The Manchester Art Fair returns this weekend, with 8,000 art-lovers expected through the doors of Manchester Central. Its 2022 edition represents the 15th instalment of the fair, and features more artists than ever before exhibiting their work.
Every year, the Manchester Art Fair not only brings some of the best art in the country to Manchester, it also allows galleries to show off their collections, and gives artists themselves an invaluable platform to show - and sell - their work.
But equally important are the activities going on, which encompass all aspects of the art world, from creating to collection. Here are some of the great events happening over the weekend.
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The Limited Editions
If you’re an art buff, the Art Fair this year has a range of limited edition prints that have been specially commissioned for this year only. So when they’re gone, they’re gone - and likely to stay in sticky hands too. Among them is a specially curated photograph of an eerily empty Manchester Central at dusk by photographer Simon Buckley, and an illustration of the city’s skyline by the iconic Stanley Chow.
Artist Talks
As well as taking in the art on display from galleries and artists themselves, there will be a host of talks happening during this year’s event. Painter Ghislaine Howard, who did her foundation at Manchester and who has exhibited at the Whitworth and the Manchester Art Gallery, as well as having pieces in the Royal Collection, will be among the speakers (11am November 6) as will Stanley Chow (2pm, November 5) and Ryan Gander OBE (10.30am, November 5).
Get the kids involved
The wonderful folk at art supplies store Cass Arts will be providing free art classes for kids for the duration of the fair, and the best thing is that it’s all for free, taking place in the foyer cafe. So you’re little’uns will be able to get messy using pens, paints, cards and stickers. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll be exhibiting at the fair in future years?
Learn how to screen print
Screen-printing can be one of the most satisfying ways to make art, and demystifying the whole thing will be the Fat Wang Studio, which will be holding tutorials, demonstrating skills like stencilling and layering colours.
What the hell are NFTs?
Baffled by the world of NFTs (that’s non-fungible tokens) and digital art in general? Well fear not, the Manchester Art Fair has got you. Digital art marketplace KnownOrigin will be presenting from 12pm on November 6, giving you a steer on how to begin or even expand your collection of digital art.
The fair takes place from November 4 to November 6. For more information and to buy tickets, head to the Manchester Art Fair website here.
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