Part of Quarantine’s new project The Questions, this in-conversation brings together artists, activists and thinkers in a longitudinal research study into how and why it matters that we physically assemble, and what this enables – socially and politically – in a time when so much is uncertain. In Manchester, the focus will be the subject of intergenerational assembly and the layers of experience a city holds.

Art of Assembly XXXII
What makes a City I: Cultural Palimpsests
With Jenna Ashton, Linda Brogan & Alistair Hudson
Hosted by Florian Malzacher

Cities are palimpsestic—constantly rewritten through traditions, conflicts, identities, and ideologies that shape their realities. In recent years, they have increasingly found themselves in competition, with municipal councils tasked with constructing urban identities that function as brands, carefully curated to appear distinctive and attractive on both national and international stages. Arts and culture have become central instruments in these strategies, with major investments in flagship projects designed to promote a city’s “official” identity—often by highlighting past successes or staging large-scale spectacles. Yet what space remains for independent ideas or contemporary cultural practices that resist or fall outside such hegemonic narratives? The 32nd edition of The Art of Assembly explores the kinds of assemblies that arts and culture generate within the urban context – and what they write over.

Playwright Linda Brogan explores the archaeology of a Manchester soul and funk club, the Reno, the theatre and audience for 50s born mixed heritage people in the 1970s. Curator Alistair Hudson advocates for cultural policies that focus on social engagement and collective participation, using art to empower local communities. Artist and Lecturer Jenna Ashton explores how heritage, feminist and community-based cultural practices shape urban narratives. 
 

About the project

Quarantine is a group of people working together as artists and producers. Based in Manchester since 1998 and working all over the world, Quarantine make projects with all kinds of people to talk about everyday life and how we relate to one another. Find out more: qtine.com

The Art of Assembly is part of The Questions, a three-part project taking place in 2025 in Manchester and Chemnitz, Germany twin cities since 1983.

Through performance, conversation and cultural exchange, Quarantine, in collaboration with ASA-FF e.V. (Chemnitz) will work together to create intergenerational encounters, both locally and internationally. The Questions is part of the programme for Chemnitz 2025: European Capital of Culture.  

In collaboration with ASA-FF e.V.
Part of Chemnitz European Capital of Culture 2025
In cooperation with Allianz Foundation

Supported by Cultural Bridge, Manchester City Council and The Skelton Charity

This project is part of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025. This project is co-financed by tax funds on the basis of the parliamentary budget of the state of Saxony and by federal funds from the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media).

Related event

On Wed 15 Oct, 5–7pm and Thu 16 – Sun 19 Oct, 12–4.30pm, Quarantine are hosting Telescope at Manchester Museum, a durational performance that takes the form of a live exhibition of borrowed belongings, and their owners’ thoughts about where they themselves belong. 

This event is part of The Cultural Welcome – a week of events designed to help students discover the creative and cultural spaces of Manchester’s Knowledge Quarter. Find out more.

There are loads of other Cultural Welcome events happening here at Contact, check them out here!