Arts Council England has awarded Manchester City Council £5.5m in funding for HOME, the new art, theatre and film production centre for the city’s First Street development. The grant will help the council – which has already committed £19m to the project – meet the total budget of £25m.
HOME is the product of the recent merger of Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company – “two of Manchester’s best-loved arts institutions” – and is set to open in its new venue in Spring 2015. With its 500m2, 4m-high gallery space; 500-seat theatre; 150-seat flexible studio space; five cinema screens; digital production and broadcast facilities; café bar and restaurants, it is hoped HOME will become the epicentre of a new creative corner, changing the cultural landscape of Manchester city centre, “with positive impacts nationally and beyond”.
First Street, billed as “Manchester’s most vibrant new neighbourhood”, is a 20-acre site comprising sustainable office space, food and retail outlets, an outdoor performance space and a four-star hotel, alongside the major new culture centre.
Dave Moutrey is HOME’s Director and Chief Executive: “Our aim is to create a shared space where people can come together in their passion for art, cinema, theatre, good food and conversation. We want to create the right venue for artists to make great work and for audiences to come together to experience it, to take part, learn and have fun.”
