UK to get new permanent hub for all things modernist

Even the most ardent and hardened of southerners has to admit that Manchester is one of the UK’s great cities. Blessed with an amazing cathedral, an abundance of brilliant pubs and an immense cultural history, we’re always looking for an excuse to hop on the Pendolino from Euston on a Friday evening. Now we have another one.

For the past decade The Modernist Society – which was born in Manchester, counts Johnny Marr and Jonathan Meades as patrons, and now has outposts in Birmingham, Croydon, Liverpool and Sheffield – has devoted itself to spreading the word about all things related to twentieth-century architecture and design via publishing, exhibitions, events, and collaborative work.

To celebrate its tenth birthday, the Modernist lot have decided to get physical, putting its names on the lease of one of Manchester’s oldest buildings. Having previously relied on the kindness of others who had access to exhibition space, it describes the move to a permanent home as the beginning of a “noble, braver age," The Modernist Society explains.

“In our quest to spread the good word of Modernism, we have always had to reach out to the public but now the public will be able to come to us. We have secured a property in Manchester city centre which will serve not only as Modernist HQ but also as a public space where we can hold events, show exhibitions and sell a finely curated selection of our own and other peoples products,” its team says.

The space will also be used as both a gallery and a shop and The Modernist Society encourages anyone with a predilection for Le Corbusier or Charles and Ray Eames to “come in, look at our latest exhibition, browse our library, chat Modernism and maybe buy a badge or two.”

Reports suggest that its new home, on Port Street in the city’s Northern Quarter, will open on May 1 2019.