The travelling art installation Mystery Bird has officially landed in our city, bringing a magical story to the people of Salford and Manchester. The tour will take place over the coming days, visiting families and residential homes across the city.
The travelling ’show’ has been created by a collection of artists from the North West whose combined skills in model-making, projection, design, sound, augmented reality and even beatboxing have brought this spectacular piece to life.
The Mystery Bird is a giant birdcage filled with projected birds and accompanied by a bespoke soundscape, which will be released to ‘fly’ across buildings, trees and the streets of Greater Manchester.
Chris Payne
In addition to the Mystery Bird travelling installation, Quays Culture worked with artist Jack Hardiker to create a special free Instagram filter so users can welcome the birds into their own homes and gardens via their mobiles.
Using the filter, Quays Culture are also asking for the public to share a video of their own Mystery Bird experience that will be collated into a community film to share the joy of the experience with the nation. To get involved follow these steps:
Save the video to your camera roll and email to mysterybird@quaysculture.com
Tag @quayscultureuk in your IG videos #mysterybird
The idea has taken inspiration from the public’s heightened awareness of nature during the pandemic, offering solace, comfort, motivation and relaxation.
Programme Producer at Quays Culture, and Co-Creator of Mystery Bird, Jude Jagger said of the project: “So many people mentioned enjoying birds, listening to birdsong and getting involved with nature in general during the first lockdown.”
Co-Creator Gemma Saunders added: “Despite Covid-19 being devastating there are some aspects of this situation that have made us re-focus on important factors in our lives. We want to play that back to people and deliver an ‘art at your front door’ wonder that will be truly special.”
Manchester based beatboxer and vocal sculptor Singh is best known for the Tweet Music album, commissioned by the National Trust after research found that listening to bird song before you are twelve makes people calmer and boosts positivity. And indeed, listening to bird song is relaxing, soothing and a re-connect to nature for all age groups.
This latest work features endangered birds on the RSPB list and local birds like the Willow Tit (a regular in Wigan), Grasshopper Warbler, Lapwing, tree Sparrows, Starlings plus ‘saved’ birds like the Peregrine Falcon intertwined by his electronic score, creating the sounds, rhythms and feelings of bird song. This premiere performance will be broadcast from the travelling installation.
“This work celebrates all birds, big and small; birds with personalities, displayers, the gangster birds as I call them – the sparrows; birds that people aren’t familiar with. I hope my work will connect everyone to the amazing creatures in our life that perhaps we haven’t noted until now,” said Singh.
Chris Payne
The birds themselves have been created by artist Helen Musselwhite. She said: “I have worked with these six birds, some of whom aren’t commonly known, to show their personality, their lives and their passions. I show the birds in flight, banking, swooping, flying and static. I have ‘lived’ these birds for months and want to share their story. It is the story of us all at present; a feeling of being trapped, unsure, not able to be free – that is the Mystery Bird story.”
Helen worked with animators Illuminos to make the birds ‘come to life’, and Jack Hardiker has produced an Augmented Reality element for the public to interact with.
Rob Vale and Matt Vale, from Illuminos, are tasked with bringing the birds to life. They have spent months studying the six birds to then animate them realistically.
Chris Payne
“It has been fascinating to watch the movements of the group as they are so different,” said Illuminos director Rob. “The Willow Tit for example is a nervous jumpy bird. It jumps around and then perches. The Grasshopper Warbler sits with its head down and makes a strange insect noise then leaps straight ahead and starts it’s strange performance over again.”
“The Starlings are so interesting too,” said Matt. “They run and rattle about then hop around. The characters of the birds are so different and it has been incredible to bring them to life.”
The team at Illuminos had the huge challenge of how to present the birds in a cage, fabricated by M3 Industries, with a 360 degree viewing programme whilst travelling on a moving vehicle. Mystery Bird is on until this Sunday, December 13th, and will be touring neighbourhoods in Salford and Manchester so keep your eyes peeled. Keep up to date on the Mystery Bird website, or on Quays Culture’s socials, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The National Portrait Gallery is working with FRAMELESS Creative, the UK’s leading creator of immersive experiences, to create Stories – Brought to Life, the first immersive art experience of a UK national collection. Opening at MediaCity this Friday, May 2nd, and running until Sunday August 31st, the groundbreaking new immersive, cinematic show promises to redefine the gallery experience.
Visitors will step into a world where the sitters’ stories come alive. This unique experience explores the lives behind some of the most iconic faces from the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection who have shaped the UK’s history and culture.
It will feature people from royalty and cultural icons to fearless leaders and national heroes, including Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Queen Elizabeth II, Audrey Hepburn, Nelson Mandela, Emmeline Pankhurst, Grayson Perry, Mary Seacole, William Shakespeare, Amy Winehouse, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and Malala Yousafzai.
For its premiere in Manchester, Stories – Brought to Life will be presented in a specially designed 10,000 sq ft state of the art, immersive digital gallery in the heart of MediaCity. Ryan Atwood, Creative Director for FRAMELESS Creative, said: “Working with a cultural institution like the National Portrait Gallery has been a unique experience, especially having the opportunity to draw upon the deep knowledge and passion of the curatorial team. “But the magic has also come from studying the sitters and working with the families, estates and the sitters themselves to understand more about the individuals behind the portraits. “Being able to delve deep into the life stories of the individuals and then bring them to life through the power of emotional, immersive storytelling has been a very special experience and we’re excited to share this with the public when we open in Manchester in May.”
Rab MacGibbon, Cross-Collections Curator at the National Portrait Gallery, added: “The National Portrait Gallery is home to the largest collection of portraits in the world and hanging on our walls are some of the most remarkable people to have ever lived. “Working with the team from FRAMELESS, and through exploring new technologies and creative approaches, has allowed us to look at the Collection in a completely new light. We are embarking on a journey of discovery, which we hope will inspire and entertain a new audience.”
The experience will open to the public on May 2nd and run until August 31st at MediaCity, before going on a UK tour (dates to be announced). Grab your tickets HERE.
Freight Island has announced its upcoming spring and summer programme for 2025, and there’s something for everyone. This includes the arrival of one of the most difficult-to-book restaurants in Manchester, coming to the city centre for the first time.
Denton-based Ornella’s Kitchen will be joining three other new food and drink vendors at Freight, alongside their already comprehensive dining offering.
Freight Island
Ornella’s Little Kitchen will be the Italian spot’s second location, and will be music to the ears of fans, as the original venue is often booked up for months in advance.
Other new additions include authentic ‘shaokao’ Chinese barbecue from MOREJOY, delicious bakes from Gooey, and Hello Dezato, a new offering from Hello Oriental dishing up soft serve ice creams and desserts.
They’ll be joining established Freight Island vendors like Patterson’s, Mia’s Arepas, Burgerism and Voodoo Ray’s pizza.
Freight Island
And if that’s not enough, the ever-popular Kantina supper club series will be returning soon with yet-to-be-announced guest chefs and traders. Jamie from Ornella’s Kitchen said of the move: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Ornella’s Little Kitchen to Freight Island and be part of such a dynamic food and entertainment space. “Our pasta-deli specials have found a loyal following in Manchester, and we can’t wait to share our authentic Italian flavours in this new setting.”
Freight Island
You’ll also find a wealth of world-class DJs over spring and summer, including the likes of David Rodigan, DJ Paulette, Congo Natty, A Love From Outer Space, UK garage icon Wookie, Luke Una’s É Soul Cultura, Rich Reason’s Ghosts of Garage, and Huey Morgan.
The Sports Bar will host official takeovers and celebrations across major tournaments, including the UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 and the Woman’s Rugby World Cup, as well as Premier League fixtures, Champions League, Formula 1 and more.
Freight Island
Dan Morris, managing director at Freight Island, said: “Freight Island was always imagined as a place for innovation and pushing boundaries and this year’s update is about taking us closer to that original vision.
“With the incredible new food, a refreshed dining experience and our biggest Spring/Summer festival line-up yet, we’re set for an unforgettable season.”
Freight Island is re-opening on Thursday April 3rd. Get yourself booked in HERE.
Manchester is launching The Super Duper Family Festival in February, a new free un-ticketed family event spread over four days. There’ll be various activities that will transform the city into a giant, interactive playground from Saturday February 15th to Tuesday February 18th 2025. Families can explore unique play zones scattered across Manchester, with everything from giant mazes and steam-powered carousels to retro video games and family raves. The family festival will feature six key zones across the city, including The Garden in Exchange Square, featuring an 18m x 18m real hedge maze reaching two metres high.
Then there’s The Carnival in St Ann’s Square, a steampunk spectacle of old-school carnival games, including a traditional Victorian Carousel, a mind-bending Hall of Mirrors, and Test of Strength stand.
Other zones include The Playground with Waterloo Road, where popular schoolyard games come to life on New Cathedral Street in collaboration with BBC’s Waterloo Road, gaming at The Arcade in the Printworks, The Sports Hall at Great Northern Warehouse, and The Party at Aviva Studios. Then there’s The Rave, bringing family raves and parties featuring a world-class sound system and dazzling lighting displays to the Great Northern Warehouse.
Venues like the National Football Museum, Stoller Hall, People’s History Museum and Castlefield Viaduct are also set to host their own exciting activities. And families can experience the launch of CBBC’s Operation Ouch: Brains, Bogeys and You at the Science and Industry Museum.
Supported by the city’s hoteliers, Manchester Accommodation BID, the festival has been created in partnership with Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, Manchester City Council, Marketing Manchester, Aviva Studio, Great Northern Warehouse and Printworks. Manchester Accommodation BID Chairman, Kumar Mishra said, “This festival is a fantastic opportunity to draw families into the heart of Manchester, showcasing the city’s vibrant culture, creativity, and its status as a world-class destination. “With iconic attractions like the National Football Museum, the Science and Industry Museum, and the breathtaking Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester offers an unparalleled mix of history, innovation, and entertainment. “By transforming the city into a playground of creative experiences and offering free fun for children of all ages, we’re not only celebrating the best of Manchester, but also inspiring families to explore, stay, and create lasting memories in one of the UK’s most dynamic and exciting cities.”
The festival is a free un-ticketed event, find out more HERE.