As Salford gears up to celebrate its 100th birthday, a renowned creative organisation has begun a search to find residents born on the same day.
Celebrations will launch on 21 April to coincide with the date Salford was granted city status in 1926 and will run throughout the year, culminating in a spectacular finale moment in the autumn.
Salford Council has appointed outdoor arts company Walk the Plank and From The Other as co-creative producers for Salford 100’s cultural programme, set to kick-start later this year.
Ahead of the big day, Walk the Plank has begun a hunt to find Salford residents of any age who have a birthday on 21 April.
They have asked that friends and family get in touch to nominate someone in secret who shares a birthday with the City of Salford, so they can be surprised by a special message from a live band.
The two creative groups will work together to produce four commissions which will form the cultural programme, weaving in the true character of Salford throughout and celebrating the communities that make Salford so special.
From The Other will work to create a monumental living portrait of the city projected onto local buildings for a project called Salford Everywhere.
Meanwhile, Walk the Plank will bring together emerging and established musical collaborators and The Wagon Train – a wild west-themed, mobile pop-up stage and DJ booth – to host a pop up festival in each of the eight neighbourhoods it will visit.
Liz Pugh, Co-Founder at Walk the Plank, reflected on the organisations long standing ties with the city and expressed her excitement at their involvement in the centenary.
She said: “We’ve been based in Salford since our theatre ship dropped anchor in Salford Quays in 1992.
“The change we have witnessed in the past 34 years is immense – not just in the transformation of the Docks to Media City, but in how we celebrate the green spaces and the waterways of the city, and how we support Salford’s residents to thrive in the new careers the technological revolution has brought.
“We are excited to place local artists and the talents of young people at the heart of this year’s celebrations, which we hope will reach the city’s nooks and crannies, finding the extraordinary in the ordinary in our streets, tower blocks, parks and workplaces.”
Siân Roberts, Co-Director at From The Other, said she was proud that the organisation had received the Salford Council commission.
She stated: “It’s a real privilege for From The Other to be such a key part of the Salford 100 celebrations. Our work has always been about bringing people together through music and creativity, and this programme is a brilliant opportunity to take that even further.
“We’re excited to be collaborating with some of the UK’s most innovative creative voices, including artist Matthew Rosier for Salford Everywhere, and music producer Charlie Deakin Davies for Songs of Salford to connect their work directly with artistic talent from across our city and people across their local neighbourhoods.
“It’s about making sure that this centenary year isn’t just a moment for the City of Salford historically, but a moment for every single person who lives, works or plays here today.”
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “We’re immensely proud of Salford’s thriving cultural sector and it’s fantastic that two of our most renowned cultural organisations will be delivering the Salford Centenary Cultural Programme.
“Both organisations bring a wealth of experience, creativity and unrivalled local knowledge to this project, and I’m extremely excited to experience the unique activities they will deliver as part of our centenary year.
“2026 promises to be a truly special year for the city, with this cultural programme at the heart of the celebrations.”
If you would like to nominate someone in secret to recieve a special birthday message from a live band, get in touch via astarte@walktheplank.co.uk.
