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"Alan Erasmus saw a sign somewhere saying 'factory closing' and he thought we'd call it the Factory, and have a Factory opening." That was Tony Wilson's version of how the Factory Club in Hulme - and the record label that followed soon after - got its name.
This week to coincide with the launch of Manchester International Festival, we got our first glimpse of the city's latest factory - the huge new Factory International arts centre on the site of the old Granada Studios. But whereas Erasmus and Wilson made do with the back room of a Caribbean social club frequented by bus drivers, Factory International is one of the largest and most anticipated new cultural venues in Europe, cost £210m to build and is sponsored by an insurance company.
In today's newsletter we'll take a first look inside the Factory, hear what's coming up during the Manchester International Festival and delve a bit more into that controversial sponsorship deal.
Elsewhere we'll hear how thousands of people Bolton are fighting to break away from Greater Manchester and check out the Irwell's newest bridge.
Factory (almost) opening
It's not officially open for another four months, but this week we got our first look inside the new Factory International arts centre. The ground floor of the vast cultural space welcomed visitors as the 2023 edition of Manchester International Festival got underway.
A major exhibition of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s spectacular inflatables was unveiled on Thursday and gave visitors the first opportunity to explore the flagship venue ahead of its official launch in October. 'You, Me and the Balloons' by Kusama has taken over the vast warehouse space of the building, and is inviting audiences to take a journey through the artist's psychedelic creations, most of which have not been seen before in the UK.
Among the other big names debuting new work at MIF23 will be curator Hans Ulrich Obrist and former United star Juan Mata exploring art and the beautiful game, musicians and composers Alison Goldfrapp and Afrodeutsche, and award-winning photographer Benji Reid. Meanwhile, the all-new festival square outside Factory International will play host to 190 artists, bands, DJs and musicians over the course of the festival fortnight, with all the events free of charge and a host of food vendors keeping punters well fed.
Highlights will include tonight's gig by A Certain Ratio, plus shows by The Orielles and Dutch Uncles, as well as an ‘in conversation’ on-stage interview with Canadian artist Peaches. You can read our guide to everything happening at MIF23 here.
But it's not all been entirely smooth sailing to get to this point. The development is the largest investment in a national cultural project since London's Tate Modern in 2000.
But it's way behind schedule and costs have spiralled from the original £110m budget. And that's meant the naming rights have been sold.
As we previously reported the centre's new official name is Aviva Studios, after a £35m sponsorship deal was struck with the insurance firm. Supporters of the move say it was needed to claw back some of the costs.
But reaction has been mixed to say the least. "This is disappointing," tweeted arts critic Helen Barrett this week.
"You could argue 'Factory International' was backward-looking, but at least it was thoroughly Mancunian. 'Aviva Studios' could be anywhere."
For what it's worth my view is it's just the latest example of the awkward and uneasy meeting of commerce and culture. More importantly though it's just a bit naff.
But the chances are it won't matter anyway. Who's betting we're all just going to call it the Factory regardless?
Bridging the gap
If you're planning to visit the festival over the next fortnight you might also want to check out the Irwell's newest crossing. The £12m Prince's Bridge officially reopened on Thursday connecting Salford with the Factory.
It replaces the old bridge which was demolished during work to build the Ordsall Chord railway link, which crosses above. You can read more on the opening here.
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'We are Lancastrians'
First came 'Lexit' now another Greater Manchester town could be getting itchy feet. Thousands of people in Bolton have put their name to a petition calling for the borough to return to the county of Lancashire, Chris Gee reports.
The idea has even been debated by the local council following a groundswell of support. “We contribute millions of pounds every year and get very little back," petition organiser Dylan Evans from Bolton for Change, told the town hall..
"Not a single person we spoke to thought that Bolton had improved by being taken out of Lancashire. They do not want to be at Greater Manchester’s beck and call. We heard time and time again, ‘We are not Mancunians, we are Lancastrians’.”
The gripe stems back to the 1974 Local Government Act which saw the creation of Greater Manchester as an administrative entity. But rejoining Lancashire would result in major changes for Bolton with a likely switch in who provides police, fire, public transport and waste management.
Such a drastic change would also require an Act of Parliament, like the one triggered in 1974. Is it worth it? In the end it all comes down to the thorny issue of identity.
But for council leader Nick Peel at least it's possible to be both a Lancastrian and and a Greater Mancunian. Passing a motion to retain the status quo he said: “I’m a proud Lancastrian and always will be, but in terms of recognising our strong systems of partnership with GM neighbours, that works best."
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Weather etc
Temperatures: It's going to remain dry, but be a bit cooler and cloudier this weekend with temperatures reaching 19C on Saturday and 17C on Sunday.
Public transport: First Bus drivers are going on strike on Monday in a row over pay. Industrial action will take place in Rochdale, Oldham, Manchester and Ashton on July 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 and 13.
Trivia question: At which Hulme pub/club was the first Factory club night held on May 26, 1978?
Manchester headlines
- Salford Royal hospital has launched an investigation into claims staff are making money from a 'bin scam' that has allegedly been running for years. It is claimed that large trade bins from the site have been delivered to businesses and private addresses by some staff members from the hospital. Once full with rubbish and waste, it is alleged, they have been taken back to the hospital where the contents have been tipped into a compactor. Read more
- More than one in 10 homes in Greater Manchester contains a dangerous health and safety hazard which could pose a serious risk of harm or death, shocking figures have revealed. Experimental data published for the first time by the government has shown that across all of the region’s homes, nearly 140,000 homes had a ‘category one’ health and safety hazard. Dangers include damp and mould growth, asbestos, carbon monoxide, excess cold or heat, lead, electrical dangers and even radiation.
- A man who left a child with life-changing brain injuries after 'deliberately shaking' her has been jailed. Jack Hunt, 27, made a panicked call, saying the child was 'unresponsive'. The girl - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was rushed to hospital, where it was discovered she had suffered traumatic brain injuries. More here.
Worth a read
While your attentions might have been taken up by Elton John's triumphant Glastonbury farewell, Parklife or any of the huge stadium concerts in and around Greater Manchester these last few weeks, there's still been any number of smaller under-the-radar shows going on, as our monthly round up of Manchester's live music scene shows.
That's all for today
Thanks for joining me. If you have stories you would like us to look into, email beth.abbit@menmedia.co.uk.
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The answer to today's trivia question is: The Russell Club. Points also if you said the PSV Club or the Caribbean Club.
