PLANS have been unveiled for a spectacular new cultural venue for Manchester which could become one of the city’s biggest visitor attractions within two years.
The proposed 10,000 capacity performance, community and studio space at the historic Mayfield site, next to Piccadilly station, could see up to a million visitors next year.
The new venue, to be called Depot, is set to launch at Mayfield this summer with Manchester Pride Liveon 24th and 25th August 2019. Subject to planning consent, the space will become a multi-use cultural venue for the city and is expected to be in use for the next five years while the £1bn-plus regeneration of the 30-acre Mayfield site is progressed.
The team behind the venture say they expect to attract a range of globally significant performers to the city with a diverse programme of cultural activities and artists. A unique offering to the city will be the promise to deliver a proportion of tickets to all events at discounted prices for residents, students, children, OAP’s and wheelchair users and their companions.
Depot is a collaboration between The Mayfield Partnership (comprising regeneration specialist U+I, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and LCR) and venue specialists Broadwick Venues and Vibration Group, the team behind the hugely successful Printworks London, The Drumsheds and Exhibition London.
Alongside the proposed main performance space at Depot, there will be two smaller areas. One of those, called Concourse, will be providing a range of free-to-attend community events, seasonal activities and food experiences.
The second space, called Archive, will offer a more intimate performance area as well as low-cost rehearsal and studio space for local artists.
Richard Upton, Chief Development Officer at U+I, said: “We want to add something to the Mancunian cultural landscape which is unique not just in the city but in the UK.
“Depot will be a place that blends the global with the local and where international stars and local school children will be able access the same quality of performance and studio space. It will be democratic and distinctive.”
Mayfield has already established itself as a venue for cultural events over the past few years, including several commissions by Manchester International Festival, one of which, Invisible Cities, will be staged there as part of MIF19 from 5-14 July (mif.co.uk).