It’s a disappointing start to the year for Manchester. As chief executive Vaughan Allen tweeted recently, it’s sad that the Urbis is closing at the end of a decade when it was supposed to be a millenium project.

So to commemorate its eight years of groundbreaking popular culture exhibitions, the team are putting together one last exhibition. So can you put your hands together for Urbis has left the building: six years of the best exhibitions in pop culture.

Vaughan Allen, chief executive of Urbis since 2005, said: “No other gallery space has provided popular culture with a serious platform in the way that we have, with a genuine passion that made us unique, consistently giving credibility and backing to subjects that most galleries and museums would overlook. I am very proud that in such short period we have earned a global reputation for our work.”

And he’s right. As I’ve previously mentioned, I don’t know of any other venue that delves into our popular and urban culture in the same way that Urbis has. It is said that there will still be space for Urbis exhibitions in among all those stinky old football t-shirts, but obviously it just won’t be the same. It goes without saying that this is a massive backwards step for the arts and culture in Manchester, and also takes away one of Preston’s popular attractions.

The last exhibition will be a retrospective with five sections: international artists; design, fashion and architecture; Manchester’s creative community, music culture and family shows.

The exhibition will be on from January 21 – February 27.
Urbis is open daily 10am-6pm
Entry to Urbis is free
Urbis, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, M4 3BG
Tel: 0161 605 8200 www.urbis.org.uk

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Our beloved Urbis is due to incorporate Preston’s Football Museum and will be closing on February 27, 2010.

Go and check out its Homegrown exhibition, while it’s still there. This is a fascinating look at the UK hip hop scene, and is interesting regardless of what music you listen to.

See the promo film here: Urbis Homegrown video

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Did you know staff at Urbis were such a creative bunch? No, I didn’t either, but a new website has just been launched to showcase the collective creativity of Urbis staff in their outside-work projects.

Encouraging creativity and out-of-work interests is a fantastic idea, and of course it promotes Urbis itself because it is supposed to be a forward-thinking hub of creativity and new thinking.

Have a look at the website www.urbiscreatives.org, which was launched last night with a party (which I wasn’t at but it sounds great). The evening showcased the varied creative talents with original artwork as well as live music, DJ sets and burlesque.

The site tells you a bit about each staff member and their outside talents, which include a freelance community musician, film installation, photography, and of course art.

I’m looking forward to seeing what other work and ideas come from this collective in the future.

MORE INFO
www.urbiscreatives.org
E: urbiscreatives at urbis.org.uk

(Image take from the Urbis website)

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Organised by Urbis, the Best Of Manchester awards launched in 2007 and do a marvellous job in rewarding creativity and innovation in this great city of ours. And there are now just 10 weeks to drum up as many applicants as possible.
Manchester has always been noted for creativity in its people, so it’s important to encourage and develop this as much as we can.

There’s a fine set of judges this year, which includes among others: Peter Saville; Wayne Hemingway; Turner prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller; Tim Marlow (White Cube, London); journalist Miranda Sawyer; Yvette Livesey from In The City and Luke Bainbridge, from Observer Music Monthly and former City Life editor.
The press release says the categories have been left deliberately broad to include as many people as possible.

For example, the art category includes graphic design, photography, installations, illustration and fine art. The winner will get a cheque for £2,000 and the chance to be involved in a major exhibition at Urbis, which is a pretty good way to kickstart a career.
The awards are open for entry until midnight on May 1, 2009, and is open to anyone who lives or works in Greater Manchester. Entry is online, at www.urbis.org.uk/thebestofmanchester.
Also look at the Best of Manchester blog for the latest updates.

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