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The Manc -
7th April 2020
The Manc -
7th April 2020 News
The Christie cancer patients’ artwork to be displayed at Manchester’s new Banksy-inspired exhibition
Emily Sergeant
Cancer patients will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see their artwork exhibited in Manchester this month.
The Christie Charity has partnered with the upcoming immersive exhibition, The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind – which is opening down at Depot Mayfield this week, making its UK debut – meaning that patients currently being treated at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will have a chance to prove just how powerful and transformative art can be.
The Christie has been invited to showcase a selection of artwork, all with the aim of highlighting the role art plays in supporting cancer patients.
The new exhibition – which is set to celebrate the powerful, visual storytelling associated with Banksy – will feature more than 200 Banksy-inspired works under one roof, and the Christie patients’ pieces will now accompany them.
At present, The Christie is the only hospital in the UK that offers a dedicated art service for patients.
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Funded by The Christie Charity, the hospital provides a relaxed and welcoming space for patients between treatments.
Led by artist in residence Pat Mountford and supported by volunteers, the art sessions are informal, accessible, and open to all – with no previous artistic experience required to join, and patients being given the option to drop-in as and when they choose.
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The art room offers patients a place to unwind during what is often of the most challenging period of their lives, as through painting, drawing, and collaborative projects with one another, they’re encouraged to explore their creativity and take time away from the clinical environment.
“Art has an extraordinary ability to help people process what they’re going through,” commented Pat Mountford.
“For many patients, the art room becomes a place of calm, creativity and connection at a time when life can feel overwhelming. Seeing their work showcased in a public exhibition is incredibly empowering.”
Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to bid on the Christie patient artwork.
A QR code displayed alongside the artwork will allow members of the public to place bids, with all proceeds supporting fundraising efforts for the Total Body PET-CT Scanner. Additional pieces created by patients will be displayed throughout The Christie’s hospital corridors and will also be available to bid on as part of the auction.
The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind is set to open this Friday 13 March and will run through to 5 July 2026 at Depot Mayfield.
Read more:
- The Mystery of Banksy exhibition to make UK premiere in Manchester
- A new Picasso exhibition is coming to Manchester featuring unseen archived works
- Adults-only ‘after hours’ event returns to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum
Tickets are now on sale, with standard adult tickets starting at £22, children under six going free, and a range of concession tickets also available for 7-16 year olds, seniors, and all NHS workers to benefit from.
You can find out more and get tickets here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Full list of road closures for Manchester’s St Patrick’s Day Parade 2026 this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is marking St Patrick’s Day with a big parade this weekend, and as always, that means road closures will be in place.
Manchester‘s annual St Patrick’s Day Parade will make its return to the city centre, taking place from midday on Sunday 15 March.
Each year, the event always proves to an incredible celebration of the city’s proud and thriving Irish community, and is known for showcasing and championing local groups and organisations in the process, like Irish dance groups, marching bands and pipe bands, along with a strong representation of the 32 counties in Ireland.
The parade forms part of the wider Manchester Irish Festival, is free for everyone to attend, and is great for all ages.
Alongside the parade, there’ll be live Irish music performances, and food and drink aplenty throughout the weekend in the Irish Festival Village in St Ann’s Square.
With this year’s parade set to cover more of the city centre than ever, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has published a list of road closures and parking suspensions that will be in place over the weekend to ensure it can pass through safely.
The parade will begin at the Irish Heritage Centre at 12pm on Sunday 15 March, and will then make its way along Cheetham Hill Road, Trinity Way, Great Ducie Street, Chapel Street, Victoria Bridge Street, and finally onto Deansgate.
The parade will finish on Deansgate at approximately 1:15pm, shortly after the junction with John Dalton Street.
Manchester St Patrick’s Day Parade 2026 – Road Closures
The following road closures will be in place to facilitate the parade, so here’s everything you need to be aware of if you’re travelling in the city centre this weekend:
On Saturday 14 March:
Hilton Street (between Oldham Street and Spear Street). Stevenson Square will also not be accessible to buses during this time, as this is to facilitate celebrations prior to the parade.
From 9am until 11am on Sunday 15 March:
- Queens Road (Boyle Street to Smedley Lane)
From 11am until 1pm on Sunday 15 March:
- Queens Road (Cheetham Hill Road to Smedley Lane)
From 11am until 3pm on Sunday 15 March:
- Cheetham Hill Road (Queens Road to New Bridge Street)
- Cheetham Hill Road (New Bridge Street to Victoria Street)
- Victoria Street (New Bridge Street to Deansgate)
- Chapel Street (Victoria Street to Victoria Bridge Street)
- Victoria Bridge Street (Chapel Street to Deansgate)
- Deansgate (Victoria Street to Peter Street)
- John Dalton Street (Deansgate to Princess Street)
- Princess Street (John Dalton Street to George Street)
Parking Suspensions
From 12:01am until 4pm on Sunday 15 March:
- Cheetham Hill Road (Queens Road to New Bridge Street)
- Victoria Street (New Bridge Street to Deansgate)
- Cateaton Street (Fennel Street to Deansgate)
- Deansgate (Victoria Street to Peter Street)
- Queen Street (Deansgate to end)
- South King Street (Cross Street to Deansgate)
- John Dalton Street (Princess Street to Deansgate)
- St James Square (South King Street to John Dalton Street)
- Ebden Street (Minshull Street to Back Action Street)
- Back Action Street (Fairfield Street to Granby Row)
Throughout the weekend, especially on parade day, TfGM is advising against travelling into the city centre by car if possible, as roads will be busier than usual and journeys may take much longer. In this case, public transport will likely be the best way to travel.
If you must drive, then you’re urged to consider leaving the car at one of TfGM’s park and ride sites and completing your journey by tram, bus, or train.
Read more:
- Some of the very best Irish pubs in Manchester
- Three Manchester pubs are officially serving some of the best Guinness in the UK
- ‘Craic Den?’ – New Irish bar opens on Manchester’s Albert Square
If you’re travelling by public transport, you can check for any diversions on your route on the dedicated travel alerts hub here.
Featured Image – Colin Home (Supplied)
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