A brand new art trail is arriving in Manchester city centre next week and it’s set to shine a light on the incredible work of local artists and makers.
50 Windows of Creativity is a new art trail celebrating Manchester’s rich creative culture which will see a huge array of spectacular mosaics, installations, fine art, photography, craft, murals and more pop up in windows, venues, businesses and spaces right across the city centre.
Created by the team behind the award-winning Bee in the City event, 50 Windows of Creativity will aim to transform Manchester into an innovative art gallery and take visitors on a colourful, inspiring and COVID-safe journey around the city centre.
The trail – which is supported by Manchester City Council and event partners Auto Trader and Dandara Living – will seek to raise money for the artists involved, and also the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s Charity Appeal Trust – the We Love MCR Charity.
Visitors to the trail will be able to explore the city via the 50 Windows of Creativity app and a specially-designed interactive trail map.
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Each of the 50 Windows of Creativity displays can be found in windows and spaces around Manchester city centre and can be enjoyed within necessary social distancing regulations, so all visitors are encouraged to maintain a safe distance, wear a face covering when appropriate, and be respectful to other trail visitors.
The trail is opening next Monday 26th October and will run through to Saturday 5th December 2020.
The trail celebrates the rich and varied culture of Manchester itself and visitors passing ChriSalon on Princess Street might spot Ric Facchin’s miniature Manchester Builds, which immortalise some the city’s best buildings at their moment in time, whilst the new Kimpton Clocktower Hotel will display a mosaic work by Mary Goodwin, featuring a tryptic of historical Mancunians who are famous by name but not so famous by face.
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If you head onto Deansgate, Classic Football Shirts will present mosaicist Mark Kennedy’s replica of the 20/21 Premier League Manchester City Football Club shirt – the design of which was inspired by his work – and Sarah Connell’s Manchester cityscapes of the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford can be seen at Wesley Barrell.
Mark KennedySneaky Raccoon
Many of the works will showcase creativity sparked by lockdown.
Sneaky Raccoon’s work in Hobs Repro is inspired by the plants and flowers that she photographed while on walks around her neighbourhood and reflecting the sentiment of re-wilding and regrowth.
Others bring a sense of fun and discovery, with Playhouse from Barney Ibbotson Illustration, Ben Clark Design and Playground shown at Hilton House in partnership with Design Manchester bringing to life some of the entries to a global reaching competition to design something to enable people to play at home during lockdown.
Artist and maker Lazerian (Liam Hopkins) will present Curiosity Killed the Cat, which is a conceptual art piece that will morph and change throughout the duration of the project.
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Liam Hopkins
Tim Denton’s giant drawing pantograph at Dandara Living explores family connections, friendships and other relationships which create the communities we live, laugh, love and work in, Guy McKinley celebrates humans in all their guises of the present in beautiful colourful stained glass windows at No. 1 Canal Street, and at RNCM, Sumit Sarkar presents a series of sculptures created with a mix of cutting edge digital technology and analogue techniques, which take inspiration from a variety of sources, including religious iconography, science fiction and graffiti.
Large scale visual artworks will pop up around the city.
This includes a mural of Ste Wing by acclaimed photorealistic street artist Akse on Little Lever Street, and award winning photographer Benji Reid’s work, which will be displayed on the facade of the National Football Museum.
Atelier Bebop will take over Selfridges Exchange Square, with large-scale graphic work Cosmos inspired by the sunset of summer and the autumn season, whilst Caroline Dowsett’s mural at Hatch wraps around the whole inside of its container to create an immersive experience, and Hammo has created a sequence of playful little adventurers, clambering over rocks, climbing trees, crossing streams at Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports in Castlefield.
Atelier Bop
Manchester’s ever-present music influence can be seen in the Moovin’ Festival Visual Art Collective’s installation at KSMCR, which captures some of the festival’s madness and magic, whilst one of the many pieces at RNCM includes a photography show from the Manchester Hip Hop Archive.
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Elsewhere, in the Northern Quarter, artist Lei-Mai LeMaow’s mural at Yard and Coop takes inspiration from old rave flyers and touches on the current precarious situation regarding the music sector.
Other works challenge the viewer to think and will be on display at other prominent city centre venues.
All pieces on display will be available to buy directly from the artist or maker and the project culminates with an auction on 10 December 2020 streamed live from the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel 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 Charity (registered charity number 1066972) which supports disadvantaged communities and individuals to be the best they can be.
50 Windows of Creativity is being delivered by 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 – 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 is hoping to allow “residents to reconnect with places and spaces in the city centre again” as part of the council’s recovery programme.
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Ben Reed – Head of Creative Development at Wild in Art – said: “We are delighted to have the privilege of working with the many incredibly talented artists, designers and makers and we are excited to reveal their work and displays.
“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 OBE – Executive Member Culture Leisure and Skills, Manchester City Council – added: “Now more than ever it is so important that we show support for the arts community and I hope that people will take the time to safely explore 50 Windows of Creativity and appreciate the incredible talent that Manchester has to offer.”
The project is made possible by event partners Auto Trader and Dandara Living, with other businesses including Hobs Repro, Ocean Outdoor, Jamieson Contracting, TfGM and Kimpton Clocktower Hotel also stepping forward to support the trail.
You can find the interactive trail map at the Bee in the City website here.
What's On
You can get FREE food and more at Tesco Christmas Markets across Greater Manchester
Thomas Melia
Tesco Christmas Markets are back and heading to even more Greater Manchester locations where you can try lots of festive items all for FREE.
If you missed it last year, then don’t worry, as Tesco has brought back its much-loved Christmas Markets and the stalls are visiting more locations across the UK than ever before.
We’ve got you covered with all the dates and locations these freebie-filled Christmas Markets are visiting to make sure you don’t catch a case of festive FOMO.
Tesco Christmas Markets will be filled with all your favourite brands you usually fill up your trolley with from the likes of Costa, McCain, Celebrations and more.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a Tesco-led celebration without its own Finest range making an appearance across select Greater Manchester locations.
Expect to sample Tesco Finest Scallop and King Prawn Toast, Tesco Finest Stratford Blue with Fig Conserve and sweet treat staple, Tesco Finest Brandy Butter Mince Pies.
The best-loved brands mentioned before will be offering samples like smooth and creamy cups of Chocomel, or caramel-infused Nutcracker Spectacular drinks thanks to coffee shop chain Costa too.
In terms of food, McCain are letting you crunch down on its latest crisp range Vibes, Celebrations is treating you to its chocolate collection and biscuit varities from Bahlsen.
Tesco Christmas Markets are visiting major Greater Manchester locations giving out lots of FREE food / Credit: Press Shots (via Supplied)
Feeling merry and bright? Alcoholic drink brands 1664 is bringing out its blue bottles, Three Barrels for its XO and VSOP brandies as well as the coffee-infused liquer Drambuie.
If you’re after something to warm up your winter’s day, Costa is also letting you try some of its Home-made Barista style coffees and coffee pod masterminds Tassimo are offering samples of its Cadbury, L’Or, Kenco ranges and more.
Finally, if that wasn’t enough for you, why not clear your palette with a Christmas creation courtesy of teapigs and its caffeine-free peppermint leaves, yum.
Here’s all the important dates and locations for Tesco Christmas Markets 2025 schedule for Greater Manchester and wider regions:
Fri 14 November – Glossop Superstore, SK13 8HB
Sat 15 November – Hattersley Extra in Hyde, SK14 3AU
Sun 16 November – Failsworth Extra in Manchester, M35 0EJ
Mon 17 November – Manchester Gorton Extra, M18 8LD
Tue 18 November – Stockport Extra, SK1 2BT
Wed 19 November – Burnage Superstore in Manchester, M19 1TF
Thu 20 November – Prestwich Superstore in Manchester, M25 3TG
Fri 21 November – Bolton Horwich Extra, BL6 6JS
Sun 23 November – Chorley Extra, PR7 1NW
Mon 24 November – Leyland Extra, PR25 2FN
Sun 30 November – Prescot Extra, L34 5NQ
Mon 1 December – St Helens Extra, WA9 3AL
Tue 2 December – Widnes Extra, WA8 7YT
Wed 3 December – Warrington Extra, WA2 7NE
Mon 8 December – Accrington Extra, BB5 1LN
Fri 12 December – Macclesfield Hibel Road Superstore, SK10 2AB
To view a full list of all the Tesco Christmas Markets locations across the UK and browse all the brands that are taking part you can find everything HERE.
Manchester Art Fair unveils ‘biggest lineup yet’ ahead of return this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Art Fair returns this weekend, and it’s now unveiled its ‘biggest lineup yet’.
The countdown is on, as one of the UK’s largest and most significant art fairs makes its way back to Manchester this weekend, bringing more than 180 exhibitors together all under one roof.
Manchester Art Fair has gone from strength to strength since it first began back in 2008, as the annual event is now by far one of the most celebrated cultural events in Greater Manchester‘s social calendar, and is known and loved for bringing together hundreds of individual artists, galleries, and artist-led spaces to our city centre – with around 13,000 visitors attending each year.
Designed for the collector, the curator, and those who are just simply curious, Manchester Art Fair will feature lots of new and returning galleries and artists, all of whom will be showing new works.
From this Friday through to Sunday, Manchester Central will transform into the North’s biggest art gallery, where art enthusiasts can connect directly with galleries and artists and find that perfect piece to take home.
Some of the highlights include nationally acclaimed Manchester oil painter and artist, Chloe Cox, who is renowned for her powerful depictions of Caribbean heritage, as well as Brighton-based textile artist Corinna Wilson, known professionally as Bob & Eve, and sculptor and painter Jamie Frost, whose bold works explore the tension between strength and vulnerability in the human form.
Iconic names Porsche and Boodles will also be debuting at this year’s fair, fusing art with exquisite design are luxury brands.
But this year’s event isn’t just for art collectors, as visitors can also enjoy an extended programme of high-profile talks, immersive experiences, and workshops too.
Manchester Art Fair is making a grand return to the city centre this weekend / Credit: Manchester Art Fair
TV scriptwriter Joe Tucker, Guardian journalist Eddy Frankel, and Art Newspaper critic and correspondent Louisa Buck are just some of the names set to host talks and Q&As this weekend.
Workshops visitors can take part in from just £10 per person include the chance to explore the art of expressive contemporary still life drawings, or travel the journey from realism to abstraction to create your own abstract art with inspiration from one of Europe’s most influential artists, Piet Mondrian.
And on Friday 21 November, two chefs from North West Michelin-starred restaurants will be preparing bespoke menus for leading art buyers and collectors. Paul Leonard – Head Chef at The Forest Side – and Ollie Bridgwater – Executive Chef at the Gilpin Hotel – will be working with work with Exec Chef Matthew Hagan and his team at Manchester Central.
Speaking ahead of the fair’s return this weekend, Sophie Helm, who is the Director at Manchester Art Fair, said: “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, including a number of UK and Northern firsts.”
More than 180 exhibitors will all gather together under one roof / Credit: Manchester Art Fair
Sophie described this year’s fair as a ‘clear statement of intent’
“Culture is a driving force for commerce and community in our region, reflecting the fair’s growing influence and its ability to connect contemporary art with premium yet accessible lifestyle experiences,” she concluded.
Manchester Art Fair 2025 will first open at Manchester Central with an exclusive preview night on Friday 21 November from 5-9pm, before it then continues on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November, with tickets still available to grab.
Tickets are priced at £12 for a day ticket, £15 for a two-day ticket, or £25 for a preview night ticket, including access throughout the weekend, all with booking fees applying.
Emily Sergeant -
20th October 2020 
