Future Artists looking to work with Enterprise Inn’s to Bring this 130 year old Iconic Salford Venue back to life…

BOOK TICKETS TO THE 11TH SEPT 2011 COMMUNITY SOCIAL GATHERING, DECIDE WHAT WE DO!

Future Artists have hooked up with Enterprise Inns (one of the biggest pub owners in the UK) and esteemed publican Barry Philips to look at bringing the Lion back with a roar…. and in true Future Artists style, we want to work with the best creative talent that our twin cities has to offer.

Over the next few weeks, while we dot the ‘i’s and cross the ‘t’s, we want to open up a dialogue with the creative forces who want to push things forward, and be part of creating a sustainable, diverse and vibrant Cinema, Theatre and Arts venue, that will put Salford on the map, and be a great addition to the Salford Creative Mile, that leads up Chapel Street (The Corridor, Kings Arms, Isslington Mill, Crescent) its pretty simple, head over to our dedicated facebook group here and tell us what we should do, what you want to do, and what we should’nt do!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/394445110021/?ref=ts

We will be inviting interested parties to join our co-operative enterprise, at a couple of special invite only events, to be held at the Black Lion, if you would like to come, please fill in your details on the form, at the bottom of this page, and we will contact you with a personal invite in late August 2011.

GET TICKETS TO 11th Sept, community meeting here

So what are we thinking of doing…

The Future Artists ethos is ‘without deviation from the norm progress is not possible’ and we know in times like this, launching a venue, where the closure rate in the UK of Pubs in 10 a day, is risky business, but hey, thats all part of creativity aint it. We have four distinct parts of the building that can be used for a variety of purposes.

1) Main Bar is a mix of 130 years of pub tradition and contemporary style, with plenty of space to sit, relax and talk with friends, our high roofs and expanse of wall space makes it ideal for a gallery, ever changing, different themes and different media, or how about a saturday vintage market, sci fi event, or networking event?

2) The Snug, a smaller space which joins the main bar, then goes into an L shape, a secret hidden space, perfect for small performances of acoustic performance, poetry, beats or MC, – comedy and small presentations, maybe a pub quiz, or when our kitchen is up and running maybe some great home cooked food or a supper club, or a small meeting space.

3) The main room, a 150 capacity function room, a big high ceiling space, upstairs, with its own bar, and green room with showers, plus office space. This main room is ideal for pop up cinema, theatre, live music, markets and networks, its a blank canvas, what could YOU do with it?

4) Office space, we have various rooms ideal for cottage industry’s, – we want people that ‘make things’ – make it upstairs, sell it downstairs.

But like we say, its a community creative space, ran with a co-operative ethos, we look forward to hearing how you want to use it, and how the venue should be ran… we know the arts inside out, we know that artists need support, and artists need to get paid, after all this will be an artists led venture…. Its hard out there, but hey come out of the rain, and in for a pint, welcome to Future Artists @ The Black Lion, putting the roar into Salford (cheesy end, but hey, we care!)

Those of you who live and work in the twin cities of Manchester and Salford will have no doubt walked or driven past this iconic 130 year old landmark, the Black Lion, on the corner of Chapel Street/Black Friars, 2 minutes walk from the main shopping district of Deansgate and the Arndale centre Manchester.

Chapel street is currently undergoing a 60 million pound make over, thanks to some EU dosh, which means the Black Lion is the welcome to the City of Salford, home of Media City (BBC, ITV), the working class movement and the industrial revolution and all that cool Manchester music, most lived in Salford (Peter Hook, Joy Division/New Order – Shaun Ryder Happy Mondays) and of course LS Lowry, who apparently painted the Black Lion (we are searching for this image as we speak!).

Its ok to look to the past, but as the Black Lion now sits amongst some of the most expensive real estate in Salford and Manchester, and is about to be 2 minutes from the phase 2 city centre tram line extension, and with its location next to 3 hotels, it is at the heart of the regeneration of Salford.

Future Artists (19th August 2011)

Get tickets to 11th Sept meeting here

If you would like to use any of the spaces we have, run an event or even just book it out for a party register your email address below and we will contact you in the next few weeks.

Get involved and put your email in above!