Transition

The Victoria Baths provides a unique opportunity for us to look at the spaces of a large scale public building "in transition". So much around us is being fixed, renovated or lost at this time in our city, whilst Victoria Baths waits, harbouring its knowledge and its secrets. Victoria Baths waits and breathes.

It is a space where we see each other and our relationships in different lights.

The building has its foundations in a time of Imperialism. We see ourselves in relation to history. Because of the layering of alterations and additions in the space, we experience not only Victorian aspects in the architecture, but also momentos and traces of more recent decades. The atmosphere of stagnation holds us. We dare to dream here, to imagine, to reflect, to focus on the 'irrelevant'details which will be swept aside in time. Artists react and respond, reflecting the spaces back to us.

• To date there have been many artist-led events at Victoria Baths.
• There is a rich cultural history of events at Victoria Baths.
• The documentation of work which has taken place here over the years would in itself prove to be an important work.

Transition will continue the work begun on an ad-hoc basis by The Victoria Baths Trust and interested Artists over recent years.

photo: Len Grant

The aims of The Creative Program are to:

• Bring high quality arts program to a local neighbourhood.
• Use the unique setting to drive the work.
• develop partnerships with other arts organizations in Manchester to contribute to the development of the program.
• Use the building as a catalyst for creativity in the city by hosting artist’s residencies of contemporary art alongside local arts initiatives and educational projects.
• Host high quality and innovative artists projects on the site of Victoria Baths.
• Work towards the documentation and presentation of artists’ involvement with the building in high quality publication / web based media.
• Create wider access to the building and bring new audiences to both the site and to the arts events which take place there.
• To commission innovative new projects / works.
• To bring closer involvement with the building from local schools and voluntary groups.
• To contribute to future regeneration work on this building, through presenting ideas and themes for discussion.

For details of Transition projects visit:

Swim project
For the Time Being