A new art trail is coming to Manchester next month, bringing with it a total of 51 individual sculptures all designed by talented UK artists.
Designed to show thanks to the NHS and all the keyworkers who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, it’s been created in partnership with global public art producers Wild in Art – who were also behind Manchester’s popular 2018 Bee In The City art trail.
Aiming to capture the experiences that have connected us all through what has been one of the most challenging periods in modern peacetime, the free-to-visit exhibition has been curated in partnership with creative ambassador and fashion icon Dame Zandra Rhodes.
LeiMai’s “Lockdown” sculpture will go on display in Manchester next month as part of the Gratitude art trail / Image: Leimai Lemaow
Consisting of 51 sculptures, it features work by professional artists and designers from across the UK – including pieces by prominent Manchester-based artists Leimai Lemaow and Nomad Clan.
The trail will also bring to life real-life stories and poems about key workers, narrated by a host of famous voices, and at the end of its UK tour all of the artworks on display will be sold off at auction to raise funds for NHS Charities Together.
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Enclosed by mirrors on two sides, Gratitude creates infinite reflections of the stunning artwork highlighting the endless dedication of all key workers / Image: Gratitude in Art
Sharing her Gratitude art trail design to her Instagram page over the weekend, Manchester-based artist LeiMai told of how Wild In Art asked her to create a sculpture to raise money for the NHS that summed up the pandemic:
“I created this tale of two halves and named it “lockdown”, she shared with her followers.
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“On the front of my sculpture I added the words “See you soon” from a charity print I’d released with @law_magazine during the first lockdown, it shows clapping and smiley faces, we were fine weren’t we?
“We had everything worked out, clapping helps right?… the back that you see reflected in the mirror has the words “sorry I’m having tech difficulties”, sad faces, and unsure clapping hands… was the pandemic ever going to end? Another f’ing zoom meeting when I hate video calls and my internet keeps dipping?
You can visit Gratitude at St Peter’s Square, Manchester from 03-12 September 2021 before it moves on to visit Edinburgh and London. / Image: Gratitude in Art
“Clapping like idiots but 1% pay rise for NHS… seriously? The spiral symbolises this never-ending whirlwind of feelings and asks the question; will things ever be the same again? it’s now on show in Birmingham and will be coming to Manny soon amongst other cities.”
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And Leimai isn’t the only Manchester artist to be asked to get involved in the project. When the art trail lands in the city next month, there’ll also be a piece on display from internationally-acclaimed, queer street art muralist duo Nomad Clan.
Their design, entitled ‘Digital Conscience’, seeks to explore themes of value systems, digital identity, virtual reality and overstimulation in connection to our shared lived experiences of the past year.
In autumn 2021, the sculptures will be auctioned with substantial proceeds donated to NHS Charities Together / Image: Gratitude in Art
Elsewhere, there’ll be further contributions from artists up and down the country – including Scottish fashion designer Pam Hogg with her sculpture ‘Courage’, British fashion and textile designer Kitty Joseph, Andrew Logan with his design ‘Spiral Stardust – Homage to the Alexander Technique’, and leading ceramic artist Kate Malone with her design ‘Life Force.’
Each artist has drawn their own inspirations from the past year, be that from the selfless, endless dedication of NHS workers or the opportunities we’ve been given to reconnect with nature during this forced period of slowing down.
‘Super Stars’, designed by Birmingham artist Edward Luke Thrush, nods to the keyworkers who braved the pandemic when the rest of us stayed at home, whilst Cardiff-based illustrator Matt Joyce’s design ‘The Joy of Pets’ celebrates the furry (and not so furry) companions that have kept us company throughout the trials and tribulations of Covid-19.
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Gratitude has been created by Wild in Art, who also produced the hugely successful Bee in the City trail in Manchester in 2018. / Image: Gratitude in Art trail
As well as showcasing sculptures from artists up and down the country, the trail will also bring to the fore real-life stories and poems about key workers.
These have been brought to life by working with a host of famous voices, including Adil Ray, Hugh Bonneville, Sarah Parish, Norman Cook, Christopher Eccleston, Julie Hesmondhalgh, John Thomson, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Shobna Gulati and KT Tunstall.
Visitors to the trail will be able to access these stories through the Gratitude App and website, hearing the experience of doctors and nurses, teachers, railways workers, and more.
Speaking on the new art trail,Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder of Wild in Art said: “Gratitude is set to be a beautiful and striking tribute which celebrates the incredible courage and dedication of the UK’s NHS staff and all key workers and supports the vital work of NHS Charities Together.
“We are delighted to be launching our tour at Paradise Birmingham, after months of hard work from artists across the UK, who have dedicated their time and creativity to help us produce an installation which reflects our endless Gratitude for the care and kindness that all key workers have provided.”
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You can visit Gratitude at St Peter’s Square, Manchester from 3 – 12 September 2021 before it moves on to visit Edinburgh and London. To find out more and grab your tickets, click here.
Manchester City told no after appeals for rule change in the EFL Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City have been told no over proposed rule changes after requesting an exception to be made and for Marc Guehi to be able to play in the EFL Carabao Cup final.
The Cityzens made it through to the last two following their 3-1 win against Newcastle United in the decisive tie at the Etihad Stadium, beating the North East side 5-1 on aggregate over the course of the two-legged semis.
However, Man City have now reportedly had their appeal rejected, with the EFL stating definitively that Marc Guehi will not be playing in the final.
With Pep Guardiola’s squad having suffered a number of injuries across their backline of late, it goes without saying that they could do with as many available defenders as possible.
BREAKING: The EFL will not change its rules to allow Marc Guehi to play for Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final 🚨 pic.twitter.com/QFw5KIiaNz
As confirmed by Sky Sports and other sources, the governing body for the wider English pyramid has stated clearly that Guehi will be ineligible for selection by City in the final.
Put simply, this is because Guehi – having just joined the club this January transfer window – is already cup-tied, after playing for his former employers, Crystal Palace, in previous rounds of the Carabao Cup.
While most new signings have previously been able to represent their new side in the same competition after leaving their old team, in this case, the domestic knockout tournament has already progressed too far, basically.
Since there is just one last fixture to play before we find out the winner, one of Man City or Arsenal is crowned champions for 2026, the EFL have insisted that Guehi can’t play in the final.
Following manager Guardiola’s comments after the win on Wednesday night, in which he said he would ask for the rules to be amended, Sky gave a quick explainer to those left confused.
As broadcaster Mark Chapman mentioned, this just so happens to be the first year that this particular scenario has occurred in the event’s 86-year history.
Pep made it apparent that he doesn’t agree with the stipulation and that the England international will be unable to play “because of a rule that I don’t understand”; many supporters, be they Blue or otherwise, argue that changing regulations is simply ‘common sense’.
Nevertheless, it looks like the EFL are sticking with it, and come the EFL Cup final at Wembley from 4:30pm on Sunday, 22 March, Guehi will have to settle for watching from the stands against their current title rivals on two fronts.
What do you make of the debate?
You can see his Pep’s most recent post-match press conference in full here.
Price of Manchester Village Pride 2026 tickets confirmed as wristbands go on sale
Emily Sergeant
Wristbands for Pride in Manchester this summer officially go on sale today.
Following last week’s announcement that the iconic Manchester Pride celebrations would, in fact, be returning in 2026 thanks to the creation of Manchester Village Pride CIC, today marks a ‘landmark’ moment as wristbands go on sale, helping to rebuild and reclaim what has always been once of the city’s most important events.
Early bird wristbands are now on sale at just £25, plus booking fee, offering community members access to four days of ‘safe and responsible’ celebrations.
This is set to include a ‘diverse’ programme of events that build on some of the best-loved elements of previous years – a Pride Parade, candle-lit vigil, party with performance and music across various stages, as well as talks, exhibitions, and community activities.
Manchester Pride is returning in 2026 / Credit: The Manc Group | Manchester Pride
Once early bird wristbands sell out, then general release wristbands will go on sale priced at £30 plus booking fee for the full weekend, or £20 plus booking fee for individual day passes.
Options for those on low-income, or those that require additional support, will also be available too.
Under the new direction of Manchester Village Pride CIC, all funds raised through the sale of wristbands and passes will enable the safe delivery of the Summer Bank Holiday Weekend event, and will support LGBTQ+ charities, grassroots organisations, and vital community services.
Any surplus funds will then be legally locked in for public benefit, and a ‘transparency dashboard’ on the Manchester Village Pride CIC website will be updated regularly to show ticket sales, costs, and projected charitable surplus.
Manchester Village Pride CIC has so far received £120,000 in loans from Village venues, which it says reflects the ‘determination’ of local LGBTQ+ businesses to safeguard Pride and ensure it remains rooted in the community that created it.
However, despite this, funds from wristband sales are now required to help start planning and organising the event properly.
“Naturally, given the failure of Manchester Pride Ltd and ongoing impact that this has had on charities, artists, and businesses within our community, we know that everything we do is going to be scrutinised,” admitted Carl Austin-Behan, who is one of the founding board members and spokesperson for Manchester Village Pride CIC.
“We are ready to meet that head on with clear open book management, direct and clear language when providing updates, and radical transparency about any funding.
Wristbands have officially gone on sale for 2026’s event this morning / Credit: Manchester Pride
“In the spirit of this transparency, we do need to be clear that we need people to purchase a wristband or day pass.
“Over Pride weekend, the Village becomes a large-scale live event space, with outdoor stages, performances, and street bars. A ticketed entry system allows us to meet essential safety, security, and government licensing requirements, manage crowd numbers responsibly, and provide appropriate stewarding, medical, and welfare support.
“Without this approach, venues would not be legally permitted to host stages or outdoor bars, and the Village simply couldn’t operate in the way people expect during Pride weekend.
“This is not about restricting access, it’s about keeping people safe, protecting our venues, and ensuring Manchester Village Pride can happen responsibly.”
Manchester Village Pride 2026 will take place over August Bank Holiday weekend between Friday 28 and Monday 31 August.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd August 2021 
