Tapestry Themes #14: Digital Technologies & Creative Infrastructure

Theme Fourteen: Digital Technologies & Creative Infrastructure

Manchester is now known as being a creative and pioneering city for technology. MediaCityUK in Salford is one of the most important locations for film, history, theatre, television and fibre-optics in the UK.

Salford Quays is home of the BBC, ITV, The Lowry Theatre, Imperial War Museum North and a host of studios, shops and restaurants and is on the old Salford Docks which leads to Manchester's historical Ship Canal.

This group found lots of imagery of fibre-optics for visual inspiration for this panel which will be really interesting to see depicted through thread!

'MediaCity (Salford Quays) features one of the UK’s most advanced fibre-optic networks, designed to support high-bandwidth creative and digital industries. It is underpinned by over 20 million metres of fiber-optic cable, providing 200Gbps connectivity managed by doc10. The site is the first in Europe to achieve WiredScore Platinum Neighborhood certification.' (Google)

MediaCity is now the home of British Television in the north. When the BBC relocated from Oxford Road to Salford, this became a cultural hotspot and a huge employer for creatives in the North West,

'Following the successful relocation of the BBC, the scheme has also become the new home for ITV in the north, as well as for the University of Salford’s Media Faculty and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. These major organisations are supplemented by more than 200 SMEs providing creative, digital and tech business support across the media hub. There are now more people working at MediaCity than there were working in the historic Manchester docks.' (Chapman Taylor)

The Lowry is a theatre in Salford Quays, with a mission statement of empowering 'People, Place and Potential'. They are a non-profit organisation and registered charity which supports local theatre and make this art form accessible to all.

'We are Salford and proud. The city we call home is at the heart of everything we do. Because where we’re from is why we’re here.  We’re here to spread the joy of art and creativity, further and wider. We’re here to give space to different views, voices and opinions. And as a charity, we’re here to put every pound we make back into our work; supporting local communities, nurturing young talent and creating a programme as diverse and open minded as the city itself. In short, whatever you’re here for, whether that’s a show, an exhibition, an artist, a band, a comedian, or a workshop, we’re here for it.' (Lowry Theatre)