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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Sneak peak at Vue cinema’s fancy upgrade at Printworks, including reclining seats in every screen

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The Vue cinema inside the Printworks has undergone a major refurbishment and is set to reopen in the next few weeks.

The city centre entertainment complex is home to one of the largest IMAX screens in Europe, which has also been refurbished.

When it fully reopens in early September, Vue Manchester Printworks will have luxury recliner seats in every screen – and ticket prices as low as £4.99.

A sneak peak video shared by the cinema group shows rows of smart leather seats, with neon orange detailing.

The makeover will also include a revamped retail offering, from Coke Freestyle machines to draught beer taps.

Vue has undertaken the refurbishment project in stages, so 12 screens already have the benefit of the upgraded recliner seating.

It’s all ready for audiences to watch summer blockbusters including Minions: Rise of Gru, DC League of Super-Pets and Marvel Studio’s latest adventure Thor: Love and Thunder.

Read more: Grease star Olivia Newton-John has died, age 73

Ian Harris, general manager at Vue Manchester Printworks, said: “As the home of the biggest screen in Manchester, we’ve always taken pride in offering the very best of big screen entertainment possible for film fans and families looking to escape into the latest blockbusters.

“With our fully refreshed IMAX screen and newly installed Recliner offering across all 19 of our other screens, we’re hugely excited to see the people of Manchester enjoy the best that film and big screen events have to offer in the best and most luxurious seats in the house.”

Featured image: Vue

Art & Culture

Photographs of Manchester in lockdown go on display at Electrik

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

A series of photographs is going on display at Electrik bar in Chorlton depicting Manchester’s time in lockdown.

Those lockdowns might feel a long way away now but, in reality, it hasn’t been that long since we’ve been able to enjoy life without restrictions – no matter how keen many are to sweep the memory under the carpet.

Not local artists Richard Kelly and Emma Evans, who are looking back on that transformative period through their new collaborative exhibit ‘My Utopia’ this month.

Image: Supplied

Exploring a positive outlook at Manchester’s time in lockdown and marking a turning point in the pandemic, the new work sees two creatives come together to compare and contrast their differing experiences of that time.

Kelly’s images, taken on his government-sanctioned daily walks, are a reflection of the city and its outskirts during a bleak time for Manchester.

His work spans themes around society, fashion and music – with a formidable portfolio that features The Arctic Monkeys, Amy Winehouse, Pete Doherty, Dr Martens and Fred Perry.

Image: The Manc Group
Image: The Manc Group

Read more: Kong’s is opening a taco and quesadilla kitchen in the Northern Quarter

Evans, meanwhile, is an artist and illustrator who made a name for herself during lockdown with doodles on Monton High Street’s shop window.

Through an exploration of form and colour, she creates drawings of positivity and snippets of life as it was, and as it will be again.

Together, the pair combine mediums to construct one expression of two very different takes on the city – echoing a journey that has evolved from something desolate into something hopeful.

Image: Supplied

The free-to-attend exhibition will launch at Electrik on Thursday 4 of August at 7pm, with music from Manchester underground legend Chris Massey.

Massey has played an integral part of Manchester’s underground electronic music scene over the years and is most famed for his DJ genre-jumping sets that cover an eclectic mix of house, disco, boogie and techno.

As an independent café bar, Electrik is nestled in suburban Chorlton, offering high quality food, drink & service in intimate and down to earth surroundings.

With an impressive selection of beers and ales from across the globe on draught, cask and in bottles & cans, an extensive wine list, a perfectly formed spirit selection, plus an ever-changing cocktail menu including the classics.

Read more: The Mekong Cat hits back at customer after BYOB complaints

The food menu is headed up Four Side Vegan Pizza and their mouth-watering take on a classic Detroit-style pizza with sides to match.

Feature image – Supplied

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