MIF23: The Skyliner presents Public Art and Spatial Freedom

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

Book now

The Skyliner presents Public Art and Spatial Freedom

9-16 July 2023
Date
Time
Session Features
09 Jul 2023
12:00 pm
12 Jul 2023
3:00 pm
14 Jul 2023
3:00 pm
15 Jul 2023
12:00 pm
16 Jul 2023
12:00 pm

See website for more sessions

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

skyliner
Book now

The Skyliner (aka Hayley Flynn), has been a fundamental part of Manchester’s walking tours scene for years. Her genuine passion for local history and socially invested or politically motivated public art fuels a series of engaging and enlightening tours. These aren’t your classic tourist targeted walking tours visiting the well known monuments and landmarks in the city. You’ll be shown an alternative side to places which you may think you’re familiar with. The Skyliner’s knowledge of each street’s history is incredible and complements her particular ability to connect the recent history of an area to its current development and potential futures.

In this special collaboration between The Skyliner and MIF you will explore the relationship between art, audience and place. By removing visual art from a gallery, a fundamental shift in audience takes place, giving artists a chance to make a public facing political statement. These acts of free expression can result in a much wider change to a place’s narrative. Manchester is more than familiar with the conflicting needs of urban art practitioners and large scale developers. Skyliner explores this tension and asks some thought provoking questions about how space is used in a city.

The tour follows a history of graffiti as well as the journey street art has taken in Manchester, from grassroots to being a commercially sought after addition to an area’s personality. She also takes a look at the positive cultural and social knock on effects that have been triggered by street art in various parts of the city. There is the well known narrative of areas being artistically saturated then gentrified but maybe there are alternative stories to be carved out.

As part of the tour you’ll visit a specially commissioned mural by the Manchester based street artist Qubek. His signature aesthetic of soft realism can be seen in multiple locations across the city. Join the Skyliner to see this seasoned artist’s most recent work and learn about the context and motivations behind it.

Explore

Where to go near MIF23: The Skyliner presents Public Art and Spatial Freedom

Testbed Main Space
Leeds
Event venue
TESTBED

TESTBED is a newly renovated 10,000 sq foot event venue in Leeds that offers endless possibilities for creating unique and inspiring experiences.

Manchester
Restaurant
Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
Leeds
Event venue
The Warehouse In Holbeck

Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.

Leeds
Event venue
The Attic

Tucked away above the bustle of Merrion Street, The Attic is one of Leeds’ most distinctive small venues – intimate, unpretentious, and steeped in DIY spirit.

The Chevin is a great place for visitors to do lots of different activities and is open all year round with 5 free car parks. To help you find out whatís best for you we have divided this section up into some of these different activities.Please be aware that The Chevin is a working estate so you may see vehicles including timber-extraction lorries using some of the tracks.Self-guided WalksThe Chevin is a big place and there is a good network of paths to make your own circular walk, but if you want to follow a themed trail there is a Geology Trail, Heritage Time Trail and a route for Tree Spotters.Bikes & HorsesThere is an extensive bridleway network on the eastern parts of The Chevin that caters for a range of abilities.Orienteering and GeocachingTwo orienteering courses and a number of geocache sites are waiting to be discovered.Climbing & BoulderingThere are many fantastic crags for climbing and boulders for bouldering.Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs
Leeds
Restaurant
Oporto

For many years, Oporto has been a beacon of alternative energy on Leeds’ Call Lane – serving up great food and drink alongside resident DJs and live music.

What's on: Activity

ActivityCity Centre
The Liver Bird Safari Walking Tour

Liverpool has over 100 Liver birds hidden within its architecture. Join ArtsGroupie for a Liver Bird Safari where you’ll learn about these mythical creatures and their heritage ties to the

From £10
A large mechanical puppet controlled by multiple people. Encounter Festival in Preston
FestivalsLancashire
Encounter Festival in Preston

Expect a jam-packed day of outdoor performance, live music, family fun – plus Preston’s iconic Torchlight Procession and fireworks finale.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Exhibitions in the North

Galleries around the North are gearing up for a new season of exhibitions - from iconic art prizes to smaller, artist-led gems.

Cinema in the North

This month we recommend a season of Film noir, cult Australian movies and a huge celebration of DIY community cinema.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

This season’s theatre is gloriously eclectic: from radical cabaret and reinvented classics to new musicals and boundary-pushing performance.

Wisp Press Image
Music in the North

From corrupted shoegaze to experimental electronica, post-hardcore to Indian classical, these are the shows that should be on your radar.