BAG A MASTERPIECE
MANCHESTER ART FAIR ARRIVES:
THE north’s largest and longestrunning art show, Manchester Art Fair opens at Manchester Central today, returning for its 11th year.
Previously named Buy Art Fair, the event is promising its biggest line-up yet, with 125 exhibitors showing work from more than 600 artists, including Banksy, David Shrigley, Ai Weiwei, Gillian Wearing and Damien Hirst.
Also back for its 10th year as part of the fair is The Manchester Contemporary - the UK’s only invitational art fair for critically engaged contemporary art outside of London. The exhibition is boasting its most impressive line up to date after attracting exhibitors from some of Europe’s most respected galleries to Manchester.
CEO of Aviva Investors Manchester Art Fair, Thom Hetherington, said: “Our ambition was always to support and nurture a burgeoning art market in Manchester and across the north, and I feel that, after 11 years, we have achieved that aim.
“We’re certainly not resting on our laurels though, and this year’s fair has our largest line-up to date, and more than half of those artists and galleries are set to bring pieces that have not been seen at any other fair, with many pieces created exclusively for sale in Manchester. It’s creating a real buzz around the region, and is proof that art doesn’t live and die in London.”
Manchester Art Fair opens with a VIP Preview at 5pm today, while public days take place tomorrow from 10am to 6pm and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
Maya Black
Weekend tickets are £5 each and VIP preview night tickets are £12. Tickets are available at manchesterartfair.co.uk.