Manchester city centre culture venue HOME has become the recipient of a six-figure grant to support its activity in 2021.
The cinema, theatre, museum and arts space has been awarded £349,110 by the Garfield Weston Culture Fund – which has distributed over £30 million to more than 100 cultural organisations struggling during the pandemic.
Representatives at the First Street venue expressed their delight at the news, claiming that the money would play a “vital role in ensuring that HOME’s future is secure and we can come back stronger than ever.”
The grant will allow HOME to commission work and provide opportunities for artists while venues are closed – as well as covering the costs of making the building COVID-secure.
Extra funding also means HOME can continue supporting local artists and other cultural organisations in the region – with staff already working alongside Manchester council on the Cultural Sector Hardship Fund for Freelancers.
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From today (February 1), residents working in the freelance creative industry may be eligible for grants of up to £1,500 – and HOME staff are on hand to offer guidance for applicants.
We’re delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant of £349,110 by the Garfield Weston Culture Fund @WestonFdn, to support our activity throughout 2021. This #WestonCultureFund support provides HOME with the confidence to move forward with some important projects. pic.twitter.com/S3FK3wKtmw
Dave Moutrey, Director and CEO of HOME, said that he and his team were “incredibly grateful” to the Garfield Weston Foundation.
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He added: “We’re particularly proud that HOME and the other successful applicants were praised by the Foundation for our entrepreneurial approach and creativity throughout the pandemic and the ways we have adapted and engaged with our audiences and communities.
“Artists and audiences are at the heart of what we do at HOME, and we remain committed to providing a home for art that provokes, enriches and brings joy.”
HOME first opened in Manchester city centre back in 2015 and has been a cornerstone of local culture ever since – screening independent films, housing art productions, and providing a space for a wide variety of artistic projects.
The venue is currently running an online programme of events during the national lockdown – all of which are available to access via the organisation’s official website.
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Six teenage boys arrested following stabbing of 13-year-old in Rochdale town centre
Emily Sergeant
Six teenage boys have been arrested following the stabbing of a 13-year-old in Rochdale town centre over the weekend.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers were called out to reports of a ‘serious assault’ near the Riverside Shopping Centre in central Rochdale on Saturday (29 August), and when they arrived on the scene, they found that a 13-year-old boy had been stabbed.
The young boy currently remains in hospital receiving treatment, while a police investigation into the incident is open and ongoing.
Two teenage boys were first arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of a bladed article on the same day the incident occurred (29 August), but have since been released on bail.
Officers then made four further arrests yesterday (31 August), again all teenage boys who were arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of a bladed article, with enquires ongoing.
A Section 60 and 60AA ‘stop and search’ authority was introduced in Rochdale town centre following the recent incidents in area and following reports of youths carrying weapons in the locality, and this has now been extended to 3pm today (Tuesday 1 September).
“This was a serious and sustained attack that could have had far more tragic consequences,” explained Detective Superintendent, Richard Hunt .”Our team of experienced detectives is working around the clock to understand exactly what happened, identify all those involved, and secure the strongest possible evidence.
“We will relentlessly pursue every lead available to us and will leave no stone unturned in bringing all those responsible before the courts.
“Community safety remains our absolute priority, and we are committed to ensuring those who seek to bring violence onto our streets are held fully accountable for their actions.”
Can you help? Anyone who witnessed the incident, was in the town centre at the time, or has any mobile phone, CCTV, or dashcam footage, is urged to come forward and speak to police on 101, quoting log 2750 of 29/08/2026, or using the LiveChat function on the GMP website.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
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High School Musical at Lowry, Salford – a night spent reliving our childhood | Review
Amy Williams
What a night spent reliving our childhood.
Now, I don’t want to exaggerate or seem biased, considering this is one of my favourite film trilogies of all time, but this could be the best stage show I’ve seen in a long while.
We all know how High School Musical goes, right? Set at East High, we follow Troy and Gabriella (the star basketball player, and the geeky new girl) who meet over New Year, and then become ‘star-crossed lovers’ when back at school as they’re part of two different ‘cliques’.
The duo mess with the ‘Status Quo’ when they audition for the school musical. But will they stick to what they know? Or become stars of the stage? I’m sure you know the ending.
High School Musical is currently on stage at Lowry, Salford / Credit: Matt Crockett (Supplied)
From the costumes and the characters, to the memorable songs (there’s actually 52 songs in this production, including a mega mix at the end), they’ve kept right to the script of the films – and that’s exactly what we wanted to see.
Of course, the biggest throwback of them all is Kaycee Stroh – who originally featured as Martha Cox in the film trilogy – taking the role as Ms Darbus, and she was just as incredible as we expected her to be. And to see her do the iconic dance in the finale was unbelievable, 13-year-old Amy was screaming.
Also featuring Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton, Tobias Turley as Troy, Leonor Correia as Gabriella, Caitlin Tipping Sharpay, and Luke Bayer as Ryan, it was a proper impressive cast all round.
It’s a night to properly relive your mid-00s childhood / Credit: Matt Crockett (Supplied)
There was crowd interaction right from the off, as they taught the crowd a cheerleading routine to be included later in the show, plus for the finale, they had the lyrics on the big screen too so everyone could sing-along.
If we could go and see this show every single night, we would – it is absolutely brilliant.
The Manc -
1st February 2021 
