Art & Culture

The incredible Van Gogh Alive experience has extended its run in Greater Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 6th January 2022

Van Gogh Alive has extended its run at MediaCity until the end of February.

The immersive art experience has welcomed a staggering 120,000 visitors since it opened in Salford in October.

The massive multi-sensory installation, where visitors can step inside the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh, will now remain open until February 27.

It gives audiences an extra month to catch the jaw-dropping experience, which was previously due to leave the region on January 23.

Van Gogh Alive at MediaCityUK. Credit: Gemma Parker Photography

Van Gogh Alive has been visited by celebrities including Gary Neville, Jorgie Porter and Dame Maureen Lipman.

Maureen said: “No wonder the world has gone mad for this exhibition – it made my heart sing and feet dance.”

The immersive gallery brings the Dutch artist’s work to life inside a 17,500 sq ft, purpose-built venue at the heart of MediaCityUK.

Van Gogh Alive at MediaCityUK. Credit: Gemma Parker Photography

It includes the Sunflower Selfie room, inspired by Van Gogh’s painting Sunflowers, where visitors are surrounded by thousands of yellow blooms.

Creators Grande Experiences have also built a life-size walk-in representation of Bedroom in Arles, where you can climb inside a painting and pose for photos sitting on Van Gogh’s bed.

Van Gogh Alive at MediaCityUK. Credit: Gemma Parker Photography

In the main room, 3,000 animations of his work are displayed on enormous screens, including projections underfoot.

As well as being a visual spectacle, the experience also includes scents (inspired by Provence), and sounds (classical music) piped into the space.

Read more: All the January Manchester restaurant deals, discounts and offers you need in 2022

More than eight million people have been to see Van Gogh Alive across 75 countries.

Tickets are priced from £22 for adults and £15 for children, with concession prices available.

Tickets are on sale now at quaytickets.com/vangoghalivemediacity.

Featured image: Gemma Parker Photography

Art & Culture

British rock and mod icon Paul Weller stars in advert for new Oasis x Bohemians football kit

Danny Jones Danny Jones Bohemians FC Oasis kit collab

The music and football shirt crossovers just keep coming thick and fast – and that’s just Oasis alone, as Bohemians FC have released a new collaboration with the legendary Britpop band, looping in none other than Paul Weller for the grand unveiling.

Bohemians share a strong connection with the Gallagher brothers due to their Irish roots, as do Manchester and the ‘Emerald Isle’ in general.

This, of course, isn’t the first big marriage with a major music act they’ve done, as last season’s third-place finishers in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division famously roped in fellow Dublin giants Fontaines D.C. for a collab that sold out in an instant.

However, it doesn’t get much bigger than Oasis and with the Live ’25 reunion shows now just days away (we can hardly believe it either), Bohemians have decided to hop on the bandwagon too and steal some of that ‘band with the three stripes’ buzz for themselves.

Not to be too keen, but can we have 10 of them, please?…

Is this another instant hit? We’d say so, yeah.

Shot by Jamie Goldrick to the sound of cult favourite Definitely Maybe track, ‘Married with Children’, the Oasis x Bohemians kit reveal video was filmed at Cross Guns Snooker Hall: the oldest snooker club in Dublin City, which still remains an important community cornerstone.

As well as starring UK rock and mod culture icon, Paul Weller, perhaps the best bit about the FAI Cup shirt and this whole partnership is the charitable element behind it.

Just like with their Fontaines shirt, which helped supply medical aid across Palestine, the limited edition jersey will help generate crucial money for two key causes.

The first of which is the domestic non-profit organisation, Music Generation Ireland, the country’s national music education programme, which helps children and young people access vocal and instrumental tuition locally.

Secondly, funds will also be diverted to the Irish Community Care Manchester, located along Stockport Road in Levenshulme – further strengthening the mutual support between us Mancs and our cousins across the water.

You can get a close look at the Oasis x Bohemians kit design down below.

The special edition and highly exclusive shirt is already available, with stock already disappearing rapidly thanks to Bohs die-hards, Oasis fans and footy kit connosieurs alike.

With the Burnage boys getting their seismic comeback shows underway with two nights at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this Friday and Saturday (4-5 July), before heading for a double bill at Croke Park in Dublin this August, the excitement across the globe is already palpable.

It’s almost like this is a big deal or something…

That being said, everything from never-before-seen exhibitions and official Adidas x Oasis merch stores are popping up here in Manchester and, indeed, all over ahead of their sell-out world tour, which is set to be nothing less than the biggest music event of the decade.

Every single teaser trailer and social media post sends fans bananas, and god knows what the scenes are going to be like when they finally head to Heaton Park for the run of five homecoming nights.

Read more:

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Featured Images — Bohemians FC (press images/screenshots via YouTube)

Art & Culture

New immersive Race Across the World Experience comes to Manchester this summer

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Hit BBC TV show Race Across the World is launching an interactive experience in Manchester this summer, inspired by the series.

After five original series and two celebrity spin-offs, it was only a matter of time before the huge TV show materialised into ‘Race Across the World: The Experience’.

Just like the real programme, you will be sent on a mission across the heart of the city centre where you will have to complete tasks and reach various checkpoints to be crowned champion.

The missions will see players visiting Manchester hotspots, lesser known locations, renowned pubs, and distinctive landmarks across three hours.

Teams will rely on our trusty Bee Network as they take a trip on our vibrant yellow trams and buses to get around the city as they make their way to each puzzle and activity.

At each puzzle destination, participants will complete a challenge to guide them to their next location, all of which is pre-planned and spread across a five kilometre city-wide voyage.

For Mancs and anyone further afield, ‘Race Across the World: The Experience’ offers a whole new way to explore Manchester and gives you the chance to see some of the city’s best hidden gems, even if you are on a time limit.

This sounds like a great idea for friends and family alike, and based off the amount of times we’ve had to sprint down to Platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly, I think us Mancs were born for this challenge.

In true Race Across the World style, the team who manages to finish not just with the fastest time but with the most budget remaining too, will be the ultimate victor.

Cast of BBC's Race Across the World / Credit: BBC / Studio Lambert
Cast of BBC’s Race Across the World / Credit: BBC / Studio Lambert

Tom Rymer, Founder of CityDays, said: “Following an outstanding debut month in London that has thrilled fans of the show, both old and new, we are bringing the Race Across The World Experience to Manchester.

“New puzzles, new characters, new decisions and new discoveries, all coming soon over three new thrilling legs. Manchester, are you ready for your race?”

Read more:

A launch date for ‘Race Across the World: The Experience’ is yet to be released but eager entrants can sign up to the official waitlist and find out even more information HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image – BBC / Studio Lambert

Thumbnail – @richardstorey_photography (via Instagram)

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