As part of the Cultural Bridge programme, I travelled to Manchester together with three other individuals from the artistic and cultural sector. As the Managing Director of the association ASA-FF e.V. based in Chemnitz, this visit was particularly meaningful for me. Chemnitz and Manchester are twin cities, and we’re currently collaborating with the artist collective Quarantine on a joint project in the context of Chemnitz’s tenure as European Capital of Culture 2025. The project is titled The Questions.
The aim of the trip was to get to know the Quarantine team personally, to gain a better understanding of how they work, the methods they use, and the places they work in. We also wanted to develop a sense of Manchester as a city — its rhythm, its people, and its creative energy — and explore how the group’s artistic approaches connect with our ideas in Chemnitz.
A key element of our visit was selecting the participating artists for Would Like to Meet, a format within the larger project. We carefully reviewed the applications, discussed them thoroughly, and made decisions collaboratively.
In addition, three members of our group had the opportunity to experience one of Quarantine’s current projects being presented in Manchester, Building of spines. This project follows the same core concept as the one planned for Chemnitz, making the visit an invaluable chance to gain insight into its practical implementation and to inform our preparations back home.
We also visited various arts and cultural venues across Manchester, which gave us a strong impression of the local cultural scene. A guided city tour provided important historical and social context that helped us understand the fabric of the city today.
An introduction to HOME’s Arches, their new dedicated artist development space
A particular highlight was an evening at the theatre, seeing two short plays by playwright Caryl Churchill at the Royal Exchange. The performances were not only artistically inspiring, but the experience itself was rich and memorable – a beautiful way to end the day immersed in Manchester’s vibrant cultural life.
Equally important was the informal time we spent together. Shared meals, conversations, and simply being in each other’s company helped us build trust and forge genuine connections – not only between us as project partners, but also between our two cities.
One of our delicious group meals at Bundobust
The days in Manchester were incredibly enriching, inspiring, and full of joy. They laid a solid foundation for continued collaboration and heightened our anticipation for the next steps in The Questions project.
The Questions is part of Chemnitz European Capital of Culture 2025
In cooperation with Allianz Foundation
Supported by Cultural Bridge and Manchester City Council