CUTTING EDGE CULTURE
A PLAYGROUND FOR IMAGINATION & INVENTIVENESS
By 2025 St. John’s will be synonymous with culture and creativity. A place unlike any other in the UK and Europe; a place where art is created and modern industry thrives.
Where else will you find a ground-breaking new arts and cultural venue offering audiences the opportunity to experience one of the most ambitious and adventurous year-round creative programmes in Europe, all alongside the premier business district for tech, media and creative industries.
Our vision for a successful culture is focused upon innovation, the arts and creativity. St. John’s is a stage for exploration and enriching experiences, supporting emerging talent by creating space for artistic experimentation. Exhibitions, screenings, workshops, leisure and retail will provide inspiration and opportunity around every corner.
AVIVA STUDIOS
THE HOME OF FACTORY INTERNATIONAL
Designed by Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), Aviva Studios is a global destination for arts, music and culture located at the heart of the new St. John’s neighbourhood.
The design of the 13,350-square-metre building is based around large, open, flexible spaces that can be constantly reconfigured, enabling artists to create large-scale ambitious works of a kind not seen anywhere else in the world, and providing a canvas to make, explore and experiment. The 21-metre-high Warehouse is the ultimate flexible performance space with capacity for up to 5,000 people standing. It is taller than four double decker buses stacked on top of each other and just under the length of a Boeing 747 aeroplane, and can be divided by a movable, full-height acoustic wall. The Hall features a flexible stage and can house an audience of up to 1,603 seated or 2,000 standing.
Programmed and operated by Factory International, the organisation behind Manchester International Festival, Aviva Studios will host a year-round programme of original productions and special events across all artforms – from major exhibitions and concerts to intimate performances and immersive experiences.
VERSA MANCHESTER STUDIOS
THE UK’S LEADING TV, FILM & LIVE EVENT STUDIOS NETWORK
Providing the best production and broadcast facilities in Manchester City Centre, Versa Manchester Studios is the city’s leading creative complex for TV, film, music and digital content.
VERSA Manchester Studios consists of two production dedicated Studios, four hybrid Studios and two Drama Stages.