NOT Part Of is so-called because it is not part of the Manchester International Festival. Not the most inclusive of names you may think?
But the festival organisers, who set up NPO last year, have no axe to grind against MIF. In fact the festivals share very similar aims, primarily to commission groundbreaking new artists.
Where they do differ is that Not Part Of is one of the only festivals of its kind to charge no fee to artists wanting to be involved, priding itself on openness and inclusion.
Ahead of its 2008 festival, Not Part Of is currently on the hunt for new talents, as co-director Gareth McMann told me…
Who is behind the festival?
The festival directors are; myself, 28, from Bolton; Beth McCann, 27, from Southport, Jonathan Whittle, 45, from Liverpool – though we are all adoptive mancunians now who have lived and worked here for years.
What brought the idea about?
We wanted to put on a play I’d written as part of MIF but then discovered what made MIF unique so couldn’t. Sitting in the pub, this prompted us to think up the Not Part Of Manchester International Festival which we ran last year.
What is the aim of the festival?
Last year we were a reaction to MIF; celebrating the creativity that occurs here all the time but bringing some of it together for 17 days under one banner. We have since realised that what we were actually doing was a relatively new concept – a free fringe. One that does not profit from artists but instead does all it can to reduce their costs. Our aim is to provide a festival that celebrates creativity and inclusion; both by inviting artists to put an event on and bringing together those that already are doing. In this way we are creating a festival that reflects Manchester; exciting, creative and welcoming.
What was it like last year?
Last year was a fantastic success though a lot of hard work. We ended up with over 40 events over the 17 days which around 10,000 people attended.
Who featured?
The Ladyboys of Bangkok were Not Part Of, as were The Frog And Bucket. There were Internet soap operas, text based monster creation and puppet shows about suicide. The best way to check it all out is to look at the listings on www.notmanchesterinternationalfestival.co.uk.
What were the highlights?
My personal highlights were watching one of my favourite manchester artists, The Starfighter Pilot kick off Castle Rocks Cancer at the Castle, and my own play LOVERsTALK sell out its last night.
What are the plans for this year’s festival?
To reach out even further than last year and get as many artists and as much as possible to be Not Part Of. Though all events are subject to change we are already working with BBCwritersroom, Channel4 4Laughs, Manchester and Salford Universities, Equity, Frog And Bucket. We have a number of exciting events from creators based in Manchester and those from elsewhere. We even have some that are stopping off to be Not Part Of on their way to some other festival up north.
What are you looking for in artists?
That they are willing to show what they’re made of both creatively and ethically – creatively by making the decision to put their art out there and ethically by making the decision to support everyone else who’s doing the same. That’s it. We place no artistic constraints just ones of date and geography. And that those involved meet us and take the oath to be Not Part Of.
Does it have any kind of theme?
Openess and inclusion
How does it differ from Manchester International Festival?
What makes MIF unique among international festivals is that it is comprised of new commissioned curated work. What makes Not Part Of unique amongst fringe festivals is that we do not charge to be involved. Manchester deserves unique festivals and it now has two groundbreaking ones. How we differ is currently in budget and audience. But we are similar in our ambition.
Anything else you want to add?
By reducing costs for artists we reduce costs for audiences. This makes the opportunity to discover something new and exciting more of an option without an off putting price tag.

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