Getting my juices flowing for 2011…

1. Manchester International Festival (30th June – 17 July 2011) – MIF, Manchester’s festival of original new work returns in its third incarnation this year. Already announced as part of the festival Victoria Wood will write and direct That Day We Sang, a story of the joy of music, singing and reaching middle age. Whilst Maria Abramović and Antony Hegarty (of Antony & The Johnsons fame) continue their association with the festival alongside Willem Defoe and director Robert Wilson in The Life and Death of Maria Abramović at The Lowry.

2. Anish Kapoor: Flashback @ Manchester Art Gallery – Manchester Art Gallery presents the first major exhibition of the artist’s work to be held outside London in 10 years. The Turner Prize winner’s work is being exhibited in Manchester first, before hitting the road to Gateshead, Nottingham and Yorkshire.

3. National Football Museum – If all goes to plan *fingers crossed* the Urbis building will be sliding open it’s glass doors once again with the opening of the rehoused National Football Museum. After packing up their trophies and kit bag at Deepdale last year it will be exciting to see what the Manchester venue has in store.

Image c/o Leo Reynolds licensed under Creative Commons.