Cultural venue plan for Mayfield depot
TWO live events entrepreneurs are collaborating on a plan to turn the derelict Mayfield train station depot next to Piccadilly into a cultural venue.
Former Ear to the Ground director David Norris and Ground Control’s Jon Drape have teamed up with a Liverpool-based planning adviser called the Addy Consultancy to attract arts, food, film, music and fashion events to the building over the next three to five years.
They say they have taken their inspiration from similar venues in London, New York, and Oberhausen in Germany for the 120,000 sq ft site which is owned by a government agency called the British Railways Board (Residuary).
It has already been used as an arts venue by the Manchester International Festival which staged a collaboration between the band Massive Attack and the documentary filmmaker Adam Curtis in the summer.
Mr Norris, a director of the Mayfield Depot Partnership, said: “We are taking our inspiration from the Old Truman Brewery, London; Park Avenue Armory, New York and the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany – all these large buildings have been reimagined into successful and significant cultural icons in their own rights, and have led to major investment in their local areas.
“Mayfield Depot could be added to that list. The sheer size and scale of the building means we can look to attract projects that will have a significant regional, national or international reputation. The depot could be used to host lots of creative and innovative events around six key areas: arts, food, film, fashion and retail, sport and music. We want to work in collaboration with local, national and international organisations that will embrace Mayfield and rise to the challenge of the building.
“It is still early days for us. Our application for a premises licence is in and we intend to submit a planning application by the end of October. Subject to planning, the first events could be held in summer 2014 at the depot. While we have no formal partnerships in place yet – and won’t have until at least planning is achieved – we have begun discussions with potential collaborators including Manchester International Festival, Manchester Food and Drink Festival, and The Warehouse Project.”
Alex Poots, chief executive and artistic director of the Manchester International Festival, said: “Manchester International Festival hopes to build upon the success of Massive Attack v Adam Curtis and the visual arts group show of 2013 at Mayfield Depot. Last summer we took a great building in Manchester and reimagined it as a great cultural space. Over the next few months we will be talking to artists about commissioning and creating work that will make the most of this extraordinary environment.”
Mayfield Depot on Fairfield Street was opened in 1910 as a four platform station to relieve overcrowding at the near-by Piccadilly train station. It closed to passengers in 1960 and completely shut down in 1986. The Mayfield Deport team has been involved in a range of events such as Festival Number 6 in Wales; Live from Jodrell Bank; BBC Proms in the Park (Salford); and the Liverpool Capital of Culture.
