- Manchester - This is a tour for those interested in the city’s counterculture with an authentic voice from that scene, told through its street art.
Discussing not only of triumphs in architecture and heritage but real issues facing the city today from social justice to public spaces. The tour tracks the transformation of the Northern Quarter since the 1970s when it was in decline in the wake of our first American-style shopping mall, the Arndale Centre, opening. The area, the one with the highest density of protected buildings in the city, was cited by cultural icon Tony Wilson in the early 90s as being ‘our Detroit’ owing to a mass evacuation of businesses. Abandoned and ruined it was the public art that turned the area around from 1998 onwards. The tour discovers that original ceramic art trail and uses more modern street art in order to weave together the narrative. We’ll also discuss how the Northern Quarter is used as a film set, and we’ll discover the backstreets of the area rather than the major streets and attractions as these are easy to discover on your own (though I’m happy to give you tips on where to explore after the tour, or where to go for lunch etc)
- All fees and taxes included
Venture into the alleyways to unearth urban masterpieces and see how pottery art transformed the locality into the city’s hippest area. With a discerning perspective, we uncover issues impacting the city, from societal justice to community spaces, and examine the morality of public art.
The tour tracks the evolution of the Northern Quarter from the 70s, a period of decline after the inauguration of our first US-style mall, the Arndale Centre.
The region, boasting the greatest number of preserved buildings in the city, was referred by cultural luminary Tony Wilson in the 90s, as our version of ‘Detroit’ due to a large exodus of corporations.
From 1998, art became the catalyst for the resurgence of the area. The tour investigates the initial ceramic art pathway and leverages contemporary street art to weave the storyline. We will also delve into AirBnBs, urban renewal, public spaces, and resting spots.
I donate 10% of the profit to local charities. This promotes sustainable, considerate and inclusive tourism.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.