The brand-new Aviva Studios, a.k.a. the official home of Factory International, has officially opened in Manchester and we got a first look at the impressive new cultural centrewhich first began construction back in 2017.
Marking the single biggest cultural investment project since the opening of the Tate Modern back in 2000, Aviva Studios is a state-of-the-art facility that sits as a striking new addition to the Mancunian skyline with its unique geometric exterior designed by OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture).
The launch, which gets off to an exciting start with its opening production ofFree Your Mind — a Danny Boyle-directed dance-driven recreation of The Matrix — is a historic day for the arts not only in the city but the nation in general, as Aviva Studios is now the biggest cultural institution anywhere in the UK.
Assembled using nearly £1 billion in funds from the government, National Lottery and Arts Council England, Factory International‘s new central hub for MIF (Manchester International Festival) and all other projects will promise to deliver original productions and special events across all art forms.
The coolest part about the 13,350-square-metre building is its multiple large, open and crucially flexible spaces that can be constantly reconfigured to allow multiple artists to create large-scale ambitious works of a kind not seen anywhere else in the world.
For example, the 21-metre-high Warehouse is the ultimate flexible performance space with capacity for up to 5,000 people standing. It’s taller than four double-decker buses stacked on top of each other, just under the length of a Boeing 747 aeroplane and can be divided by a movable wall.
Meanwhile, the Hall features a flexible stage that can house an audience of up to 1,603 seated or 2,000 standing and both rooms can be opened up and combined to create one large stage. Ingenious stuff.
This means that as many as three different full-scale artistic productions can be held simultaneously without any visual or noise interference bleeding into the other, thanks to the movable acoustic walls and sound-cancelling curtains which can block noises of up to 100 decibels. So, in theory, you could have a metal gig playing in one room and this mind-bending interactive show in the other.
Free Your Mind, the mind-altering live show running until 5 November, is a journey into The Matrix through dance, sound and fashion.
This is going to reconfigure your mind, body and spirit. After that, the rest is up to you.
From major exhibitions and concerts to intimate performances and immersive live experiences, there will be all kinds of shows and displays for Mancs to enjoy and will no doubt attract countless tourists from all over the world.
The programme for 2024 is already shaping up to be an extremely exciting project, with everything from a surreal retelling of Jungle Book, performances from the likes of Maxine Peake; the Olivier award-winning TRAPLORD, an interactive symphony with BBC Philharmonic (June 2024), a Johnny Marr double-header with a full orchestra and so much more.
In fact, there is even an AR (augmented reality) installation already on display which is completely free for people to experience visiting during the day and, of course, plenty of food and bar spaces to enjoy when you’re not soaking in the culture.
There is so much going on here that it’s kind of hard to know where to start, but a good place might be checking out the programme HERE to see what’s on in the coming months and into next year.
Featured Image — Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of OMA and Factory International.
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Home testing kits will be sent out those who never or rarely attend cervical screenings
Emily Sergeant
People with a cervix who have never or rarely attend appointments are be offered home-testing kits as part of the cervical screening programme.
The Government‘s groundbreaking initiative, which comes under the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan, aims to revolutionise cervical cancer prevention rates by tackling what are described as ‘deeply-entrenched barriers’ keeping some away from potentially life-saving screenings – including a fear of discomfort, embarrassment, cultural sensitivities, and even the struggle to find time for medical appointments.
Participation in cervical cancer screening currently sits at just 68.8%, according to the Department of Health, which is well below NHS England’s target of 80%.
This therefore means that more than five million women in England are not up to date with their routine check-up.
Women who have rarely or have never attended their cervical screening will now be offered a self-sample kit to complete at home by the NHS.
Women who haven’t come forward for cervical screening will be offered self-sampling kits.
As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, we’re tackling the barriers that keep some women away from potentially lifesaving screenings.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) June 24, 2025
The self-testing kits – which detect human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses that can lead to cervical cancer – will allow women to carry out the testing procedure in the privacy and convenience of their own homes.
The kits will be sent out in discreet packaging, and can be returned via pre-paid mail.
Anyone who may test positive for HPV through self-sampling will then be encouraged to attend a follow-up cervical screening test with a clinician to check for cervical cell changes.
Experts believe this new targeted approach could increase participation in the screening programme and ultimately save more than 5,000 lives each year.
“These self-sampling kits represent healthcare that works around people’s lives, not the other way around,” commented Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting.
“They put women firmly in control of their own health, ensuring we catch more cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages.
“We know the earlier cancer is diagnosed the better the chances are of survival. By making screening more convenient, we’re tackling the barriers that keep millions of women from potentially life-saving tests.”
Michelle Kane, who is the NHS’s Director of Screening, added: “There are a number of reasons that stop some women taking up the offer of screening and we hope the introduction of self-testing will encourage more women to take up this life-saving test in a way that works for them.”
Featured Image – Cancer Research UK
News
Fire service thanks Manchester public for cooperation while they worked to extinguish Hotspur Press fire
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s fire service has now thanked the public for their cooperation after crews worked under ‘very challenging conditions’ last night.
One of Manchester’s most historic landmarks has been left destroyed this morning after a huge fire erupted at the now-derelict Hotspur Press building, which is on Cambridge Street beside Oxford Road train station, late yesterday afternoon (Monday 23 June).
It was subsequently declared a ‘major incident’ by authorities.
Thick black smoke clouds could be seen for miles over the city centre from around 4:30pm onwards and into the evening, as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
BREAKING 🚨 Huge fire in Manchester city centre right now – historic Hotspur Press is ablaze with major disruption to trains out of Oxford Road #manchester#mcrpic.twitter.com/SnA52oiqxm
At the height of the blaze, two aerial units and more than 100 firefighters were working at the scene in warm and humid conditions.
Formal statements addressing the incident have already been made by Manchester City Council Leader, Cllr Bev Craig, and the UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) – the latter of which provided relevant health advice.
GMFRS has thanked the Manchester public for their cooperation as they worked to extinguish the Hotspur Press fire / Credit: The Manc Group | Jonathan Boswell (Submitted)
But as of 9:40am this morning, with much of the fire extinguished despite crews still working at the scene, GMFRS has now issued a statement providing the latest updates on the incident and thanking the public for ‘allowing us to get on with the job’
“The fire spread to several balconies at the two tower blocks at number 1 Cambridge Street, and we took the decision to evacuate all residents,” explained a spokesperson for GMFRS. “Firefighters worked tirelessly to ensure all occupants made it out of the buildings safely and there are no reports of any occupants suffering ill health.
“Shortly after 9pm, once the major incident was lifted, the occupants of one of those blocks was able to return home, while the other remains closed as we work with Manchester City Council and the building owner to make the building habitable again.
🚨 Crews remain at the Hotspur Press building to monitor and dampen down remaining hotspots
🚒 Oxford Road train station and the railway lines have reopened but Cambridge Street remains closed
🧑🚒 Thank you to the public for your support while we tackled this incident
— Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) June 24, 2025
“Oxford Road station and the railway line have now reopened. Crews are still working on Gloucester St and the main area around the mill, but the main roads of Whitworth Street and access off the Mancunian Way have reopened.
“Crews will be joined by specialist fire officers later this morning to begin investigating the cause of the fire, as well as assessing the extent of the structural damage to the building.
Danny Jones -
18th October 2023 
