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Haçienda 25: The Exhibition aims to explore the life of the club, from its beginnings as a re-invented yacht showroom to its closure, 15 years later, amidst licence disputes and spiralling debts. In-between, it was the home, the focal point and the catalyst for some of the best and worst times Manchester has seen.

The Haçienda (pic: Aidan O'Rourke)

The story is being told by the people who were there; not just the well-known names like Tony Wilson and Peter Saville, but long-serving staff members, such as Haçienda manager Leroy Richardson.

You’re on the list

The exhibition also lets you to immerse yourself in all things Haçienda, from a complete collection of the iconic Birthday Posters and an airing of what might just be the earliest footage of acid house to a chance to walk through the actual club doors – this time without the possibility of your name not being down!

A fourth birthday poster (design: 8vo)

There are even some rare and unseen items taken from the private collections of Haçienda designer Ben Kelly, New Order bass player and co-owner Peter Hook, and the man who had the original idea for the club, the late Rob Gretton.

And of course, no exhibition on the Haçienda and Factory Records would be complete without that fabled seal of approval, a FAC number – it is FAC 491, in case you wondered.

'Bringing together creative people'

Urbis' Chief Executive, Vaughan Allen, says that it’s impossible to underestimate the impact that the Haçienda had on Manchester and why its resonance still needs to be heard:

A Haçienda brick (pic: Aidan O'Rourke)

"The Haçienda changed Manchester forever. It did 25 years ago what MySpace does today, bringing together creative people to create something new.

"There is no creative substitute for people just sharing ideas and if Manchester is to flourish as a twenty-first century world city, with a distinguishable identity of its own, it needs to continue providing places and spaces which give people from all walks of life the opportunity to produce as well as consume – a role The Haçienda fulfilled to the extreme during its lifetime."

Haçienda 25: The Exhibition runs at Urbis from Thursday 19 July 2007 to Sunday 17 February 2008. Events during the run include talks by DJ Jon Da Silva and Peter Hook and a Haçienda pub quiz, run by former resident spinner Elliot Eastwick.

The exhibition is free, events cost various prices – check the Urbis website for details.