Balmy Army
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1 - 15 Jul 2023
1 July: 3pm
15 July: 2.30pm
Other public opening times for the exhibition will be shared soon.
This exhibition is free entry, no ticket is required. Public opening hours for the exhibition will be announced closer to the event.
For access enquiries, please contact HOME Manchester on:
Phone: 0161 200 1500
Email Address: access@homemcr.org.
For more information please visit HOME Manchester (homemcr.org)
Accessibility features available for this event: Captioning Relaxed Performance BSL Interpreting Wheelchair Access Assistive Hearing
A movement for youth-led mental health. This is art and activism rolled into one.
‘Ever been told to ask for help? Then asked for help. Only to be told help wasn’t available? (Maybe in six months, a few hundred miles away...).
Ever been told you’ve got a problem, but something inside you says: “Hmmm am not quite sure it’s JUST me?”.
Ever get the feeling young people’s mental healthcare could be so much better?’
Enter the Balmy Army. Over the past year young people, artists, madpride organisers, radical dreamers, disability justice doers and everyone else trying to cope have come together. What do they want? Mental health support that works. When do they want it? About 15 years ago...
From sharing poetry to making placards, to social media takeovers and mass acts of civil disobedience, this is the Balmy Army’s lab where anything (safe) can happen. It’s a space for the Balmy Army to play, plan protests, give performances and even print ‘madidas’ t-shirts.
You can drop in too and see what it’s all about. Keep your eyes peeled for more opportunities coming your way, but for starters you’re welcome to join the Balmy Army for:
A Welcome and Sharing
What? An informal and relaxed get together celebrating all things Balmy Army and the work they’re doing.
When? Saturday 1 July at 3pm
Do I need to book? Yep, just follow the booking link and you’re golden.
A Movement and Call to Action
What? Join the Balmy Army as we move through the city and celebrate young people making change, followed by a rally of song, poems and demands for better mental health support.
When? Saturday 15 July from 2.30pm
Do I need to book? Nope, this one’s a just-show-up kinda thing.
Whether you’re struggling with your mental health, supporting someone who is, work in mental health or you’re just curious, Balmy Army reminds us that mental health isn’t just about individuals – and that community, care and creativity are some of our greatest ways to heal.
Credits
Balmy Army is made by 40 young people from Greater Manchester, with the vacuum cleaner, Kevin Edward Turner, Lizzie Chapman, Toni-Dee, Caz Hughes, Evyn Seaton-Mooney, Rory Aaron, Rosalyne Norford, Gráinne Flynn, Cara Looij, Sascha Gilmour, Charlie Clark, HOME, Factory International, Contact, 42nd Street, Gorse Hill Studios and the Hope and Horizon Wards at Fairfield Hospital.
Tickets
A Welcome and Sharing is ticketed. Tickets are available to book from HOME's website.
The Balmy Army exhibition is free entry, no ticket is required. Public opening hours for the exhibition will be announced closer to the event.
For general enquiries, please contact tickets@factoryinternational.org.
For more information please visit - HOME Manchester (homemcr.org) or Ticketing and Sale of Goods Terms & Conditions – Factory International
We are working with a venue partner on this event. All bookings for accessible tickets need to be booked directly with Home.
Below is an overview of access booking information for HOME:
Phone: 0161 200 1500
Email Address: access@homemcr.org.
Access Information
The event takes place at HOME, Gallery. The full address of the venue is HOME, Tony Wilson Place, First Street, Manchester M15 4FN.
What3words is:
each.shall.limbs.
This exhibition is free entry, no ticket is required. Public opening hours for the exhibition will be announced closer to the event.
For access enquiries, please contact
Phone: 0161 200 1500
Email Address: access@homemcr.org.
For more information please visit - HOME Manchester (homemcr.org)
HOME has three floors, and there is step-free lift access to all levels. The two lifts are located in the main foyer, to the right of the front entrance. Both lifts have higher and lower buttons, one lift has a mirror. All the spaces at HOME including the Gallery are wheelchair accessible.
There are two accessible toilets on every floor, six in total.
For full access information about this venue, including a virtual tours, visit: https://homemcr.org/facilities-and-access/access-information/
There is no audio-described performance for Balmy Army
You can reserve an assistance dog space by contacting access@homemcr.org or by calling HOME’s box office on 0161 200 1500, or by dropping into the venue.
There will be live captioning for A Welcome and Sharing with Balmy Army on Saturday 1 July at 3pm.
There will be BSL interpretation at A Welcome and Sharing with Balmy Army on Saturday 1 July at 3pm.
There will be BSL interpretation for A Movement and Call to Action with Balmy Army on Saturday 15 July from 2:30pm
All Balmy Army events will be informal chill vibes. You are welcome to come and go in the space, move around or check in with those around you – but please be aware of how this may impact others.
HOME has audio induction loop systems at the Box Office and in the cinemas and theatres. Sennheiser infra-red amplification is available in HOME’s theatres. Visitors can request a headset or receiver for these services from the Box Office.
Balmy Army is a project made by people with lived experience of mental health struggles. You can expect content including all kinds of mental health and intersecting experiences. During each event, there will be lots of people to talk to if you find yourself with big feels.
Further Information about accessibility can be found on the Home website.
Travel Information
HOME’s closest stations are:
Deansgate station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram: 0.2 miles
Manchester Oxford Road station: 0.3 miles
St Peter’s Square tram: 0.4 miles
Manchester Victoria station is approximately one mile from HOME.
Manchester Piccadilly station is approximately 0.7 miles from HOME
Click on the links above to find access information for each station.
The 256 bus from Piccadilly Gardens stops on Medlock Street. The bus stops are located 50m and 150m from HOME’s entrance. Buses on the 256 route are wheelchair accessible and have low floor access.
You can also use the free bus services that stop at all city-centre stations. Route 3 stops near HOME on Whitworth Street West from 7:30pm except on Sundays. Buses on these free routes are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus routes, please visit the TfGM website.
There are 40 bike parking spaces at the venue. Additional racks are installed in the area surrounding First Street.
Accessible parking:
Blue Badge holders can park on Whitworth Street West close to the open ilway arch labelled Jack Rosenthal Street (approximately 100m from HOME’s entrance). Once parked, follow the pedestrian-only Jack Rosenthal Street to the right to find HOME’s entrance.
The Q-Park First Street multistorey carpark also has 28 accessible parking spaces. This car park is located across from HOME on Tony Wilson Place at First Street. The car park entrance is approximately 30m from HOME’s entrance, facing the pedestrian public square, Tony Wilson Place. HOME customers can scan their Q-Park ticket at the HOME box office to gain a 25% parking discount. Please note that Blue Badges are not valid for free parking in the Q-Park.
For a list of other parking bays available in the area, visit Manchester City Council website.
Car drop-off:
The closest car drop-off point is approximately 100m from HOME’s entrance – located on Whitworth St West at the open railway arch labelled Jack Rosenthal Street. This is next to Belvoir Lettings and leading through to Starbucks. Once dropped off, follow the pedestrian-only Jack Rosenthal Street to the right to find HOME’s entrance.
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