Manchester Art Fair is back for 2023 and after a record-breaking year in 2022, it’s promising to be bigger and better than ever.
With more than 13,000 visitors last year and a whopping £798,405 made in art sales over the three-day event (up around 58% and 60% on 2021, respectively), the scale of this beloved annual event is
Starting out back in 2008 and now into its 15th year, Manchester Art Fair has gradually become one of the largest and most significant art fairs in the UK and not only encourages people to better engage with local art and culture but also makes viewing and buying quality art accessible and enjoyable.
This city has such a rich artistic history and continues to platform creators from all around the world — this year’s Manchester International Festival being a perfect example — it’s only right that we continue to keep that heritage alive and grow it even further.
As a result of last year’s success, Manchester Art Fair tickets early this time to meet the unprecedented demand and have even increased the floor size by a whole 35% to make room for even more artists.
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In addition to further galleries and artists being able to host exhibits, not to mention more space for visitors to stand back and appreciate the works on display, The Manchester Contemporary will once again accompany the main fair, focusing on artist-led spaces and charitable organisations.
Over 170 UK and international individual artists, galleries, and artist-led spaces will show, with new entrants such as Demif Gallery, British Art Portfolio, Art Court and Bristol’s First Contemporary; returning exhibitors include Saul Hay Gallery, Hidden Gallery and Carnes Fine Art, among many others.
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Manchester Art Fair 2023 will also deliver an extended programme of activities to accompany the fair, with exclusive drops of limited-edition prints, workshops for all ages and a sculpture pavilion, as well as even more artist talks and Q&As. There’ll even be advice on how to build your own art collections.
Speaking ahead of this year’s massive event, director Sophie Helm said: “We can’t wait to bring the community built by Manchester Art Fair and The Manchester Contemporary back together in November.
“Once again, we are stepping up our ambitions for the fair… This year’s programme features an exciting breadth of names, many of whom will be joining us in person to share the inspiration behind their work and journey as an artist.
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“We look forward to also setting a new record for the Manchester Contemporary Art Fund, as we commit to tripling this year’s fund for Manchester Art Gallery’s public collection. One of the most significant philanthropic art funds in the country, it’s a foundation of which Greater Manchester can be proud, providing the opportunity for people to enjoy art for years to come.”
Manchester Art Fair 2023 opens on Friday 17 November from 5-9pm and runs until Sunday, 19 November. The full list of opening hours as well as all info on the exhibitions can be found HERE and you can grab your tickets NOW.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 9 – 15 December 2024
Emily Sergeant
The festive season is properly in full swing across Greater Manchester now, and we’re ABSOLUTELY here for it.
Of course, we have been talking about Christmas here at The Manc for weeks on end now, but the most wonderful time of the year has finally arrived, and that means there’s absolutely loads of events and activities for the whole family to be getting up to across Greater Manchester this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide to help you out.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Animal Crackers
Lyme Park
Friday 29 November – Tuesday 24 December
Credit: Chris Doyle
Lyme Park has recieved some new guests for the festive period with the arrival of some fascinating animal sculptures.
There’s an appearance from a turkey, a brown bear, a fox and many more animal companions which you’ll be able to spot and hunt down throughout the property.
The Lyme Park based event is interactive, suitable for all ages and is also a fun way to see some amazing artworks while spending time together as a family.
Find out everything you need to know about Lyme Park here.
Paul McCartney
Co-op Live
Saturday 14 December – Sunday 15 December
The living legend himself, Sir Paul McCartney is ready to play out to the crowds of Manchester not once but twice in the 23,500 capacity Co-op Live.
This will mark the icon’s first concert at Manchester’s newest live music venue with his last show in our lovely city all the way back in 2011.
With the phenomenal songwriter visiting during the Christmas month, he might make fans Christmas wishes come true by playing his yuletide classic ‘Wonderful Christmastime’.
David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away). Credit: Justin Sutcliffe
One of the most influential British artists of the 21st century, David Hockney, is taking you on a personal journey through 60 years of his art in the revolutionary Aviva Studios.
This will be a real sensory encompassing experience, from the grand and vibrant projections on the walls to the sound system which will be playing throughout the exhibition
Hockney opened this installation in London and this is the first time these pieces of art have left the country’s capital to be viewed by even more spectators.
Wicked at the Palace Theatre, Manchester – the musical EVERYONE is talking aboutWicked The Musical / Credit: Jennifer DiNoia / Limited Engagement
Wicked The Musical has landed in Manchester and has taken over the iconic Palace Theatre stage for the festive season.
Sure, there may be a major motion picture adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande currently on in the cinema right now, but if you’re keen to see the beloved musical production on stage in the way it was originally intended, then you can head on down to the Palace Theatre to see the story of Elphaba and Galinda live.
Of course, this has been one of the hottest tickets in town for quite a while now, but there’ll still some last-minute seats left to get your hands on, so keep your eyes peeled.
The iconic annual event is an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe – with hundreds of stalls across several sites all lining the streets of our city centre.
Visitors are able to tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 here.
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Bar Hütte
Kampus & Great Northern
Monday 9 December – onwards
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Bar Hütte / Credit: Supplied
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back in Manchester once again.
Bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks to two city centre locations from this Thursday onwards, dozens of cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under twinkling lights are now open down at both Kampus and Great Northern Square.
There’s also a handful of other events on the lineup throughout the festive season, including live music and DJs, wreath making workshops, and movie nights.
Skate Manchester 2024 / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2024, Skate Manchester is festive staple, and this year, skaters can glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink.
Families, friends, and festive fun seekers will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store for our city this year too, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
The Grotto at the Trafford Centre / Credit: Supplied
The main man is making our northern city his new home at one of Greater Manchester’s biggest shopping centres this winter time.
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Running all the way up until Christmas Eve, Santa is swapping the cold air of the North Pole for the cloudy skies of Manchester, as he starts his annual journey around the world by making a visit to our region.
Not only is Santa travelling with his grotto, he’s also giving visitors the chance to experience the world of the North Pole as he brings the chilly destination to the Trafford Centre.
East Lancashire Railway’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas.
Running right through until Christmas Eve, ELR’s ‘Santa Specials’ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make “enchanted memories” that last a lifetime.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West, and there’s still some tickets left available.
The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park have been transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ for the festive season.
Families will be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.
Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.
Spectrum: A World of Illumination / Credit: Supplied
A brand-new Christmas attraction to get us all in the festive spirit has now opened.
Just outside of Manchester, titled ‘Spectrum: A World of Illumination’, this spectacular never-seen-before trail is lighting up Cheshire with a month-long residency in Knutsford, and will be running every day in December besides Christmas Day, plus a few extra dates in November.
The immersive maze features moving giant candy canes, overhead Christmas-inspired installations like a laser show, and tunnels of light.
Not enough light trails on this list for your liking?
As the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, light trails are pretty much a given every time the festive season rolls around, and luckily, there’s plenty of them dotted across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and across the North West this year.
If deciding which immersive experience to head on down to over these next couple of weeks is a tricky task for you though,
A brand-new festive hub has arrived in Spinningfields, and you’ll be able to visit a new ice rink, drink cocktails in a snow globe-like rooftop dome, and get merry in a yurt.
Winter Assembly at Courts Club is home to the city’s newest, fully-independent ice rink, On Ice, as well as lots of different food traders serving up winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, festive grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials, and so much more.
Christmas Screenings at King Street Townhouse / Credit: KSTH
Elf, Love Actually, and Home Alone are just some of the classic Christmas films hitting the big screen at a hidden cinema in Manchester.
Film fans looking for some wholesome festive fun are being invited to get themselves down to one of Manchester’s most popular hotels, King Street Townhouse, in the run-up to the big day itself, as it’s very-own exclusive cinema will be screening a jam-packed lineup of fan-favourite festive films over the next couple of weeks.
Cheshire Oaks’ beloved grotto is back for 2024, and the big man in red and his trusty elves are taking to the skies once again this year.
Running on the Designer Outlet’s Big Wheel every Thursday to Sunday throughout December, the ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas as a family this winter, and make memories to last a lifetime.
Looking for something else to do at Cheshire Oaks this month? There’s plenty of other festive events happening in the run-up to Christmas.
With alpine lodges, festive drinks, Yorkshire pudding wraps, and of course, a helter skelter, The Winter Village is now open at Cheshire Oaks.
Christmas films like Home Alone, The Grinch, and The Polar Express will also be screened in the lodge, and plus, did you know that Cheshire Oaks is home to the UK’s largest Christmas tree, that you can actually go inside?
Find out more and grab tickets to any events here.
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Featured image: Justin Sutcliffe
Art & Culture
Lyme Park’s enchanting animal-themed Christmas event returns
Thomas Melia
Much-loved National Trust venue, Lyme Park, has welcomed some very special guests this winter time with the arrival of fascinating animal sculptures.
The ‘Animal Crackers’ exhibition is a returning favourite for the country park and sees the grand mansion filled with lots of wonderful guests.
Lyme Park has now reopened after a three week sleep and is ready to welcome guests back inside its incredible halls.
You’ll be sure to find comfort in these animals as you walk round the property as many of them are participating in some familiar Christmas activities.
There’s an appearance from a turkey at the table, who’s patiently waiting on their Christmas dinner and even a brown bear who you’ll find hibernating in one of the mansion’s many beds.
All of these creations have been made by Stockport-based artist, Sophie Tyrell, who loves taking inspiration from the carnival and masquerade scenes to make sculptures and art that pops.
When you’re making your way around the building and its countless rooms, you’ll soon notice a lot of these animal sculptures are multi-coloured and incredibly vibrant.
The fox who’s just one of many animals living in this carnival wonderland.The majestic deer draped in bright and colourful bunting at Lyme Park.Credit: Chris Doyle via Publicity Picture.
Although the main focus of the ‘Animal Crackers’ trail is the amazing large-scale animal figures on display in Lyme Park, a big helping hand has come in the form of nearby locals.
The National Trust staff, volunteers and community groups have been working together to deck the halls with handmade decorations made from recycled and donated materials.
It’s not just Lyme Park itself that’s undergone a makeover so has the menu, especially the much-loved afternoon teas which are receiving a ‘festive twist’.
As well as the art installation in the house itself, Crow Wood, next to the Timber yard, will have some glorious trees decorated by local primary schools and organisations from Disley and nearby areas.
‘Animal Crackers’ at Lyme Park is running until 24 December, standard admission applies while National Trust members are free.
Danny Jones -
13th July 2023 
