Bruntwood has revealed plans for a digital art space, within a new collaborative workspace building called ‘neo’, due to open in Manchester city centre in 2016.
A permanent, large-scale digital screen system on the ground floor will display new media artworks, and will have a regularly changing exhibition, with an open call for digital artists to submit their work.
The screens will also showcase Bruntwood-supported projects, including The Bruntwood Prize For Playwriting in partnership with the Royal Exchange Theatre, and Manchester International Festival (MIF), plus work from the Manchester School of Art and independent artists from across the UK.
Bruntwood is currently consulting with digital art specialists on the design and production of the space, working to establish how the works will be displayed and experienced within the building.
Bruntwood and the Oglesby Charitable Trust has a long history of supporting the arts, and the digital art space at neo is the latest project to support and encourage emerging and established artistic talent. As part of its commitment to making a difference to the cities in which it operates, Bruntwood and the Oglesby family shareholders annually donates in excess of 10% of its profits to cultural, community, environmental and health initiatives.
Colin Sinclair, Director of Workplace Development at Bruntwood, said: “neo has been designed with community and collaboration at its heart, so it’s the perfect place for a dedicated digital art space.
“In the same way we’re inviting forward-thinking, creatively-minded businesses to occupy the workspace, we want both emerging and established artists to contribute to the digital installation, bringing work and art under one roof.”
Work as already started on Bruntwood’s redevelopment of the 15-storey building on Portland Street, formerly known as Bank House, and Bruntwood is working with creative communications agency The Neighbourhood on the brand positioning of the new space.
The £8m design-led redevelopment will be complete in late 2016 and the building will launch as neo, deriving from the Greek word ‘neonate’, means a fresh, new, revived form. The building will house, tech-savvy, high-quality workspace environments including coworking spaces, communal lounges and kitchens, presentation spaces and studios, in addition to larger open-plan office layouts.
A large open-air roof terrace will provide the perfect platform for a social network at neo, featuring an all-weather meeting pod as well as meeting and event spaces. A dedicated on-site community manager will develop neo’s internal programme of social, well-being and business support events.
