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Printworks launches UK-wide student art competition for Europe’s largest digital ceiling

Are you an aspiring artist? This is your chance to be in the spotlight.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 14th May 2026

Printworks has launched a student art competition offering the winner a chance to have their work displayed on Europe’s largest digital ceiling.

Do you know an aspiring artist? Students aged 16 and over are invited to bring the ocean to life in a brand-new creative arts competition launched by one of the UK’s leading entertainment destinations, Manchester’s Printworks.

The venue has now opened entries for UK students from sixth forms, colleges, universities, and art colleges across the country to take part in an exciting new art competition.

The winning design is set to be showcased on Europe’s largest digital ceiling.

This year, students are asked to create an original artwork inspired by the theme ‘Ocean / Under the Sea’, and then the winning design will be transformed into a spectacular digital display across the impressive ceiling installation.

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From colourful coral gardens and tropical fish, to mysterious deep-sea worlds and majestic marine life, students are encouraged to unleash their creativity and dive beneath the waves for inspiration.

“We’re incredibly excited to launch this year’s student art competition and can’t wait to see the imagination and creativity that the UK’s young artists bring to this year’s theme,” commented Dan Davis, who is the General Manager at Printworks Manchester.

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Printworks has launched a UK-wide student art competition for Europe’s largest digital ceiling / Credit: Supplied

“Our digital ceiling gives students the opportunity to see their work displayed on a truly massive scale in front of thousands of visitors, and we hope the addition of new prizes will encourage creativity to continue beyond the competition.”

The winning artist will also receive an iPad 11th Generation with an Apple Pencil (USB-C) this year too, as well as the main prize of having their artwork featured, giving budding creatives powerful new tools to continue developing their artistic talents and future projects.

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Entrants who come in second and third place will also receive vouchers to be used at different venues inside Printworks.

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The competition is now open, and further details on how to enter, submission guidelines, and full terms and conditions can be found on the Printworks website here.

Featured Image – Supplied

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A massive street food festival is set to return to Rochdale this month

Lydia Mastrolonardo Lydia Mastrolonardo A massive street food festival is set to return to Rochdale this month

A popular street food festival will be returning to Greater Manchester this month, filling a historic square with food traders and live entertainment. 

That’s right, Street Eat is coming to Rochdale once again, to supply us foodies with our fix of mouth-watering food and thirst-quenching drinks, all held within the magnificent Rochdale Town Hall Square.

Year upon year, this flavourful festival has shown up and impressed us, guaranteeing itself a spot in our annual diaries as a staple spring-time event. 

It truly does deserve all of the praise it gets, with more than 3,000 people showing up last year, all with one common interest – proper good food.  

Street Eat is a true celebration of the town’s rich history, diverse arts scene, creativity, talent, variety of cultures and of course – food. Boasting a range of local favourites and stalls including Italian, Spanish, Thai, Indian, English, American cuisines and more, it successfully captures what Rochdale is all about. 

This year, Street Eat is pulling out all of the stops, with stalls like the prosecco bar Sip and Sparkle and multi-award winning independent brewery Wakey Wakey, as well as tapas from La Mancha, pizza from Vicolo del Vino, Indian inspired street food from Bombay Brew, Thai street food dishes from Issan Friends and many more. Whether you’re feeling adventurous and want to try something new, or are there to support your favourite local restaurant, there’s something for everyone. 

Street Eat will take place in the Rochdale Town Hall square
Street Eat will take place in the Rochdale Town Hall square
There'll be food and drink aplenty from local traders
There’ll be food and drink aplenty from local traders
Street Eat returns to Rochdale in May
Street Eat returns to Rochdale in May

If it’s a sweet treat that you’re after, there will also be cookies from Mason’s Creations, waffles and crepes to be found at Brew Box, and sugary classics from The Traditional Tuck Shop, as well as many other dessert stalls to satisfy those sugar cravings.  

Why not check out which of The Manc’s favourites from our Rochdale guide made it onto the festival menu? 

The excitement doesn’t just stop with our tastebuds though – Street Eat also hosts lots of free entertainment across a variety of bars and live music stages, which all draw in the crowds and give it a proper festival feel. 

This year you can expect a variety of music genres, catering to all ages with everything from singalong classics and pop hits, to Rochdale Music Service’s very own rock bands, brass band and choirs. Not to mention a performance from Turners Dance School to get everyone in the mood for getting their groove on as the music takes us into the evening.

Street Eat welcomes people of all ages, with lots of free activities to keep the kids entertained too including rides, Punch and Judy shows, face painting and even a caricaturist sketching free portraits. 

One thing is for certain – Rochdale Business Improvement District (BID) can put on a good party.

Organiser and BID manager Paul Ambrose said: “Street Eat showcases the vibrant and high-quality food and drink the town has to offer, as well as being a great day out.

“It’s a fantastic event, giving us the opportunity to champion the very best local food and drink. Street Eat brings friends and families together, celebrating our vibrant town centre eateries and showing what a foodie hotspot the town is. We do all we can to make the event as affordable as possible and entry is free.”

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “This is always such a great day out and Rochdale Town Hall Square is a wonderful setting. Street Eat is a great celebration of the incredible food and drink offer we have here in our town.”

Great food, drinks, community, music and free entertainment in the sunshine – sounds like the perfect Saturday to us.

Admission is free and Street Eat will run from 11am to 7pm on Saturday 30 May. 

For more on the line-up, head HERE and search #StreetEatRoch on social media.

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Featured image: Supplied

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The Manchester-born clothing brand being worn by some brilliant Northern sporting talents

Danny Jones Danny Jones Hex MCR clothing brand Manchester casualwear

Back in 2020, HEX MCR burst onto the casualwear and sporting apparel scene and quickly became a cult favourite not just around Greater Manchester, but within the boxing and combat sports world as a whole.

They may have been away for a little while, but now under new ownership and hoping to venture even further out into the fashion industry than ever, they’re definitely ones to watch.

We wouldn’t quite call it a comeback fight, but they’re definitely starting to make a splash on their return to the scene.

Having been acquired by Craig Chiocci, a Wigan-based entrepreneur who owns a telecommunication company of the same name, 2026 looks set to be the year you’ll see more of their label out and about than ever – in fact, they’re already teaming up with some more British boxing talents once again.

calvin moyo
Calvin Moyo wearing HEX
hex mcr hats
The worker bee insignia is never far away
hex mcr tees
*Adds to basket*
hex mcr full collection
HEX hoodies have always been popular
Credit: HEX MCR (supplied)

Continuing their trend of backing Northern fighters, in particular, they’ll be backing Doncaster-born boxer, Dave ‘The White Rhino’ Allen, for his hometown bout against top heavyweight, Filip Hrgović.

Allen, 34, will face off against the Croatian pugilist at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday, 16 May – donning the latest HEX MCR gear ahead of the fight, of course.

It’s far from the first time their casualwear will have been worn by a well-known face, either; the Manc brand has also been represented by the likes of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship star Luke Brassfield – who’ll be fighting at BKFC Birmingham on Saturday, 30 May – as well as plenty of boxers.

Joe Howarth, Kian Hamilton, Liam Carrigan, and many others have all pulled on their hats, hoodies, graphic t-shirts and more.

Crediting the original founders, Luke Powell and Andy Gibson – who started the company as a pandemic project in 2020 – Chiocci said: “They did a fantastic job getting HEX to where it is. It grabbed my attention as I was a consumer first, who simply appreciated the exceptional designs and premium quality.

“Manchester and the North West are a hive of activity at the moment, producing the best creative people who are developing fantastic brands and designs in the fashion industry. HEX is one of those brands that has the potential to truly make an impact.”

Craig has made it abundantly clear that he’s got big plans for the future of the already popular independent business moving forward.

For instance, as part of this revival, they’ve just released a new line of headwear to their clothing range, made more premium than ever and with each piece showcasing the ‘HEX Worker Bee’ logo design on the side panel as a nod to the Northern Quarter and the city’s industrial origins.

Speaking to The Manc, he went on to add: “This is just the start, Dave has been very helpful to us in supporting our growth and seeing our vision for HEX within the Boxing scene, we can’t wait to repay the favour in supporting him in his upcoming fight.

“We think he will surprise a lot of people and get the result. He’s in fantastic shape. We are a brand formed from the back streets of Manchester, and we feel that the brand is suited to fighters who have to show true grit and resilience.”

If you fancy adding their latest stuff to your fits, you can help support a rising local indie by checking out the full HEX MCR collection right HERE.

hex mcr hats
Their new Hybrid Sports Hat
celebs who wear hex mcr clothes
Actor Adam Thomas wearing HEX
boxers who wear hex mcr
(L-R) Dave Allen, Craig Chiocci, Liam Carrigan
luke brasshammer brassfield bkb fighter
Will ‘Brasshammer’ Brassfield win in HEX this month?
Credit: Supplied

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Hex MCR)

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