Manchester spoken word collective Young Identity have joined forces with Contact Theatre’s Young Company to host Old Tools, a selection of alternative art tours that aim to inject a dose of disruption into Manchester Art Gallery. Despite naming their tours Old Tools, there will be nothing traditional about the performances their team of mouthy Mancs have whipped up. This combination of two of the city’s most exciting young companies have focused their talents on the idea of decolonising public culture and questioning what the gallery experience should look like in today’s shifting media landscape. Their aim is to encourage visitors to think differently about artwork, dismantle stereotypes associated with exhibitions and ask questions about why we held these thoughts in the first place. Who knows? Maybe galleries of the future will be a bit more Beyonce than Baroque? CYC and Young Identity certainly have their own ideas – all of which will no doubt emerge during their poetry, spoken-word and performance-filled alternative art tours. To get involved, head to Manchester Art Gallery from Wed 12 – Sun 16 Jun for their 7pm tour or catch a mid-afternoon performance at 3pm on their final day. They’ve even planned a couple of post-tour discussions throughout the week where you can voice your opinions on the topics at hand.
Wed 12 – Sun 16 Jun, OLD TOOLS > NEW MASTERS ≠ NEW FUTURES, Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL, Tel: 0161 274 0600, various times (not Sat), £20 / £15 under 35 / £10 concessions. (£5 discount on matinees). www.ContactMCR.com
- Words:
- Simon Bland
- Published on:
- Thu 9 May 2019
