The Cultural Welcome
About our events
The Cultural Welcome returns from 6-12 October 2025, inviting students to explore the vibrant arts and culture scene along the Oxford Road Corridor.
This special week of exclusive events offers a unique opportunity to discover museums, theatres, music venues, and galleries, all opening their doors to new and returning students.
Whether you’re a theatre lover, a music enthusiast, or eager to delve into Manchester’s literary and artistic heritage, The Cultural Welcome is your chance to experience the city’s creative energy firsthand. Expect behind-the-scenes tours, hands-on workshops, live performances, and special access to some of Manchester’s most iconic cultural spaces.
What's on at Contact?
Backstage Tour and Workshop (Oct 7th)
A backstage tour and tech workshop with Contact’s production team to learn about the technical side of theatre.
Contact Comedy Night (Oct 8th)
More info coming soon!
Artist Talk - Quarantine (Oct 9th)
Celebrated artists group Quarantine host a talk on responding to everyday life & their latest project, The Questions.
Do It Yourself: Making Political Theatre (Oct 10th)
Following the publication of Common/Wealth's first book, Do It Yourself: making political theatre, this 45 min talk by co-author Evie Manning and co-editor, Prof. Jenny Hughes will share how they started as a DIY company, how they’ve made shows along the way and why making political theatre is critical and urgent now more than ever.
Tickets are also available for a workshop after the talk.
The Art of Assembly (Oct 11th)
Lectures & conversation with protagonists from art, activism & theory - on potential of assembly when not much seems certain...
Part of Quarantine’s project, The Questions.
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!
List of Events
Backstage Tour and Workshop
Come and learn the fundamentals of technical theatre with a lighting and sound workshop from the Contact production team! Ever wondered how a theatre show is built? Interested in operating performances? Passionate about lighting or sound…
Artist Talk - Quarantine
Celebrated artist group Quarantine host a talk on their approach to creating work that brings people together who might not usually share a space – and their latest project, The Questions.
