factory International, which is set to open next June, has already begun delivering creative education programmes to hundreds of young people aged nine-14 across Manchester and the wider region with a focus around social and emotional learning, teamwork, leadership and resilience.

Hundreds of babies born in January 2023 will also receive lifetime membership to Factory International – providing priority booking, discounted tickets and exclusive invitations to everything from major exhibitions and epic concerts, to family performances and workshops.

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John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International and Manchester International Festival said: “At the turn of 2023 we’ll celebrating new beginnings with a beautiful public artwork projected from the site of our future home into the night sky.

“As we welcome hundreds of new-borns into the world through Luke’s light sculpture, we will also be breathing life into our new building and, we hope, setting in motion a fruitful life-long relationship with a new generation.”

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:

Art & Culture

Corn Exchange has a cute new vending machine strictly for pre-loved books

Danny Jones Danny Jones Corn Exchange book vending machine

Every now and again we stumble across a clever little idea and we think ‘why hasn’t someone thought of this idea before?’ That was definitely the case when heard about Corn Exchange’s new vending machine for books.

Having appeared in the popular city centre food hall and trader spot only earlier this week, most people might be unaware of the Corn Exchange‘s fun new initiative and some people might have walked straight past it without noticing what’s actually in it — yet another reason we love stuff like this.

The concept is called ‘Read. Swap. Repeat.’ and the idea is to not only keep people reading when they come into the city or are perhaps staying here in the likes of the Corn Exchange, but also to provide a home for pre-loved books with an added incentive.

See for yourself.

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It’s a great little idea, isn’t it? You even get a free bookmark for your trouble.

As you can see, all you need to use the vending machine is to bring a book with you, ask a member of staff for a token and then select which generously donated second-hand read you want to select for yourself.

Beyond just being a cool and interesting way to entertain local book lovers and hopefully get more people reading again, it’s also good for the environment as it provides yet another outlet for people to donate their old texts without any waste.

So, if you’re looking for a new read or looking to share one of your favourite old books with someone else, why not give it a try?

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Featured Image — Corn Exchange/The Manc Group

Art & Culture

Manchester to be filled with fresh blooms as annual Flower Festival returns this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester is set to become one of the most picturesque places in the UK this summer, as the city gets dressed up in celebration of the annual Flower Show.

Back by popular demand for its fifth year, the four-day festival – which is often dubbed the “most Instagramable event of the year” – will see Manchester bloom to life and be draped from head to toe in magnificent floral displays.

Plants and flowers will be seen covering landmark buildings, shop windows, doorways, balconies, statues, fountains, and more right across the city centre.

Taking place over the late May bank holiday, festival organisers say to expect a “fabulous floral spectacle” – with a dedicated ‘Manchester in Flowers’ floral trail gearing up to be the star of this year’s show, and several other stunning show gardens and green installations all set to weave through central streets.

Manchester to be filled with fresh blooms as annual Flower Festival returns this summer / Credit: The Manc Group

Organised annually by Manchester BID, the festival usually sees tens of thousands of people flock to the city centre – and this year will be no different.

Visitors can also expect al fresco dining, live music, and a wide range of family entertainment too.

With the event now only a few months away, festival organisers are on the hunt for budding and professional gardeners, florists, landscapers, businesses, charities, community groups, and schools across the region to be part of the celebrations.

Manchester Flower Festival is known for offering both seasoned and aspiring gardeners the chance to showcase their talent, while helping to create “a unique floriated experience across the city” – with opportunities open this year to lend a hand with large-scale headline gardens and displays, floristry displays, and smaller ‘Bijou’ gardens.

The annual event gives both seasoned and aspiring gardeners the chance to showcase their talents / Credit: Manchester BID

Local traders can also sign-up to sell the Festival Market, which will feature everything from plants, and produce, to garden decor, street food, art, and so much more.

Businesses in the city centre are also being encouraged to show their support for the festival by creating window, building, or in-store displays, and hosting dedicated events, and food and drinks specials.

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Volunteers are also needed to help at this year’s event, with festival organisers promising the chance to “gain valuable experience” and enjoy being part of the team at one of the city’s annual flagship events.

Find out more about Manchester Flower Festival 2023 here.

Featured Image – ManchesterBID

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