In 2021, we opened our doors to the redeveloped building, transformed for the next generation of audiences and artists, laying the foundations for new experiences, careers and opportunities for young people. Scroll down to learn more!

Con:Struct

Throughout the capital redevelopment, from initial meetings to re-opening events, a dedicated group of young people contributed ideas and energy to ensure their voices were represented in our plans. Our ConStruct group (aged 15-25 years) met regularly with staff and were involved in all aspects of the building project, reviewing tender documents for our prospective construction and catering companies and taking part in both sets of interviews. They attended regular interior design consultations with our architects and presented at Board meetings and public events. The group included young people with disabilities and they worked alongside the Design Team in consulting with various disability groups including Manchester People First.

MORE THAN A MAKEOVER

We built an artistically, commercially and environmentally sustainable theatre of the future. Contact has a proud history and a unique identity. This is reflected in the new building as it was in the old, remaining a place for young people to call home, and continuing to be a venue where audiences will encounter fresh, new works.

MORE THAN A THEATRE

Contact is now open with new facilities that will enable the next generations of young artists to realise their ambitions, whilst creating a new destination arts venue on the Oxford Road corridor. Our new facilities include:

• New performance spaces fit for the 21st century
• A state-of-the-art new recording studio for our young people’s music projects
• An arts and health development space to help us inspire people to live and feel better through art and theatre
• New young enterprise offices for artists and cultural organisations to hire and work alongside us
• We’ve also opened a new café bar that ensures that visitors have an enhanced experience when they come here.

THANK YOU

We wouldn’t be where we are now without the generous support of our funders:

• Arts Council England awarded Contact £3.85 million towards our £7.15 million redevelopment project.
• We secured significant funding from Manchester City Council, and help in kind from Manchester University and Bruntwood.
• We also received generous support from charitable trusts and foundations including the Foyle Foundation, the Granada Foundation, Wellcome Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation and the Oglesby Charitable Trust

Click here to see a full list of our current supporters