Partnership to help older people enjoy city’s culture

A new partnership to help older people enjoy Manchester’s world-class galleries, theatres and museums has been formed in the city.

The move is part of Manchester City Council's Valuing Older People programme and brings together cultural organisations and venues including Manchester Art Gallery, the Library Theatre Company, MOSI, the Royal Exchange, the Hallé, the Bridgewater Hall, the Whitworth Art Gallery, the Manchester Museum, Urbis and the soon-to-reopen Band on the Wall .

Councillor Val Stevens, Deputy Leader of the City Council, said: "The partners want to improve the opportunities for older people to get involved in the rich cultural life of the city because art and culture can improve people's lives, create friendships and instigate new experiences.

"Our research shows that although lots of older people already enjoy the many cultural experiences the city has to offer, many are from outside the city. This new partnership aims to encourage and enable more older people from a wider range of backgrounds to enjoy arts and culture."

Partners in creating A Cultural Offer for Older People have signed a pledge to work with other venues and the City Council to deliver an improved cultural offer for older people with particular focus on those who do not currently access the great cultural resources that the city has to offer to people of all ages.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "Manchester has a feast of arts, theatre, music and other cultural experiences to offer people of all ages.

"This new partnership will help improve the way cultural organisations and venues cater for older people and work together to make themselves accessible and attractive to them. It will also open up even more opportunities for more older people to participate in the cultural life of the city directly by working with arts organisations as a volunteer or part of a friends group."