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.
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So, what’s in store then?
What can visitors expect ahead of next week?
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
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 4 – 10 May 2026
Emily Sergeant
It’s our first full week of May, and we can practically see summer on the horizon now.
With a new month getting underway, there’s obviously loads of events and activities to be getting up to across Greater Manchester this week, especially as we’re starting this week off with our first bank holiday of the month too.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries. We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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Celebrate National Space Day this bank holiday
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 4 May
National Space Day 2026 / Credit: Drew Forsyth (Science Museum Group)
You can celebrate National Space Day with a bunch of free ‘out of this world’ activities this bank holiday.
Ever wondered what astronauts eat in orbit? How they use the loo in zero gravity? Or why crumbs are bad news on the International Space Station? Well, to celebrate National Space Day, you’ll now get to discover the answers to those questions and so much more down at the Science and Industry Museum this bank holiday.
The programme of free events are set to accompany the museum’s latest special exhibition, Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos and will give visitors more ways to explore the ‘wonders and weirdness’ of space.
Blossom and Bloomtown 2026 / Credit: The Manc Group
The blossoms are blooming everywhere you look, and the National Trust’s popular Bloomtown programme full of trails and events is back once again so you can appreciate them in all their glory.
From ornamental magnolias in gardens to hawthorn scattered across the countryside, each spring, the most beautiful blossom covers the UK in swathes of pink and white, and you really don’t have to go far to experience the beauty of this season either, as there’s plenty of blossom to discover right on our doorstep in Greater Manchester.
Whether you’re walking through the city centre on your way to work, enjoying a spot of lunch in the park, or going on a little local adventure with your family, Bloomtown has something for everyone.
Find out more about all the events happening here.
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LUMINISCENCE
Manchester Cathedral
Monday 4 May – 5 June
Luminiscence / Credit: Supplied
Did you see that the spectacular 360° immersive experience that’s currently lighting up Manchester Cathedral has extended its run in our city?
That’s right – due to ‘overwhelming demand’ and following a roster of impressive reviews since making its UK debut earlier this year, LUMINISCENCE has now extended its run at Manchester Cathedral until the early summer.
LUMINISCENCE combines 360° video mapping, new orchestral arrangements of iconic songs, and a narrative story celebrating everything that makes Manchester and its residents so special.
Visitors are invited to step into a ‘spellbinding fusion’ of light, sound, and storytelling. Find out more and get tickets here.
Trof is entering a new era… and we think it’s looking pretty special.
The Northern Quarter institution has officially reopened its doors as The Trof – a space for pints and roasts (as always), but also refined British dining.
The team behind Stow are in charge of the kitchens and the bar, so suddenly this boozy favourite has become one of town’s most exciting food destinations.
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Did you know there’s an adorable open farm in Bolton where you can meet and hold baby bunnies, lambs, chicks, AND more?
This is Smithills Open Farm, and it’s one of the most wholesome family days out you’ll find this spring.
Here on this picturesque family-run farm nestled within 70-acres of countryside, you can feed the sheep and llamas, ride a tractor to visit the donkeys, or even head into the barn to see the cows, horses, and piglets.
Plus, they host ‘Pets Corner’ sessions throughout the day too, where you can meet and hold many different baby animals (including the softest little goats and chicks we ever did see.)
They even have a farm shop and ice creamery where you can buy local honey and other goods to take home with you.
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Find out more about the farm and plan your trip here.
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Or what about that Chester Zoo has been named the UK’s best zoo for the third year in a row?
Chester Zoo has been named the UK’s best zoo for 2026 / Credit: Chester Zoo
That’s right – the UK’s biggest charity zoo has officially been named the best zoo in the country by TripAdvisor reviews, with the zoo having claimed a record 11,666 ‘excellent’ ratings for the first time too, making it even more of a cause for celebration.
Not only has the zoo’s strong focus on conservation and unforgettable visitor experiences made it the best in our country, but this has also earned it a place among Europe’s elite.
Chester Zoo’s CEO, Jamie Christon, says he is ‘over the moon’ with the zoo’s new title.
Sure, we know this isn’t exactly the type of ‘event’ we usually include in these round-up articles, but how could we not draw attention to the fact that, after eight long years, Albert Square has finally reopened to the public?
This means that you can now walk – heck, even run, skip, and jump if you’d like – your way through the big, clean open space outside the Town Hall.
Of course, we just had to go and check it out for ourselves👇
Just like we do every month, we’ve rounded up some of the best things we got to eat in April, so if you’re on the hunt for somewhere new to eat in May, then we’ve absolutely got you covered as there’s plenty of places across the city region.
It’s been another jam-packed month of insanely delicious eats, and we’ve been lucky to have a bunch of new openings too.
Featured Image – The Manc Group | Drew Forsyth(Science Museum Group)
What's On
Latest wave of ‘Evening 4’ Ricky Hatton lineup in memory of the legendary Manc boxer announced
Danny Jones
Manchester is set to host a night of remembrance and celebration in honour of the late, great, local boxer, Ricky Hatton, and now a superb second wave of names has been added to AO Arena’s lineup.
Coming this summer, the legendary Manchester arena – where Hatton enjoyed so many of his iconic moments – will be holding the first-ever ‘Evening4Ricky’ later this year.
Held at the legendary sports and live entertainment venue just in time for summer, we still only know bits and pieces about what’s in store, but a whole host of familiar Manc faces, famous British names, and figures from the world of sport have now been announced.
Sharing the news on social media, AO Arena said: “Join us for an unforgettable night of entertainment as Manchester comes together for Evening4Ricky.
“This will be a spectacular, unique celebration of the life, spirit and legacy of one of the city’s most beloved icons – Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton.”
With seats priced at £25, fans are being encouraged to join the early bird sign-up to secure access to discounted tickets.
As you can see, now confirmed for the evening are the likes of Man United legend, Paul Scholes, darts icon Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, as well as fellow former boxers like Frank Bruno, Tony Bellew and more.
Local band, The K’s, were already confirmed as part of the in-person performances, but now the likes of Manc grime artists Bugzy Malone, fellow UK rapper Tinie Tempah, and The Lottery Winners are joining in, too, alongside loads more live music and entertainment set to be revealed in the coming weeks.
They go on to add: “Hosted at the legendary AO Arena, home to so many of Ricky’s big fights, featuring a superstar cast of legends from the worlds of boxing, music, comedy and entertainment.”
So, we do at least know there’ll be some famous faces coming along to help make it a memorable Manc moment, just a few months on from the city and beyond uniting for his public funeral procession.
Ricky was beloved not only by the Greater Manchester community but was a popular figure and friend to many in the sporting and showbiz industries.
The homegrown ‘Pride of Hyde‘ tragically left us on 14 September 2025 at the age of just 46, but his passing has once again helped reassert the importance of having more conversations around wellbeing, suicide prevention, and most specifically, men’s mental health.
You can find more information and see how to grab tickets right HERE.
This isn’t the only charitable in memoriam event happening across the region in the coming weeks, either, as Mancs will be gathering to pay tribute to another fellow inspiring sportsman.
Emily Sergeant -
20th October 2020 
