"I think it's a pivotal and amazing time for Manchester to have a moment to look at what is great about it, and to have an opportunity for the people of the world to understand what's great about this city." The words of renowned composer Michael 'Mikey J' Asante MBE, whose work Free Your Mind , an immersive performance based on The Matrix, will officially open Manchester's new £186m Factory International arts centre next June.
Programmed and operated by the team behind the world-famous Manchester International Festival, the vast new building will create a "landmark cultural space" for the city at the edge of the Old Granada Studios. The extraordinary spaceship-like structure, visible from Quay Street and Liverpool Road, sits on the banks of the River Irwell and represents the largest investment in a a national cultural project project since the opening of the Tate Modern in 2000.
At a media event on Thursday held at the Science and Industry Museum, organisers confirmed the official opening date and gave a taste of what to expect from the soon-to-open global arts, music and cultural destination. Opening to the public from June 2023, it will form the centrepiece of the 2023 Manchester International Festival from June 29 to July 26.
