COLONY to open podcast and photography studios at Manchester King Street site

Manchester flexible workspace business COLONY will open COLONY Creator Studios at its King Street site in early November.

The new service is aimed at businesses, agencies and freelance creatives who want to make professional content in one place without the cost of setting up and running their own studios.

It combines podcast, photography and content production facilities with space for exhibitions and events, plus production support.

There will be three main areas. A fully kitted-out podcast studio comes with in-house production and editing. A blank-canvas photography and content studio is built for fashion, ecommerce and other commercial shoots. A 1,500 sq ft space for exhibitions and events is fitted with a large 4K projector and a sound system.

COLONY expects the studios to be used for work ranging from agency client campaigns and ecommerce product photography to podcast recording, social content, launches and showcases. Placing them within its existing workspace network is intended to give companies more choice over where and how they produce content.

The business presents the launch as a return to the ideas behind the brand, namely connecting people, fostering collaboration and giving creatives room to develop.

Aaron Ezair, director of COLONY, said: “At its core, COLONY has always been about bringing people together, encouraging collaboration and giving businesses the space to grow. For us, Creator Studios is a return to those roots, taking that same approach beyond the traditional workspace and into the creative process itself.”

Ezair added: “Manchester has an incredible creative community, and we want to give the people and businesses within it access to the facilities and support they need to make an impact, shape culture and turn creative ambition into lasting value.”

COLONY already runs eight flexible workspaces in Manchester, and the studios extend what it offers the businesses and creative communities that use them.

Free open days and launch events will run through November so potential users can try out the studios. Places are limited, and those interested can register in advance for early access by emailing creators@colonyco.work.