Welcome to a special Artslist Newsletter. 

Chinese New Year

Seeing in the Year of the Pig

with some fantastic celebrations!

- Make yourself a pig lantern at the Chinese Arts Centre
- Urbis have a exhibition on Hong Kong plus Family Friendly workshops
- Manchester Art Gallery have all sorts of activites to celebrate the  New Year
- Join the whole of Chinatown in the Golden Dragon Parade
- Celebrate with a traditional New Year banquet at Yang Sing plus the chance to win a family meal.

Chinese Arts Centre Celebrates 2007 the year of the pig  

Chinese New Year Family Workshops

Sunday 11,18 & 25 February, 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Artist Sarah Lin welcomes in the Year of the Pig with a series of family lantern making workshops. Participants will have the opportunity to transform organic raw materials such as twigs and paper into pig-sculpted lanterns. Limited places so please book early.

Prices £3.50 individuals, £5 family (1 adult+1 child), £10 family (2 adults+3 children)

To book your place please call 0161 832 7280 or email education@chinese-arts-centre.org 

Collective Identity

Now until Sunday 1 April

Curator Dr.Joshua (Jiehong) Jiang showcases contemporary artworks by Hu Jieming, Liu Dahong, Miao Xiaochun, Shao Yinong and Mu Chen, Wang Chuan, Wang Jinsong.

Contemporary Art, Contemporary Contexts
Thursday 22 February 2007, 6pm - 7.30pm

Using the current show as a starting point, Ian Vines considers how different types of exhibitions, displays and modes of interpretation determine how contemporary art is perceived.

Free event

To reserve your place please call 0161 832 7271 or email info@chinese-arts-centre.org

For more information please visit www.chinese-arts-centre.org

Chinese Arts Centre
Market Buildings
Thomas Street
Manchester, M4 1EU

Arrivals and Departures: New Art Perspectives of Hong Kong

Urbis

Now until 11 March

Arrivals and Departures is the first major exhibition on Hong Kong to take place in the UK, and marks the ten year anniversary of the city's 'handover' from Britain to China.

The exhibition looks at one of the world's most diverse and exciting cities through 10 fascinating new commissions created by 5 British Chinese artists and 5 Hong Kong based artists.

Free exhibition

Come on a Saturday with the family and try your hand at...

Bag it

Every Saturday, 10 February - 10 March, 12 - 3 pm

Use funky oriental materials and your designer's eye to create and customise your very own drawstring bag. Eastern-colour and urban style will transform a bog-standard bag into a stylish sack of choice.

Suitable for all ages

Prices £3

For more information please call 0161 605 8205 or visit www.urbis.org.uk

Urbis
Cathedral Gardens
Manchester, M4 3BG

Chinese New Year Activities

Manchester Art Gallery

Sunday 18 February, 11am - 5pm

Come and celebrate the Year of the Pig with us with a full programme of music, performance and workshops.

Visit us anytime to pick up a family trail, fun audio tour or storybag and explore the gallery together. Enjoy a mix of real art and hands on activities in the Clore Interactive Gallery.

Relax in the gallery cafe where you can find great value children's lunch boxes with table activities, half portions of our hot food, high chairs and baby food (free if you spend £10 or more, or bring your own and we'll heat it for you). Our new children's menu (available at weekends and in the school holidays) changes daily and includes favourites like nachos and dips, sweet and sour chicken and organic tofu burgers.

Family workshops are for all ages

Free drop-in events

For more details of what's on at Manchester Art Gallery, visit the website at www.manchestergalleries.org or call 0161 235 8888.

Manchester Art Gallery
Mosley Street
Manchester, M2 3JL

Textphone: 0161 235 8893

Chinese New Year

Albert Square & Chinatown

Sunday 18 February, 12.30pm to 6.30pm

KUNG HEI FAT CHOY - Manchester welcomes the Year of the Pig with a glittering array of festivities including Dragon and Lion Dances, Kung Fu demonstrations, folk dance performances, acrobats, stalls and workshops.

In time-honoured fashion, the spectacular Golden Dragon Parade starts in Albert Square at 12.30pm (approx) and winds its way towards Chinatown. Around the streets of Chinatown, there will be special stalls and fairground rides, plus the chance to sample the delights of the surrounding restaurants and oriental shops. The official celebrations end with a stunning firework finale at 6.30pm (approx). The celebratory atmosphere in Chinatown carries on well into the night.

For information visit www.manchesterlive.co.uk

Suitable for all ages

Free event

Hog the Limelight at Yang Sing in 2007!

Yang Sing

Sunday 18 February, 1pm

Celebrate Chinese New Year in pedigree style at Yang Sing as we wag goodbye to Year of the Dog and hog the limelight in 2007, the Year of the Pig!

Pig out on a scrumptious Yang Sing traditional New Year banquet and 'ham it up' with Master Chu's legendary Lion Dancers, ceremonial fire crackers and other traditional entertainment. The ultimate in 'porcine perfection' with a bird's eye seat for the Chinatown parade, book early to be a lucky swine and reserve the best seat!

Yang Sing is one of Manchester's oldest fine dining institutions, loved by Mancunians for over 29 years.

To book your table please call 0161 236 2200 or for more information please visit www.yang-sing.com 

To receive news and special offers from Yang Sing please email sarah@yang-sing.com

Yang Sing
34 Princess Street
Manchester, M1 4JY

***Competition***

The Yang Sing are offering a Sunday Dim Sum lunch for a family of 4 (based on 2 adults & 2 kids). For a chance to win simply answer the following question:

Last year was the Chinese year of the...?

Please send your answer along with full contact details to kerry@aam.org.uk. The closing date will be Tuesday 13 February and the winner will be notified on Wednesday 14 February. (PLease note the prize will be not be on offer until after Chinese New Year - 18 February)

Good Luck!

If you have any feedback or comments on any of the events listed or about the artslist service, we would love to hear from you, just email us at artslist@aam.org.uk

If you have a friend or family member you think would like to receive artslist newsletters and broadcasts forward them this email and ask them to visit www.artslist.org.uk to register.

Kerry Ellis
Arts About Manchester

 Welcome to an Artslist Family Friendly broadcast. You'll never be bored on a Sunday again with Greenroom's Funday Sunday. Enjoy performances, puppetry, workshops and much more for you and your family!

 FUNDAY SUNDAY
creative performances & events for children & their adults

Greenroom

Funday Sunday events are ideal for children aged 4 - 11 years. Events include high-quality childrens' performance, puppetry and theatre accompanied by related workshops for the children and their grown-ups. All available space in the greenroom is used to create activities for everyone to join in, resulting in creative chaos.

"greenroom delivers these family friendly events brilliantly, you won't be disappointed."

City Life 2005

FUNNY BUSINESS
Fraser Hooper
Sunday 18th February from 2pm

Take one crazy clown, add daredevil tricks, a rubber duck, and a singing caveman. Mix with loads of audience participation and music, sprinkle on some magic and you have Strawberry's recipe for guaranteed giggles.

"An outstanding performer." Watermans Arts Centre

Price £6 including workshop

SORCERER'S APPRENTICE
Kazzum
Sunday 18th March from 2pm

The Sorcerer's Apprentice, an inquisitive boy who, whilst finding food for his family, encounters a magnificent and watery wizard.

Vietnamese water puppetry inspires a unique retelling of this classic tale. The action takes place in, on and around a set made of water. Table-top and shadow puppets combine with original music to weave an enchanting spell.

"...a gentle version of an ancient story, designed to put the very young under its watery spell." Time Out

Price £6 including workshop

THE TWO-BUM BUN
Moby Duck
Sunday 22nd April from 2pm

In the kingdom under the sea, the dragon is ill and the only thing that can save him is a rabbit's liver. The underwater animals duly fetch him a rabbit but their plans don't go as smoothly as expected.

Storytelling mixes with dance, live music, strange, evocative puppets and wild, exuberant Korean humour in Moby Duck's unique and unmissable performance style.

Prices £6 including workshop

TATTERCOATS
Multi Story Theatre
Sunday 20th May from 2pm

Tattercoats lives with her grandfather in a castle on an island surrounded by the sea. Ignored by her grandfather and bullied by the cooks, she makes friends with a young boy, learns how to fly a kite and how to dance like the wind.

This tender tale of love and adventure is given a suitably atmospheric production, weaving together song, music, striking physical action and computer animation.

Prices £6 including workshop

A fabulous creative workshop follows all FUNDAY SUNDAY performances.

To book your tickets please call 0161 615 0500 or book online at www.greenroomarts.org

greenroom
54-56 Whitworth Street West
Manchester, M1 5WW

If you have any feedback or comments on any of the events listed or about the artslist service, we would love to hear from you, just email us at artslist@aam.org.uk

If you have a friend or family member you think would like to receive artslist newsletters and broadcasts forward them this email and ask them to visit www.artslist.org.uk to register.

Kerry Ellis
Arts About Manchester

Welcome to your Artslist broadcast pulling your heart strings with a poetry battle at The Robert Powell Theatre. Hear these poets battle it out over love and lust and even have your say in an open mic session!

Love v Lust

The Robert Powell Theatre
The University of Salford

Wednesday 28th February, 5.30pm

Present by Commonword
Poets - Abi Idowu, Frisko, Helen Clare,
Michelle Green and Tony Walsh.
Host - Julian Daniel

Commonword's latest poetry battle is coming to town and two teams of poets will lyrically joust it out to settle a dispute over the ultimate relationship high: is it the slow-burner of love or the fast fury of lust?

In an evening of pure entertainment, these lyrical lovers and lotharios will shoot their words at your heart, stopping at nothing to win your affections. Exploring the ins-and-outs of the cosy stability of love and the red-hot right-now of lust, each team aims to convince you that they know best when it comes to satisfaction.

At the end of the night you vote to decide which team has taken you to heaven and back, and will leave the stage victorious.

The six mighty poets to be reckoned with include: Abi Idowu, Frisko, Helen Clare, Michelle Green and Tony Walsh. Host and go-between is the hilarious Julian Daniel.

An open mic session at the end of the show offers audience members the opportunity to poetically put their points of view forward. Places for the open mic session can be booked in advance by telephoning Kim Haygarth at Commonword on 0161 832 377.

The Robert Powell Theatre is located on the Frederick Road Campus of The University of Salford. From Salford Crescent Train Station the theatre is about a 10 minute walk. There are also frequent buses from Manchester city centre which travel to the Frederick Road Campus.

Suitable for ages 16+

Prices ?.00 full and ?.00 concession

To book tickets please call 0161 295 5223 (Monday - Friday, office hours) or book online at www.arts.salford.ac.uk

The Robert Powell Theatre
The University of Salford
Allerton Building
Frederick Road Campus
Salford, M6 6PU

***COMPETITION***

Win a pair of ticket to Love v Lust at The Robert Powell Theatre. To be in with a chance to win tickets to Love v Lust just answer the question below

Who is the well known cherub-like god who shoots his arrows at unexpected couples causing them to fall in love?

Email your answers and telephone number to artsunit-amss@salford.ac.uk. Winners will be notified by email. Competition closes on Wednesday 22 February. Please mark entries with 'AAM Competition' in the subject heading of your email.

 If you have any feedback or comments on any of the events listed or about the artslist service, we would love to hear from you, just email us at artslist@aam.org.uk

If you have a friend or family member you think would like to receive artslist newsletters and broadcasts forward them this email and ask them to visit www.artslist.org.uk to register.

Kerry Ellis
Arts About Manchester

A day of free interactive storytelling at Manchester Musuem plus wild half-term activities.

- Discover and explore with the whole family at

Imperial War Museum North.

- Lots of free family activities at Manchester Art Gallery including a celebration of Chinese New Year.

BREAKING NEWS!!

The Family Friendly Website is going to be relaunched in March! Don’t worry, we will be keeping all of your favourite features, but adding a few more in too!! We hope it will all go smoothly, but please bear with us if there are any little glitches along the way...

How will it look and what will be new? Well, we have taken on board your comments from the recent surveys, but if you have any more thoughts or suggestions, please send them to Leah, our Family Friendly Coordinator at leah@aam.org.uk and she will endeavor to make the site as close to what you all want as possible.

Starlight Express

Opera House, Manchester

Now until 

Mon - Sat, 7.30pm,

Matinee

Thurs & Sat, 2.30pm

Andrew Lloyd Webber's triumphant musical, Starlight Express is like nothing you've seen before. Brought to you by the original West End creative team, this high-velocity production fuses state of the art technology, electrifying music, and all-new dazzling sets and costumes.

This production features 3-D technology, which brings the action out and over the audience promising a journey you will never forget!

Light years ahead of the rest, it's two hours of speed, spectacle, excitement and energy. See it and still you won't believe it!

"stunning spectacle... dazzling costumes... daredevil stunts... this family-friendly phenomenon shows no signs of running out of steam" Manchester Evening News

Suitable for ages 8+

Prices £12.00 - £33.50,
Concessions & Group Discount Available

*** Special Offer ***

One Child Goes Free With Every Full Paying Adult

To claim offer quote Skating Special Offer and is bookable only at the Palace Theatre Box Office or by calling 0870 401 9000*

Offer excludes Sat evening performances, is subject to availability, is non-retrospective and can not be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Please contact Box Office for terms and conditions.

To book tickets please call Ticketmaster on 0870 401 9000* or book online at www.LiveNation.co.uk/Manchester*

For group bookings of 10+ please call 0800 587 5007

Palace Theatre Box Office, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 6FT
Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 8pm (6pm non performance days)

Opera House
Quay Street
Manchester, M3 3HP

*Subject to booking/transaction fee

Big Saturday

The Manchester Museum

Saturday 27 January, 11am-4pm

Drop into The Manchester Museum this Saturday for a day of free interactive storytelling and crafts in the special BBC Storymaker Theatre, where stories are brought to life with puppets, sound effects, props and lighting. Climb into the 12ft square hexagonal box of delights and once the curtains are drawn around you, let the show begin. There will also be interactive storytelling sessions with Gina Perry, object handling and Royal College of Music workshops in the galleries.

The BBC Storymaker Theatre is suitable for 3-5 year olds.
Storytelling Sessions with Gina are suitable for all ages.

Free events, just drop in on the day

Monday 12 - Friday 16 February

This February half term go wild at the Museum with daily activities linked to our Wild Britain exhibition, then come along on Saturday 17 February for our Dinosaur Big Saturday, for budding palaeontologists of all ages.

Free events, just drop in on the day

For more information please call 0161 275 2648 or visit www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

The Manchester Museum
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester, M13 9PL

Half Term Activities

Imperial War Museum North

Monday 12 – Friday 23 February

Over the half-term holidays come and take part in our daily Holiday Hotspot activities in the Museum. With craft and costume activities and opportunities to handle objects, these sessions will help you explore the galleries with your family.

Witness 2: Highlights of Second World War Art
Opening Saturday 3 February

As part of your visit, have a look at our new special exhibition. Find out how the Second World War shaped people’s lives through paintings, drawings, sculptures and gripping first-hand accounts. Pick up an I-Witness Family Gallery Pack filled with ideas and activities to get your family thinking on your journey around the exhibition.

Animals and War Tour
Every Saturday & Sunday 1.30pm

Alternatively, discover more about the experiences of animals in wartime on a museum tour.

Suitable for ages 5+
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

All activites are free drop-in sessions

For more information please call 0161 836 4000 or visit www.iwm.org.uk 

Imperial War Museum North,
Trafford Wharf Road,
Trafford Park,
Manchester, M17 1TZ

IWM North is open daily 10am – 5pm (closes 6pm Mar – Oct)

Free family events

Manchester Art Gallery

Modern Victorians
Tuesday 13 - Friday 16 February, 1pm - 3pm

Develop your own 21st century take on Victorian art. Pose for traditional pictures and make Victorian-inspired greetings cards.

Chinese New Year
Sunday 18 February, 11am - 5pm

Come and celebrate the Year of the Pig with us with a full programme of music, performance and workshops.

Visit us anytime to pick up a family trail, fun audio tour or storybag and explore the gallery together. Enjoy a mix of real art and hands on activities in the Clore Interactive Gallery.

Relax in the gallery cafe where you can find great value children's lunch boxes with table activities, half portions of our hot food, high chairs and baby food (free if you spend £10 or more, or bring your own and we'll heat it for you). Our new children's menu (available at weekends and in the school holidays) changes daily and includes favourites like nachos and dips, sweet and sour chicken and organic tofu burgers.

Family workshops are for all ages

Free drop-in events

For more details of what’s on at Manchester Art Gallery, visit the website at www.manchestergalleries.org or call 0161 235 8888.

Manchester Art Gallery
Mosley Street
Manchester, M2 3JL

Textphone: 0161 235 8893

If you have any feedback or comments on any of the show's and activites listed or about the artslist service, we would love to hear from you, just email us at artslist@aam.org.uk

If you have a friend or family member you think would like to receive artslist newsletters and broadcasts forward them this email and ask them to visit www.artslist.org.uk to register.

Kerry Ellis
Arts About Manchester

Welcome to your Artslist broadcast, bringing the Spirit of Cuba to you in this passionate and vibrant World Premiere dance musical with original salsa music. With a special offer for Artslist subscribers you can shake your hips into the New Year.

The Wedding Dance
Written and directed by Felix Cross
Music by Alex Wilson

The Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Thursday 1 Febuary – Saturday 3 March, 7.30pm
For matinees and other performances please see below

West Side Story meets Dangerous Liaisons with a dash of Tarantino - the award-winning Octagon Theatre, Bolton and Nitro present the World Premiere of The Wedding Dance. A new passionate love story with dance and music, where the movement and energy of salsa drives a fiery and explosive story. Set in the intense, hot environment of salsa dance clubs and the sensual surroundings of life in Havana, The Wedding Dance is a seductive story of aspiration and betrayal.

With sensational choreography, the production brings together the music of international salsa composer Alex Wilson with dynamic storytelling and direction by Nitro’s award-winning Artistic Director, Felix Cross.

Nitro tour dynamic innovative and high quality work that expresses the aspirations, cultures and issues of black people today.

‘One of the most exhilarating and enjoyable times I’ve had in the theatre’ The Guardian on Nitro’s production of Slamdunk

For more information visit www.octagonbolton.co.uk

Suitable for ages 12+

Prices £7.50 - £17.50
Discounts available include Groups, Schools and Young Person’s £4 tickets
Bargain Nights Thurs 1 Feb, Fri 2 Feb & Mon 5 Feb - tickets £8 to £10.50
Artslist Offer Special 241 ticket offer on Tues 6, Weds 7 and Thurs 8 Feb, 7.30pm

Matinees and special performances
Matinees Sat 17 Feb, Sat 24 Feb & Wed 28 Feb, 2pm
Meet the director and cast, Tues 6 Feb, post-show
Audio Described performance, Wed 28 Feb, 7.30pm
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted performance, Thurs 1 Mar, 7.30pm

The Octagon Theatre, Bolton recently won the award for Best Production at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards 2006 for 'Blonde Bombshells of 1943'.

To book tickets please call the Ticket Office on 01204 520661 or book online at www.octagonbolton.co.uk

The Octagon Theatre,
Howell Croft South,
Bolton

If you have any feedback or comments on any of the show's listed or about the artslist service, we would love to hear from you, just email us at artslist@aam.org.uk

If you have a friend or family member you think would like to receive artslist newsletters and broadcasts forward them this email and ask them to visit www.artslist.org.uk to register.

Kerry Ellis
Arts About Manchester

Buena Vista Social Club Presents:
Omara Portuondo

+ String Orchestra

The Bridgewater Hall
Saturday 18 November, 8.00pm

One of the original stars of the Buena Vista Social Club, and an icon of Cuban culture, Omara Portuondo returns to present a new show, her long-held dream of backing her own 9-piece band with a 16-piece string-ensemble, here conducted by the great Cuban Rudi Vistel.

Performing songs to those most unmistakeable and celebrated Cuban rhythms, such as the danzon, bolero, mambo, cha cha cha and son, Omara brings all the beauty of Cuba's Golden Age of music to The Bridgewater Hall.

Prices £23.50, £26.50, £29.50

If you would like to receive this newsletter visit www.artslist.org.uk to register.

Best Wishes

Kerry Ellis
Arts About Manchester

Welcome to artslist, bringing news of a groundbreaking theatre season brought to you by Community Arts North West.

These daring and explosive works will be onstage near you at various Manchester theatres - you can even win some tickets in the competition below!

Community Arts North West present
EXODUS ONSTAGE 2006
Refugee Theatre Season across Greater Manchester

Tues 14 November – Mon 4 December 

Three weeks of groundbreaking theatre exploring war, diaspora and asylum that will change the way you see the world.

Seven venues across Greater Manchester play host to 20 productions - an explosive and daring mix of work created, produced and performed by refugees, asylum seekers and local host communities, in partnership with theatres and theatre companies from across the region.

Exodus Onstage brings you human stories from survivors of war, persecution and forced migration, with both a global and local perspective. Find out what it is really like being a refugee in Britain today and celebrate remarkable stories of survival and hope.

Highlights include:

Afrocats: Where is Home?
Robert Powell Theatre, Contact and The Octagon Theatre, Bolton - 14, 17 & 30 Nov
Real stories of a new generation of young refugees and asylum seekers, featuring African dance, live music, spoken word and drama.

Crocodile Seeking Refuge
Royal Exchange - 16-18 Nov
Striking new play by award winning playwright Sonja Linden exploring stories of five individuals who have sought asylum in the UK from Africa to Iraq; Latin America to Iran. ‘A tribute to the human spirit’ TIME OUT ****

A Letter from Home
John Thaw Studio - 24 & 25 Nov
Inspired by experiences of the Congolese community in Manchester, the performance incorporates narrative, testimony, dance and live music from the exuberant Britannia Rumba.

Urban Music Theatre
Zion Arts Centre - 1 & 2 Dec
Over 100 young people from Manchester devise and create an exciting urban hip hop theatre production.

And, don’t miss...

Exodus Live
Life Café - 4 Dec 7pm-midnight
The eagerly anticipated world music night showcasing and celebrating talented refugee musicians from as far afield as Congo, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Liberia, Cameroon, Kurdistan, and Afghanistan.
“a night of vibrant live performance, the warmest of energies, with the kind of sounds that make sitting down an impossibility - a totally unmissable occasion!” DXN

Exodus Onstage 2006 details listed at www.can.uk.com/exodus.

Prices vary according to event 

EXODUS ONSTAGE 2006 main funder: Arts Council England North West have made this season possible.

To book tickets please see individual venues and click on links below.

Venues include: Contact Theatre, Royal Exchange Theatre, The Octagon Theatre, Bolton, John Thaw Studio at Manchester University, Robert Powell Theatre at University of Salford and Zion Arts Centre.

Brochures available from all participating venues or contact Becky Dibben at admin@can.uk.com or telephone 0161 234 2975.

For more information please visit  www.can.uk.com/exodus 

For the latest news, behind the scenes preparations or to give your feedback on events see the new Exodus blog www.can.uk.com/blog

*** COMPETITION ***

Win a pair of tickets to see Afrocats: Where is Home? at a venue near you (Robert Powell Theatre, Contact and The Octagon Theatre, Bolton). Simply answer the following question:

How many venues play host to EXODUS ONSTAGE 2006?

Please email your answers to kerry@aam.org.uk with your full contact details.

Closing date for entries is Thursday 2 November and the winner will be notified Friday 3 November.

Good Luck!

If you need to amend your details or have any questions or comments about the newsletter please email me at artslist@aam.org.uk.

If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter ask them to visit www.artslist.org.uk to register.

Best Wishes

Kerry Ellis
Arts About Manchester