Shoppers visiting the Salford Shopping Centre are set to be treated to a first-of-its-kind experience that launches this October after an artists collective secured a new HQ in the development.
Supermassive, an artist-led initiative founded by veteran creatives from across the UK festival scene, has chosen one of the centre’s largest units for their new base of operations, planning to refit the entire storefront to house a full studio as well as an interactive showcase for their work.
The collective, which includes artists, designers and technologists, has pulled together a skilled team of creatives from the local area, and will be planning to open its doors to the public later this year with a series of free shows, each with its own unique theme.
Visitors will experience a range of unique, interactive installations developed by the team as they build toward the collective’s first major immersive experience, which is expected to launch in 2025.
The studio space, which will take up the top floor of the new unit, will give the local creatives a major new space to explore innovative designs and refine their creative visions.
Supermassive’s new HQ is just the latest in a series of diversification opportunities that the Salford Shopping Centre has embarked upon, after becoming the first shopping centre in the UK to hire an artist-in-residence in 2022.
Ben Kercher, Commercial Director for Supermassive, said: “We’re excited to establish our base of operations at Salford Shopping Centre over the next year. Supermassive is a collective of incredible local artists, and choosing the unit at the centre was a natural step in our evolution as we prepare to unveil our work to the community in Salford and the city of Manchester at large.
“We wanted to create something truly unique. A space that offers something totally new to Salford, and also gives us the opportunity to refine and develop our ideas and showcase some truly show-stopping art.
“Our mission statement is “reconnecting people through creative play.” We’re aiming to make this a place where everyone can come together to enjoy and engage with innovative artworks and develop a sense of community and shared exploration, so we can’t wait to welcome the crowds to our first exhibition later this year.”