A new exhibition celebrating Manchester’s influential music and club culture of the early 1980s is set to open at The Refuge inside Kimpton Clocktower Hotel later this month.

Launching on 23 July, I Am The Fly will showcase a collection of original screen-printed posters and photographs that captured a defining period in Manchester’s cultural history.

Curated by artist and screen-printer Matthew Rich, the free exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore artwork created during the early days of Manchester’s pioneering independent music scene, with many of the posters reflecting the rise of The Hacienda and the club culture that would go on to put the city on the global map.

A glimpse into Manchester’s creative past

Matthew Rich was working as a screen-printer in Manchester in 1982, producing posters promoting the bands, club nights and venues that helped define a generation of music fans.

The exhibition brings together a collection of surviving prints alongside photographs from the era, offering an insight into a period that transformed Manchester into one of the world’s most celebrated music cities.

Many of the featured works reference the Hacienda and the wider cultural movement that surrounded it, celebrating the creativity and independent spirit that shaped the city’s identity.

Matthew Rich said: 

“These posters were never meant to last. 

“They were pasted onto walls, flyposted across the city and before long, covered over or torn down. 

“Today, they offer a nostalgic glimpse of Manchester at an incredible time.

“They reflect the energy and determination of the people who helped shape Manchester into what it is today.”

The Refuge pays tribute to Manchester’s club culture

The exhibition is a natural fit for The Refuge, which already celebrates Manchester’s musical heritage throughout the hotel.

One of its standout spaces, Suite 51, takes inspiration from the legendary FAC51 Hacienda, featuring subtle design details that pay tribute to the iconic nightclub and its lasting influence on the city.

Rhea Leach, Head of Marketing at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, said: 

“As we approach 10 years of Refuge, we’re taking the opportunity to reflect on the creative spirit that has always inspired us. 

“Matthew’s exhibition perfectly captures a moment when Manchester was reinventing itself through creativity and music, and we’re proud to showcase it as part of our programme.”

The I Am The Fly exhibition opens on 23 July at The Refuge, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, and is free to visit. 

Selected pieces from the exhibition will also be available to purchase.

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