It never ceases to amaze me how close connections in the city are. It's so much easier to get things done in Manchester than it is in London. Here everyone knows each other, which makes for a great atmosphere for collaboration or partnership. This was highlighted last week when I was invited by my old school Manchester High School for Girls to attend one of their 140th anniversary lecture series where Nancy Durrant Arts Commissioning Editor at The
Times was interviewing Alex Poots, CEO and Artistic Director of the Manchester International Festival (MIF) (he's just announced today that next year's MIF will be his last one-he's off to New York to be the founding Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director of New York’s Cultre Shed, the centre for artistic and cultural innovation in the US due to open in 2018.)
On arrival I visited the Hall of Fame where I saw my picture on the wall for the first time. It was really humbling to see me in amongst MHSG alumni including the Pankhursts. And indeed Helen Pankhurst was also a guest speaker at the MHSG lecture series.
Times was interviewing Alex Poots, CEO and Artistic Director of the Manchester International Festival (MIF) (he's just announced today that next year's MIF will be his last one-he's off to New York to be the founding Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director of New York’s Cultre Shed, the centre for artistic and cultural innovation in the US due to open in 2018.)
On arrival I visited the Hall of Fame where I saw my picture on the wall for the first time. It was really humbling to see me in amongst MHSG alumni including the Pankhursts. And indeed Helen Pankhurst was also a guest speaker at the MHSG lecture series.
We were given a tour around the new sixth form centre by architects Walker Simpson.
green, white and violet were the chosen colours of the project. In 1893, the suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst, enrolled her three daughters, Christabel, Sylvia and Adele at the school. The Pankhursts and their Women's Political and Social Union campaigned fiercely for women's right to vote. The colours of their banner - green, white, violet - were a secret code: Give Women Votes.
green, white and violet were the chosen colours of the project. In 1893, the suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst, enrolled her three daughters, Christabel, Sylvia and Adele at the school. The Pankhursts and their Women's Political and Social Union campaigned fiercely for women's right to vote. The colours of their banner - green, white, violet - were a secret code: Give Women Votes.
And speaking to Suzie Thompson (another Old Girl) now Director of Development at the RNCM to talk about an event we are running next year as part of the 150th anniversary of the Manchester Architects where they'll be an RNCM connection.
It's not just the school you went to that can connect you, it's other parts of your lives or networks you chose to be involved with. There are plenty in the city available to all from Women in Property, Forum of the Built Environment, RICS, CIOB, Grafters, (ok so i've got a bit of a property slant) but there's also Curry Clubs, Forward Ladies, the Chamber of Commerce, Institute of Directors and of course the Manchester Architects.
Connections can be made anywhere. It all highlights the importance of networking especially if you're new to a city it's an easy way to plug-in.
I love Manchester is vibrancy and I'm particularly feel particularly privileged that we've got the Manchester International Festival with us from the 2nd to 19th July next year. In fact today, MIF have announce their first events and I've booked on to see Tree of Codes. Can't wait!
You can read our review of MIF13 here
It's not just the school you went to that can connect you, it's other parts of your lives or networks you chose to be involved with. There are plenty in the city available to all from Women in Property, Forum of the Built Environment, RICS, CIOB, Grafters, (ok so i've got a bit of a property slant) but there's also Curry Clubs, Forward Ladies, the Chamber of Commerce, Institute of Directors and of course the Manchester Architects.
Connections can be made anywhere. It all highlights the importance of networking especially if you're new to a city it's an easy way to plug-in.
I love Manchester is vibrancy and I'm particularly feel particularly privileged that we've got the Manchester International Festival with us from the 2nd to 19th July next year. In fact today, MIF have announce their first events and I've booked on to see Tree of Codes. Can't wait!
You can read our review of MIF13 here
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