Skyliner presents The City Imitates Art
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1 - 8 Jul 2023
Ticketing Hub, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ
The tour started and ended at our Ticketing Hub which is located in the outdoor spaces at Aviva Studios, Factory International's new home. Find full access and travel information below.
The tour started at our Ticketing Hub, just outside Aviva Studios and has step-free access. The tour lasted 120 minutes covering a maximum distance of 2.5km. Please find access provision for the outdoor spaces at Aviva Studios below.
Age Guidance: Under 16s to be accompanied by an adult over 18
Running time: 1.5 - 2 hours approx.
Using iconic Northern television as a jumping off point, alternative tour guide Skyliner invited us to explore the city from a different angle
‘Things are because we see them, and what we see, and how we see it, depends on the Arts that have influenced us.’ – Oscar Wilde.
Art changes our perception of life. But how is our reaction to the city influenced by its representation on TV? Skyliner led a tour of Manchester that told the story of the city through popular shows of the '80s and '90s – from the gritty streets of Cracker to the loft-living of Queer as Folk. Did the symbolism and structure of Northern TV shape the cities of the region? Did Cracker gentrify? Did Brookside radicalise?
With Aviva Studios, Factory International’s new home, taking shape on the former site of Granada Studios, this fascinating tour explored how the franchise forged an emotional connection to the region.
Access information
Here you can find access information about the venue, our access performances and advice on content. For more information about the different types of access performances we offer, please visit our Access page. If you have specific access needs that aren’t yet addressed, please email access@factoryinternational.org and we’ll do our best to help.
The Ticketing Hub is located in the outdoor spaces at Aviva Studios, Factory International's new home. The full address is Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ and what3words is chop.feeds.chase.
There is step-free access to all areas of our outdoor spaces at Aviva Studios. There are a range of seating options around the space, as well as picnic tables, including wheelchair accessible tables. The bars have a lowered accessible service area
Toilets are available inside Aviva Studios. Accessible toilets (a mixture of wheelchair accessible cubicles with right- or left-hand transfer, as well as ambulant accessible cubicles with grab rails) are located in the brick arches in the Social.
There are additional accessible toilets located in both the Hall Foyers.
You do not need a key to use the accessible toilets.
Assistance dogs are welcome at Aviva Studios, and we can provide mats and water bowls on request.
At the end of the tour, participants were invited to explore a small, dark space. They were in groups of six, using torches. Although the space was small, there were no trip hazards, and there was low lighting rather than pitch black. Attendees were very welcome to let the tour guide know if they would prefer not to take part in this section.
Travel information
Below you can find information on how to get to the venue.
The Ticketing Hub can be approached along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).
Our closest stations are:
Salford Central station: 0.4 miles
Deansgate station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram: 0.6 miles
St Peter’s Square tram: 0.6 miles
Manchester Victoria station is approximately one mile from Aviva Studios
Manchester Piccadilly station is approximately 1.3 miles from Aviva Studios
Click on the links above to find detailed access information for each station.
Free bus services stop at all city-centre stations, and near to Aviva Studios along Deansgate, Bridge St and Quay St. Buses on these free routes are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus routes, please visit the TfGM website.
There is a car park approximately 0.6 miles from the event entrance at Water Street Car Park, New Elm Rd, Manchester, M3 4JH.
There is also a NCP car park (Manchester Spinningfields) approximately 0.5 miles away from the venue at Spinningfields, New Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3BE. It has 35 accessible bays.
There are a small number of Blue Badge spaces along Water St and Quay St. Otherwise head towards Liverpool Road, Great John St and Lower Byrom St – close to our neighbours, the Science and Industry Museum where there are a small number of additional Blue Badge spaces.
For a list of other parking bays available in the area, visit Manchester City Council website.