VAN GOGH ALIVE: COMING TO MEDIACITYUK THIS AUTUMN

Following a smash hit run in Kensington Gardens as London’s must-see cultural event of the summer, visitors will be treated to a truly world-class cultural experience on the Piazza, in the heart of MediaCityUK.

Having welcomed over eight million visitors in 70 cities around the world including its most recent sell-out runs in London and Birmingham, where it dazzled visitors in a Covid-safe environment, Van Gogh Alive, the immersive Van Gogh experience created by Grande Experiences, promises to be one of the highlights of this autumn’s event calendar when it opens its doors from 22^nd October 2021 to 23^rd January 2022. 

Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Thursday 22^nd July priced from £22.00 for adults and £15.00 for children, with concessions and school group discounts available.

Van Gogh Alive, which The Sunday Times has called “glorious, stunning, but also very moving”, allows you to experience the artist like never before. This blockbuster multi-sensory experience completely immerses you in the life and work of Vincent van Gogh as you travel through periods of his life that defined him as an artist. Experience over 3,000 images from the artist that are spectacularly presented with stunning detail, including iconic works like Starry Night, Sunflowers and lesser-known paintings that were inspired by his love of Japanese woodprints.

State-of-the-art SENSORY4™ immersive gallery technology immaculately displays Van Gogh’s work in a kaleidoscope of colour. Set to an evocative classical score that is delivered via a high-fidelity 3D sound system, this combination of sound, visuals and aromas of Provence will give visitors the sensation of walking right into his paintings as if they are living and breathing.

Van Gogh Alive will also feature an interpretive area where you can learn more about Van Gogh’s life and works as well as interactive art stations where you can create your own art with the help of expert video tutorials.

Visitors can create their own souvenirs within a life-sized walk-in representation of Van Gogh’s ‘Bedroom in Arles’ painting and the iconic ‘Sunflower selfie room’ – a 360° mirrored room complete with hundreds of sunflowers that has delighted Instagram feeds the world over. Create your own modern masterpiece in theses spectacular rooms and share your images using #VanGoghAliveMediaCity.

Van Gogh Alive is supporting The Christie charity and using the experience as a platform to help raise vital funds to continue its incredible work leading the way for cancer care, research, and education. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to make a donation to The Christie charity when either purchasing tickets or while at the exhibition.  The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced cancer services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education, and extra patient services. The charity has achieved a phenomenal amount thanks to charitable donations. In recent years it has helped to fund a purpose built teenage and young adult unit, a new Integrated Procedures Unit, a proton beam therapy research room, and state of the art equipment including an MR-linac machine and a new gamma camera. It is currently fundraising for some vital projects including a new cancer centre and a world class research facility. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families.

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said: “It’s wonderful to be welcoming such an impactful art experience as Van Gogh Alive to Salford’s MediaCityUK. Communities have really missed experiencing arts and entertainment, with the hospitality and creative industries being amongst the hardest hit from the impacts of Covid-19, so it is brilliant to be seeing the creative industries launching new and innovative experiences for all to enjoy within a safe framework. I look forward to being transported into the fascinating world of Van Gogh.”

Josie Cahill, Place Director of MediaCityUK, said: “We are thrilled to be working with our partners to host the imaginative and immersive Van Gogh Alive experience from this Autumn and over the Christmas period. MediaCityUK and The Quays are a fantastic, waterside destination for immersive entertainment, arts and culture  – there’s an increasing buzz with our Box on the Docks arts and dining experience and now Van Gogh Alive, offering visitors a truly unique way to experience one of the world’s greatest artists that is accessible and open to all.”

Marie Toller, head of major relationships at The Christie charity, said: “We are delighted that Van Gogh Alive has chosen to support The Christie charity. The experience looks absolutely stunning and we are excited for it to be based at MediacityUK. The Christie relies on the support and donations from the public to provide our patients with the very best care, treatment and access to research options. Monies raised from the Van Gogh Alive exhibition will go towards making life that little bit easier for cancer patients and enhancing their experience while at The Christie hospital.”

Controlled visitor capacities and managed visitor flow mean visitors can easily respect any Covid-19 guidelines and enjoy the experience safely.

Van Gogh’s works have been exhibited and admired for over a century – but never like this