A new art trail by the Bee in the City team named ’50 Windows of Creativity’ is coming to Manchester this autumn and it’s set to shine a light on the work of local artists and makers.
The new art trail will showcase works through displays in a series of windows, venues, businesses and spaces across the city centre.
The displays will feature multiple art forms, from fine art and photography, to ceramics, crafts, mosaics and murals. They will be curated by both well-known and emerging artists and collectives – all of whom have a connection to Greater Manchester – and also by the city’s cultural venues and festivals which haven’t been able to take place this year.
Global public art producers Wild in Art – whose previous work includes the award-winning Bee in the City art trail, which took over the city in 2018 – will produce the event in partnership with Manchester City Council.
Building on Manchester’s reputation for innovation and the key strategic role that art and culture plays in the social and economic life of the city, the event will help residents to reconnect with places and spaces in the city centre again as part of the Council’s recovery programme.
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‘Cathedral Walk’ by Sarah Connell
Artists and makers taking part this year include Wellcome Trust prize winner Benji Reid, Manchester-born mixed media landscape artist Sarah Connell, and contemporary creative studio Lazerian, and all pieces on display will also be available to buy directly from the artist or maker, which will give a much needed boost to the city’s creative community.
Charlie Langhorne – Co-founder and Managing Director of Wild in Art – said: “The team is delighted to be back in Manchester working with the city, its businesses and the creative community to produce this event. It is a slight departure to our traditional sculpture trails and it will be our first ever ‘window’ trail – firmly putting the spotlight on the city’s artists and makers.
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“One of Manchester’s unique qualities is its ability to bring people together and we hope 50 Windows of Creativity will enable Mancunians to rediscover the city in a safe and socially distanced way, while enjoying a new type of outdoor event.”
Liam Hopkins
Ben Reed – Head of Creative Development at Wild in Art – added: “We are delighted to be working with some incredibly talented artists and makers and we are excited to see their work and displays develop. This project will transform the city’s windows and spaces into an innovative art gallery taking people on a creative journey around Manchester.”
Councillor Luthfur Rahman – Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure – said: “Bee in the City was a captivating example of the power that the arts and culture can have for the people of Manchester. Culture is the beating heart and soul of this city and as a Council we are proud to champion this sector. This latest offering will allow people to engage with and enjoy culture after months of lockdown where our favourite venues, whether they are galleries, museums, parks or libraries, have been off limits for many.
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“A huge amount of work has gone into helping Manchester recover economically [and] what we need to see now is the same level of support to see the city recover culturally – a sector which is intrinsic to the city’s economic recovery.
“This is why it is crucial that we engage with projects like 50 Windows of Creativity.”
“Now more than ever it is so important that we show support for the arts community, and I hope that when this project is ready people will take the time to explore it and appreciate the incredible talent that Manchester has to offer.”
Liam Hopkins
The ’50 Windows of Creativity’ project is supported by Event Partner Autotrader, with other businesses including Hobs Repro, Ocean Outdoor, Jamieson Contracting and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
Christos Tsaprounis – Head of People & Culture at Autotrader – said: “This is an inspiring event to be part of. As a business in the city, we wanted to do all we can to support the city we operate in, local artists and a worthwhile charity [and] we are delighted to be involved in this innovative initiative”.
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The project culminates with an auction, which will see a selection of pieces auctioned with proceeds going to their artists and makers, and to The Lord Mayor of Manchester Charity Appeal Trust – We Love MCR – which aims to help improve the lives and life chances of Manchester people.
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There are a number of opportunities for businesses to get involved with ’50 Windows of Creativity’.
Businesses wanting more information about supporting the event though sponsorship should contact Julie Gaskell – Head of Partnerships at Wild in Art – on [email protected], and businesses interested in providing a window space or having an installation in their premises should contact [email protected]
New and established Greater Manchester based artists who have an idea for an installation can also contact [email protected] by 5pm on 9th September 2020.
What's On
Full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Marathon 2026 this weekend
Emily Sergeant
The adidas Manchester Marathon returns to the streets of Greater Manchester this weekend.
Known for its flat route and incredible Mancunian crowd support, the Manchester Marathon returns this Sunday (19 April 2026) – welcoming more than 42,000 participants and 140,000 spectators for one of the UK’s biggest running events.
Now the second-largest marathon in the UK and one of the biggest in Europe, Manchester Marathon attracts both elite athletes, charity participants, and first-time marathoners alike.
The event is, once again, set to place Greater Manchester at the centre of the UK running calendar, bringing communities together across the city’s streets.
Millions of vital funds will also be raised for official charities, like The Christie, Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and British Heart Foundation, alongside other associate charities.
And, of course, in order for the event to take place as smoothly and safely as possible, Manchester City Council has announced that a number of road closures and other measures will be put in place across the weekend.
Here’s everything you need to know.
The adidas Manchester Marathon returns on Sunday 19 April!
Road closures will be in effect in parts of Manchester as thousands of runners raise millions for charity, visit https://t.co/mfxYlLe1z5 for full details about road closures. pic.twitter.com/UjS0vtsO4n
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) April 11, 2026
Manchester Marathon 2026 – Road Closures
6am on Saturday 18 April – 4am on Monday 20 April:
Oxford Road – from Grosvenor Street to Hulme Street
Rosamond Street West – from Oxford Road to Jenkinson Street
Booth Street West – from Higher Cambridge Street to Oxford Road
Booth Street East – from Oxford Road to Rumford Street
Dover Street – from Oxford Road to Brighton Place
Ackers Street – from Oxford Road to Portsmouth Street
Chester Street – from Oxford Road to Chester Street car park entrance
Newman Street – from Oxford Road to Loverose Way
Sidney Street – from Oxford Road to Grosvenor Street
Grosvenor Street – from Oxford Road to Upper Brook Street
Cavendish Street – from Oxford Road to Lower Ormond Street
York Street – from Grosvenor Street to end of street
Sunday 19 April
From 4:30am to 11:59pm
Oxford Road – from Whitworth St West to Hulme Street
Wakefield Street – from James Leigh Street to Oxford Road
New Wakefield Street – from Great Marlborough Street to Oxford Road
Hulme Street – from Great Marlborough Street to Oxford Road
Charles Street – from Oxford Road to York Street
Chester Street – from Chester Street car park entrance to Cambridge Street
Rosamond Street West – from Boundary Lane to Higher Cambridge Street
From 4:30am to 7pm
Newman Street – from Loverose Way to Princess Street
Higher Ormond Street – from Lower Ormond Street to Boundary Street West
Lower Chatham Street – from Lower Chatham Street to Boundary Street West
Boundary Street West – from Higher Cambridge Street to Higher Ormond Street
Rosamond Street West – from Higher Cambridge Street to Jenkinson Street
Higher Cambridge Street – from Cavendish Street to Lloyd Street North
Burlington Street – from Pencroft Way to Higher Cambridge Street
Lloyd Street North – from Higher Cambridge Street to Monton Street
Denmark Road – from Pencroft Way to Aberdeen Street
Cecil Street – from Denmark Road to Dilworth Street
Acomb Street – from Denmark Road to Dilworth Street
Sanctury Close – from Acomb Street to end of close
Burleigh Street – from Denmark Road to end of street
Aberdeen Street – from Denmark Road to end of street
The full list of road closures for the Manchester Marathon have been announced / Credit: Supplied
From 4:30am to 8pm
Oxford Road – from Grafton Street to Hathersage Road
Grafton Street – from Oxford Road to Nelson Street Hospital Entrance
Nelson Street – from Oxford Road to Hospital Access Road
Denmark Road – from Aberdeen Street to Oxford Road
From 7:30am to 1pm
Chester Road – from Chester Road to Deansgate Interchange
Chester Road – from Deansgate Interchange to Bridgewater Viaduct
Great Jackson Street – from Chester Road to Silvercroft Street
Bridgewater Viaduct – from Chester Road to Whitworth Street West
Deansgate – from Chester Road to Owen Street
Westbound off slip – from A57(M) to Deansgate Interchange
Eastbound off slip – from A57(M) to Deansgate Interchange
Chorlton Road – from Deansgate Interchange to Stretford Road
Jackson Crescent – from Chorlton Road to Barrhill Close
Royce Road – from Shawgreen Close to Elisa Street
Lower Moss Lane – from Chester Road to Bramfield Walk
Barrack Street – from Chester Road to Tatton Street
Hulme Hall Road – from Chester Road to Ellesmere Street
Manson Avenue – from Chester Road to Malt Street
Malt Street – from Chester Road to Manson Avenue
Princess Street – from Bridgewater Way to Nancey Street
Ellesmere Street – from Chester Road to Hulme Hall Road
Trentham Street – from Chester Road to Dinton Street
Cornbrook Road – from Chester Road to Dinton Street
From 7:30am to 2pm
Stretford Road – from Chorlton Road to Talbot Road
From 8:30am to 6:30pm
Edge Lane – from Kings Road to Wilbraham Road
Edge Lane – from Wilbraham Road to Kingshill Road
Ryebank Road – from Daresbury Road to Edge Lane
Hampton Road – from Daresbury Road to Edge Lane
Wilbraham Road – from Edge Lane to Albany Road
Whitelow Road – from York Road to Wilbraham Road
Manchester Road – from Nicolas Road to Wilbraham Road
Brundretts Road – from Groby Road to Wilbraham Road
Barlow Moor Road – from Groby Road to Manchester Road
Nicolas Road – from Manchester Road to Manchester Road
Manchester Road – from Barlow Moor Road to Seymour Grove
Longford Road – from Oswald Road to Manchester Road
Brantingham Road – from Keppel Road to Manchester Road
Kensington Road – from Oswald Road to Manchester Road
Railway Terrace and Buckingham Road – from Clarendon Road West to Manchester Road
Stratton Road – from Strathmore Avenue to Manchester Road
Upper Chorlton Road – from Seymour Grove to Chorlton Road
Sylvan Road – from Upper Chorlton Road to Whalley Road
From 9am to 7pm
Chorlton Road – from Upper Chorlton Road to Stretford Road
Stretford Road – from Chorlton Road to Cavendish Street
Bonsall Street – from Bus Gate to Stretford Road
Slip Road (Southbound off slip) – from Princess Road to Stretford Road
Epping Street – from gates to Oxford Court (allowing access) to Stretford Road
Cavendish Street – from Stretford Road to Cambridge Street
Boundary Lane – from Stretford Road to Bronte Street
Burlington Street – from Boundary Lane to Pencroft Way
From 10am to 5:30pm
Oswald Road – from Kensington Road to Wilbraham Road
A number of parking suspensions will also be in place on the day / Credit: Supplied
There will also be a number of one-way traffic restrictions in place, even including on the M60 Junction 7, Chester Road (clockwise and anti clockwise slip roads closed) from 6.30am to 7.30pm on the Sunday (19 April).
Parking restrictions will also place.
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For more information about all the road closures, traffic and parking suspensions for the weekend can be found on the Manchester City Council website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
The Strokes announce first Manchester gig in two decades
Daisy Jackson
The Strokes are finally set to return to Manchester for the first time in years, announcing a huge arena show today.
The iconic indie rockers have shared details of a new European tour, which includes a night at the massive Co-op Live arena here in Manchester.
The news comes hot off the heels of their celebrated Coachella set over the weekend.
The Reality Awaits Tour, named after their upcoming seventh studio album, will take The Strokes to Manchester as well as London and Newcastle, plus several cities across Europe.
The Strokes broke into the industry back in 2001 with their seminal debut album Is This It, which spawned massive indie anthems like Last Nite, Hard To Explain, and Sometimes.
Since then, they’ve released six studio albums, all of which have climbed into the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
You can expect to hear all sorts of fan favourites, like Reptilia, Juicebox, and You Only Live Once, plus new music including their latest single The New Abnormal.
Co-op Live said: “This is set to be an unmissable show as they come to Co-op Live for the first time and we can’t wait!”
Last time The Strokes played in Manchester, it was at the O2 Apollo way back in 2006 – the same year they supported Foo Fighters at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
They played Lytham Festival more recently, but haven’t ventured back into Manchester itself since.
The Strokes will play at Co-op Live in Manchester on 26 October 2026.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 17 April HERE, with a number of pre-sales beginning from Wednesday 15 April.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd September 2020 
