Manchester PR, events and social media consultancy, Sundae Communications, is working with Manchester arts centre HOME on the upcoming launch of HOME Arches, a brand new, free to use, space for artist development, that is due for completion in early 2025.
The three arches on Whitworth Street West, spread across 258 sqm, will be transformed into artist development spaces that are both functional and aesthetic. 50% of the space will be dedicated to artists from groups currently underrepresented in the industry, including members of the Global Majority, deaf and disabled artists, and artists from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
This essential, free to use, space, available to theatre makers, visual artists and filmmakers across Greater Manchester and the North West, will support the clear need for additional, affordable productive workspace in the city centre.
Sundae is delivering press, trade, and industry engagement, working alongside the HOME team to introduce the trail-blazing new concept via targeted media coverage, preview tours, and launch events as HOME Arches is set to become a much-needed artist development hub for the city, vital to creating a vibrant and diverse artistic ecology within the North-West where artists can thrive.
The new space is funded by the UK Government, Manchester City Council, The Wolfson Foundation, The Foyle Foundation and The Granada Foundation alongside trust, corporate, individual and anonymous supporters. It will deliver 5,000 free hours of making, studio and development space for artists and creative freelancers, with space for residencies, supported co-working and networking opportunities, plus access to technical equipment and expertise.
HOME Arches will also feature exhibition space in the custom-built Arches Windows will have the ability to present a range of work from sculptural to digital, creating valuable new commissioning public realm opportunities, whilst creating a new road frontage for one of the main arteries of the city.
Plans for HOME Arches have been developed in collaboration with HOME’s Artist Panel, to ensure the new space accurately represents and serves the freelance artistic community. The panel leads on wider consultation with the artistic community, has fed into the design and fit out, taken part in programming and developing processes for the spaces, in addition to acting as advocates for the project.
Director of audiences at HOME, Jay Walton, said: “Sundae have been an absolute pleasure to work with, showing on-going commitment to our campaign and playing a key role in its success. They are efficient, reliable, and highly knowledgeable, consistently offering valuable insights throughout the process.
“In addition to their professionalism, the exceptional personalities of both Tom and Fiona have truly shone. Their passion, thoughtfulness, and infectious enthusiasm have made working with them a genuinely enjoyable experience. I would gladly collaborate with them again and eagerly look forward to the opportunity to do so on future projects.”
Sundae is a home-grown North West specialist entertainment consultancy, and the company’s portfolio also takes in TV, film, plus large-scale events, festivals and venues across the creative sector, working nationally and internationally, whilst proudly celebrating the regions.
Fiona McGarva, managing director of Sundae Communications, said: “Creating opportunity for all and supporting development in the arts is at the heart of everything we do, so we could not be more delighted to be working with HOME on the launch of this vital new hub that will democratise the landscape for creatives in our city.”
Sundae’s recent and ongoing work includes campaigns for venues including Band on the Wall, Palace Theatre and Opera House, Swansea Arena, Stockton Globe, Salvi’s, and Factory International’s Aviva Studios, festivals and events from Shangri-La Glastonbury and Chanel’s Métiers d’art to Festa Italiana, Bee in the City, Sounds from the Other City and The University of Manchester’s Universally Manchester Festival, plus television companies such as Clapperboard Studios, Saffron Cherry, Coolabi Group and Factory.
