This Winter, MediaCity and Salford Quays are hosting an array of attractions to celebrate the festive season, while championing arts and culture across this waterside destination.
The line-up includes an exclusive exhibition showcasing some of Banksy’s most iconic works whilst Box on the Docks presents a new Winter venue in the heart of the MediaCity Gardens. Art Hall is a celebration of art and hospitality with creative workshops, street food, craft beer, and live music, and Quays Culture’s Lightwaves, an illumination of light and sound with music recorded by the BBC Philharmonic, returns. Visitors can also enjoy world premiere seasonal shows at The Lowry, the Quayside festive Makers Markets, and much more.
The full line up of activity includes:
WHAT: Box on the Docks presents Art Hall
In a new, covered venue in the MediaCity Gardens, Art Hall is where good food meets great art. With interiors designed by local art and design studio, MikeSian Studio, and in partnership with local craft brewery, Seven Bro7hers, head to Art all for a one-off mix of street food, local beer, hot drinks, art workshops, live music, and festive events.
WHEN: From 1st December, 8am – 8pm
WHERE: MediaCity Gardens
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WHAT: The Art of Banksy
The critically acclaimed ‘global hit’ The Art of Banksy showcases 145 iconic pieces from private collections across the globe to create the world’s largest touring collection of authenticated and unique Banksy artworks. The exhibition offers the chance to experience the infamous artist’s most well-known works, alongside those rarely seen by the public, all on loan from private collectors including prints, canvases, limited-edition pieces, unique works, and fascinating ephemera.
WHEN: Until January 8th, 2023
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WHAT: Quays Culture presents Lightwaves Festival
Staged across MediaCity and Salford Quays, visitors are invited to experience the free to enter Lightwaves Festival, a trail of dramatic light art installations that animate and transform the urban waterside. Visitors can enjoy illuminating works from leading artists which are thought provoking, surprising, and playful. Headlining this ambitious festival is the audio-visual installation, Navvies, by artist Matthew Rosier.
Projecting light and sound onto the Manchester Ship Canal, with new music performed by the BBC Philharmonic, this unmissable immersive experience tells the unique story of the Quays and recognises the role of labourers who worked in harsh and often lethal conditions in the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal.
With 13 works spread across the area, visitors can enjoy a host of other captivating showcases including Once We Were Water which allows visitors to ‘walk’ through the waters of a digitally recreated river; Garden of the Deep which showcases a display of 1000 flowers made from discarded plastic bottles; Through No.4 consisting of a six-metre-long triangular corridor of light and colour; and many more.
WHEN: Thursday 1st Dec – Sunday 4th December, 4pm – 9pm
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WHAT: BBC Philharmonic Christmas Performance
Alongside the performance for Lightwaves, join the BBC Philharmonic for an enchanting programme of music with a festive feel. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s music from the Christmas Eve Suite will glow with fairy-tale warmth and romance whilst In the Palace from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Waltz Suite of 1947 will perfectly conjure exciting and lively scenes of a royal ball in full swing. Alongside this is a tribute to Ottorino Respighi’s Trittico Botticelliano, solemn and interwoven with motifs from traditional Italian carols.
WHEN: Friday 9th December 2.30pm, BBC Philharmonic Studio, MediaCity
The ballot for tickets opens from Monday 21st November to Sunday 27th November
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WHAT: Christmas Shows at The Lowry
There’s something for everyone at The Lowry this winter – the highlight has to be be the National Theatre’s astonishing adaption of The Ocean at the End of the Lane based on the best-selling novel. You can also spend the day with family and friends, to catch the world premiere of Claus: The Musical, a performance that’ll warm the hardest of hearts this winter or see the Olivier award nominated adaption of Room on the Room from the best-selling picture book. And while at The Lowry, don’t miss the return of LS Lowry’s Going to the Match back on display in the galleries.
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WHAT: Quayside Makers Markets
Every weekend from Saturday 19th November until Sunday 18th December, local makers, bakers, and artisans, will tempt visitors with a seasonal pick of festive food and drink, art and design, plus vintage and modern crafts. Pick up festive tasty treats and bespoke homemade Christmas gifts from Saturday 19th November.
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WHAT: Quayside Twilight Markets
Quayside launches the Twilight Markets, the Friday night food markets to start the weekends. With late night openings and stalls from independent vendors and delicious street food, visitors can enjoy an array of food, drinks, and live music.
From Friday 18th November – Friday 18th December
