50 residential streets throughout Salford are set to be visited by a “spectacular” new moving art installation next week.
And it sounds like it’s going to be absolutely mesmerising.
Organised by Salford City Council, ‘Mystery Bird’, which is a new moving art installation already being described as “spectacular”, will travel along 50 residential streets in Eccles from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 January, and will make its way through the historic Salford market town, taking in the sights of the Peel Green, Barton, Winton, and Patricroft communities along the way, all before before arriving in the town centre.
Residents along the route will be visited by an illuminated bird cage with a magical soundscape, and will get to experience a magical projection of the birds escaping across homes and buildings.
This impressive new installation is also about celebrating birds as a symbol of hope and freedom, and is made to be seen by an audience of all ages, abilities, and accessibility.
Running for five consecutive nights, ‘Mystery Bird’ will visit a different area of Eccles each evening from 5-7:30pm, starting with Peel Green on Tuesday 23 January, then Winton on Wednesday 24 January, Patricroft on Thursday 25 January, and Barton on Friday 26 January.
Visitors to Eccles town centre will then be treated to a magical pop-up ‘Mystery Bird’ moment on the Saturday, as the birdcage will spend around half an hour positioned outside St Mary’s Church to create a “stunning visual” for passersby.
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The birds will sweep around on to the church and surrounding building to create “a beacon of light” at the heart of the town.
A ‘spectacular’ new moving art installation will travel through 50 Salford streets next week / Credit: Chris Payne (via Salford City Council)
“Mystery Bird is an exciting project all about bringing people together,” commented Councillor Hannah Robinson-Smith, who is the Executive Support Member for Culture, Communications, and Strategic Priorities at Salford City Council.
“Communities in all corners of Eccles will be involved when this illuminated artwork travels down designated streets, and culminate with a projection of birds in the town centre.”
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Cllr Robinson-Smith says ‘Mystery Bird’ is “another fantastic reason to be proud of Eccles”.
She added: “[We want people to] visit Eccles town centre and all it has to offer, and it’s an opportunity to have an incredible cultural experience for free.”
‘Mystery Bird’ will run from Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 January all throughout Eccles, and you can see the full schedule and find out more about the event here.
Featured Image – Chris Payne (via Salford City Council)
What's On
Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum announces FREE programme of space-themed activities
Emily Sergeant
National Space Day is coming up, and you can celebrate with a bunch of free space-inspired activities in Manchester this bank holiday.
Ever wondered what astronauts eat in orbit? How they use the loo in zero gravity? Or why crumbs are bad news on the International Space Station? Well, to celebrate National Space Day – which is taking place this year on Friday 1 May – you’ll now get to discover the answers to those questions and so much more down at the Science and Industry Museum early next month.
The popular Manchester city centre-based museum has unveiled a programme of free ‘out-of-this-world’ events and activities this upcoming May bank holiday weekend.
The programme of free events are set to accompany the museum’s latest special exhibition, Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos – which you do have to pay for – and will give visitors more ways to explore the ‘wonders and weirdness’ of space.
The Science and Industry Museum has announced a free programme of space-themed activities / Credit: Drew Forsyth / Science Museum Group
Launching on National Space Day (Friday 1 May) and running through to Monday 4 May, the special bank holiday weekend programme is especially timely following the recent return of Artemis II astronauts from their history-making mission around the moon.
Families can get a taste of space during new live shows by sampling real foods used to feed astronauts, and discover more about how humans live and work beyond Earth, while budding space explorers put their skills to the test in interactive activities designed to ‘spark curiosity’ and ‘stretch imaginations’ to the moon and back.
Stargazers can enjoy the night sky as its projected across super-sized screens, or get creative by crafting their very own constellations and designing a mission patch for an astronaut’s spacesuit.
The events accompany the museum’s latest special exhibition, Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos / Credit: Drew Forsyth / Science Museum Group
“2026 has already been a stellar year for space,” commented Tash Camberwell, who is the Interpretation and Content Developer at the Science and Industry Museum, as the programme of free events was announced this week.
“We’ve been so inspired by the amazing Artemis II astronauts, so I’m especially excited to bring space back down to Earth with an action-packed programme for the May bank holiday.
“Just like the exhibition, our holiday activities have been created for young people and their grown-ups to enjoy together by blending humour, hands-on science and spectacular experiences to spark curiosity in space and inspire the next generation of space explorers.”
More information on the bank holiday weekend activities can be found on the Science and Industry Museum’s website here, and free general admission tickets, as well as £10 tickets to Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, can also be booked online too – with under threes going free.
Following what was a popular spring school holidays, museum staff say early booking is ‘advised’.
Featured Image – Drew Forsyth / Science Museum Group
What's On
Popular grassroots music festival to return to hidden Manchester street with new fringe events
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s much-loved grassroots music festival is back next month, and this year, there’s some new fringe events too.
Set across a handful of popular venues up on Deansgate Mews – including The Lion’s Den, Low Four Studios and The Mews Bar – Deansgate Mews Festival is returning for its sixth year this late May bank holiday weekend.
More than 40 music artists will be performing on a mix of outdoor and intimate indoor stages.
But that’s not all, as in what’s set to be an exciting new chapter for 2026, the festival is expanding beyond its core programme with the launch of the first-ever Mews Fest Fringe too.
Popular grassroots music festival Mews Fest returns this late May bank holiday / Credit: Supplied
The inaugural Mews Fest Fringe will be hosted in a large unit within Great Northern Warehouse, which will be transformed into a ‘vibrant’ hub celebrating music, art and independent culture.
Designed as a platform for Manchester’s creative community, the festival space will welcome artists, designers, collectors, and creative entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their work while connecting with festival-goers.
At the Fringe event, you can expect everything from record sellers and vinyl collectors, to vintage clothes, arts and crafts makers, independent creatives, and even bands selling merchandise.
This year there’s also the addition of the Mews Fest Fringe / Credit: Supplied
Already known for its strong grassroots ethos and growing reputation, Mews Fest continues to champion local talent and independent culture – but now with the addition of the Fringe event, the stage is set for its most ‘ambitious and inclusive’ edition to date.
Oh and the best bit? Both festivals will be free to attend, with no need to book tickets beforehand.
Emily Sergeant -
17th January 2024 
