By: Edward Grey
Submitted: 2008-09-14 10:20:39 | Word Count: 503
Urbis is a glass building located in the center of Manchester, England. It is also part of the Exchange Square, an area with many shopping centers and pubs. It was part of the renovation project of the Exchange Square undertaken after the IRA bombings and was opened in 2002. The glass architecture is considered to be a remarkable achievement. It is situated beside the Cathedral Gardens and the Corn Exchange.
One of the major goals of Urbis is to promote the culture of modern cities. It aims to give an accurate portrayal of city life to visitors all over the world. There are plenty of exhibitions, shows and learning programs targeted for people of all ages. Aside from these, it also offers services such as gift shops, cafes and restaurants.
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There is no admission fee for entry to Urbis. It is open everyday from 10 AM to 6 PM. It is accessible by a variety of transport system, such as by bus, by train or by car. There are many guided tours held daily. It allows visitors to partake in the rich history of the Manchester area. One such tour is the Factory Records Tour. It has stops at the Free Trade Hall, the site of the first Sex Pistols concert, and also the Records Factory Headquarters.
There are many exhibitions held in Urbis. Different exhibitions are scheduled year round as they are designed to showcase the evolution of contemporary culture. Exhibition themes range from music, such as Rock and Roll Icons, to contemporary Art, such as British Art Shows. The exhibition schedules range from 3 8 months.
Urbis is also host to varying events. Some examples include talks, workshops, discussions, tours and family activities. An instance of this is an event where visitors can meet the exhibition curators. It is a tour wherein you can meet the curator and ask questions that you might have on the exhibitions. The Buy Art Fair is another good example. Collectors from all over the world are invited to buy varying pieces of art from paintings to photography.
The Social is a café bar located within the Urbis building. Like Urbis, it is open from 10 AM to 6 PM. Visitors can sample a range of dishes such as lamb kebab salad or Moroccan tabouleh. There is also a gift shop where visitors can purchase various items related to urban culture. Merchandise from Factory Records and Hacienda are also widely available.
Urbis also has connections to the online game Second Life. Second Life is an online virtual world where users from all over the world can interact with each other. Users can create their own avatar and interact with the various user created items. Urbis has established a virtual place of their own, where users can explore the various floors of the virtual Urbis.
Urbis also hosts different competitions, which are then used as part of an exhibition display. One such competition involves superheroes and participants are asked to create an urban themed superhero. The winner s work is displayed throughout the building.
