Inner City Music Ltd (Charity No: 516351) is the organisation behind Band on the Wall, Manchester’s award-winning not-for-profit music venue.

At the heart of the city’s cultural life, we present an internationally acclaimed programme of live music, showcasing artists from across the globe alongside the very best emerging talent. Through our artist development and touring programmes, we support the creation of new music and help artists reach wider audiences.

We believe music should be accessible to everyone. Alongside our live programme, we deliver an extensive programme of creative learning, participation and community engagement, creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to discover, make and enjoy music.

Our growing venue complex includes performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, studios, learning facilities, an archive and accommodation, enabling us to deliver one of the UK’s most ambitious programmes of live music, artist development and music education.

We think of Band on the Wall as a living music library: a place where people can experience music from different cultures, connect through shared creativity and be inspired by world-class artists. Working with partners across Greater Manchester and beyond, we use music to nurture talent, strengthen communities and enrich lives.

Key partners include The Manchester College, Community Arts North West, and Creative Support.

Projects and programmes are delivered with the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Oglesby Foundation and Granada Foundation.  Arts Council England provides regular core support without which none of our work would be possible.

We strive to enrich lives by enabling everyone to access, enjoy and participate in the best music of many cultures in a stimulating, social and conducive environment.

Inner City Music’s mission

To develop, manage and operate the strategically important live music venue, Band on the Wall – a centre of excellence and innovation recognised as being an important part of the cultural and arts infrastructure of Manchester, the region and the rest of the UK.

To provide an integrated education programme, developing a centre for community music for people of all ages but including specific programmes for young people, and to fill identifiable gaps in such provision in Greater Manchester.

To remove physical and psychological barriers to access, particularly through the provision of the best possible facilities and environment for disabled people, whether members of the audience, artists, staff or students.

To support cultural diversity in its widest sense, in particular by presenting programmes and developing new audiences which reflect the diversity of people within the city, the region and the UK.

To embrace new technologies, new modes of expression, and integrate events that combine music with other art-forms into the core programme.

To improve knowledge of and access to our rich musical heritage; to conserve and enhance Band on the Wall as a music venue and encourage public awareness of the building’s importance to the social and cultural history of Manchester.

To contribute to and benefit from the regeneration and cultural animation and increasing international profile of the Northern Quarter, the city and the region.

To provide a secure financial and operational long-term framework for the organisation and its activities.

To expand and develop the activities of Inner City Music beyond the boundaries of the physical venue; by developing partnerships with complementary organisations, exploiting commercial opportunities by providing our specialist expertise to other companies and agencies, and developing new opportunities as and when they arise.