3 min readwww.ManchesterIndependents.co.uk
#ManchesterIndependents
The challenge of the past 18 months has seen Greater Manchester’s cultural sector come together in a unique show of collectivism – to date GM-ArtistHub, Manchester Cultural Education Partnership and, most visibly #HereForCultureMCR.
Manchester Independents is the newest addition to the line-up – an initiative to celebrate and spotlight new work made in Greater Manchester and to reflect the enormous diversity of art and artists living and working here.
What is the Initiative?
Supported by cash and other resources from cultural organisations, public and private, the initiative is formed of two parts – firstly, an open call for artists projects needing financial support; secondly a call for artists to share information about their current projects with the initiative, all of which is showcased to highlight the range of independent work taking place between June-October 2021.
The open call in April saw 207 extraordinary proposals in music, dance, theatre, live art, literature, visual art, video and work that crosses all those boundaries. An artist-led panel had the invidious task of whittling them down to a final list of 23 independent artist projects to support – from first time practitioners to award-winners, solo artists to a 30-piece orchestra.
One of the artist panellists, choreographer and director Edenamiuki Aiguobasinmwin, says of the initative;
It’s a hub by artists for artists, a central space to gain support to develop practices and connect with networks of venues and mentors. A resource hub that has the prospect of attracting and retaining Greater Manchester's Independent artists. A bridge to understanding what's happening in Manchester, and a vision that pushes to better understand how to work with artists in all elements.
The resulting programme will bring together a vast range of work spread across Greater Manchester – City Centre choral works, Hip Hop in Heaton Park, Museum takeovers, Postal art packs and Library phone-ins – as well as gallery and theatre-based projects. There’s an exploration of green space at the edge of our cities, a flatpack home puppet theatre, published stories by new writers and even a Family Vogue Ball. The work is relevant, current, driven by our times – from broken families to decolonisation, gender dysphoria to disabled superheroes, tales of immigration and mothers’ chronicles of pandemic isolation. Check Manchester Independents for the progress of these new works and how you can experience them as they develop.
We are pleased to be supporting a number of artists from all art-forms and disciplines; Adam Scott, Alicia Mckenzie, Amani Creatives, Breaking Barriers, Company Savvy Productions, Dani Abulhawa, Danielle Swindells & Brit Seaton, Darren Pritchard Dance, Ethan Moss, EVERY BRAIN, Hamdi Hassan, I M Pact, Jacob Cartwright and Nick Jordan, Kate Feld, Manchester International Roots Orchestra, Mandla Rae, Museum of Half Truths, new func, Richard Shields, Sophie Lee, The Untold Orchestra, Tina Ramos Ekongo, Vicky Clarke, Voices Beyond.
How can you get involved?
The second phase of the project is now underway – a call to join the Manchester Independents showcase – so if you are an independent artist or company working on a new project to take place publicly between now and October 31st 2021, you are invited to join Manchester Independents. Work can be presented at venues, physical sites across Greater Manchester, in print or online. All work will be listed on its own profile page on Manchester Independents bringing work together and offering audiences a signpost to the wealth of creativity happening across Greater Manchester. Click here to join.
We look forward to welcoming submissions and seeing the cities regions come to life with creativity…
