Redefining the Urban Stage

Manchester International Arts was founded in 1988 to present ‘world music’ and performances by the many cultural communities of Greater Manchester, but soon expanded to cover all art forms — especially multi-cultural and animatory street art events and festivals.

For over three decades our energy and imagination was devoted to organising large and vibrant street festivals in urban centres and parks: Streets Ahead, the Commonwealth Games Festival, Urban Moves, The Garden of Delights, and Feast — picnic by the lake.

We took the Streets Ahead concept to Liverpool for Capital of Culture 2008, programmed Lakes Alive across Cumbria as part of the Cultural Olympiad, directed SIRF — one of the biggest street festivals in the UK — and brought street spectacle to Huddersfield, Gateshead, Dewsbury, Birmingham and the newly renovated Piece Hall in Halifax.