Salford’s iconic Maxwell Hall revealed in new suite of films highlighting the city’s vibrant cultural offer

For most people it is an exam hall, conference centre, or simply the building that welcomes passers-by to the University's Crescent Campus; however, Maxwell Hall holds a special place in the city’s musical heritage as a landmark venue that hosted some of the world’s biggest bands of the late 60s, 70s and 80s.

Largely forgotten, despite welcoming bands including Blondie, U2, Sir Paul McCartney’s Wings, The Smiths, and Joy Division, Maxwell Hall is now focus of a new film created by Marketing Manchester in partnership with Salford City Council and the University, featuring contributions and memories from artists Peter Hook and Mike Joyce who both performed there when the venue was in its heyday.

The Maxwell Hall film forms part of a wider suite of stories that highlight some of Salford’s standout cultural venues and organisations, including Salford Lad’s Club, The Lowry, Walk the Plank, Islington Mill, as well as a film about some of the city’s key makers and changemakers.

Each film highlights the important role culture plays in the city. They explore the venues and organisations and delve into the people stories behind the rich and diverse cultural history of Salford.

Director of Performance, Music, English & Dance, Tim France, commented: “It’s great to see some of the stories of Maxwell Hall’s past being shared, we are very proud of the role this building and indeed the whole university has played and continues to play in shaping the cultural landscape of Salford.

“The city has always been a hub of creativity together with inventive and technological advancements. We continue to be committed to nurturing talent as more and more students choose the University of Salford to help them develop their artistic identity and contribute to Salford’s cultural story.”

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, commented: “Salford is known for its cultural heritage, for its many firsts, and I’m excited to see first-hand the city continuing to be pioneers in the cultural landscape.

“We recognise and celebrate what our cultural offering means to both international visitors and those who live and work in the city. It’s undeniable that artists and cultural organisations contribute to our wellbeing, and their work has brought us inspiration and joy, whilst also bringing communities together.

“The recent All Party Northern Culture report on The Case for Culture gave 10 clear recommendations on harnessing culture to level up the north. Salford Culture and Place Partnership is committed to supporting the next generation of creatives, and critically, building back opportunities by creating and developing new partnerships within Salford, right across the north, and the rest of the world.”

The ‘Culture made in Salford’ suite of films were made with support from students from Studio Salford, part of the University of Salford.

The films are the latest part of a wider Salford storytelling project, which aims to raise awareness of Salford as a desirable place to live, invest, visit, meet, and study. The project has also delivered the Salford Green Spaces campaign and MediaCity: The Next Chapter.