Manchester's art scene continues to thrive with openings and upsizings
Already the country’s largest and most prestigious art fair outside London, Buy Art Fair is gearing up for an even bigger event this autumn as it takes up new residence in Manchester Central.
Launched at Urbis in 2008, the fair thereafter took place in and around Spinningfields and Old Granada Studios following support from owners Allied London. But its tenth year called for ‘a venue which can offer growth and continuity,’ and Manchester Central fitted the bill.
The 2017 edition (27-29 October) will see 100 exhibiting galleries and artists fill the historic railway-turned-exhibition centre; alongside partner event The Manchester Contemporary and an extended programme of talks and demonstrations. As per tradition, the Masterpiece charity dinner will be held at The Whitworth.
This year also sees the first expanded Buy Art Fair Fringe, with affiliated events and initiatives spilling out across the whole city.
On securing Manchester Central, founder and CEO Thom Hetherington said: “Making the leap represents a significant investment on our part but it means Buy Art Fair 2017 will house the largest collection of exhibiting galleries and artists ever seen outside the capital. We have a host of new features and an expanded ‘Buy Art Fair Fringe’ to announce, and we are confident that we will attract more art lovers than ever.”
The move has been applauded across Manchester’s art world, with Maria Balshaw - Director of the Whitworth and soon-to-be Director of the Tate - heralding ‘an even greater impact on the Manchester cultural scene’. Meanwhile, Frank Cohen, recognised as one of the top 200 collectors in the world, said: “Manchester Central is the perfect venue to move up to the big league. It’s what the city needs.”
Although relocating to a major exhibition centre recalls several prominent international art fairs, Hetherington reinforces that the move is equally attuned to local dynamics. “We have grand plans for Buy Art Fair and the Manchester Contemporary and - as with the expansion of The Whitworth, the construction of The Factory and the relocation of the Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre - we know our new home will allow us the scale and flexibility to deliver.”
It’s not the only happening illustrating the North’s burgeoning art scene of late, as the Northern Quarter launch of Cass Art joins a series of openings, upsizings and relaunches. Earlier this year, local gallery Contemporary Six moved from its Royal Exchange Arcade home to bigger premises on Princess Street while coffee connoisseurs Ezra and Gil recently opened The Art of Hope on Tib Street, offering takeaway beverages alongside 'a tasteful selection of luxury items and artwork for everyday life'.
And last year saw a spate of new gallery openings, including: Chuck Gallery, Saul Hay, Sloe Gallery, GK Gallery & Tea Room and The Contemporary in Altrincham.
Cass Art officially launched on 55-57 Oldham Street this week, making Manchester its fifth store outside of London. While art supplies is the brand’s primary focus - boasting over 10,000 product lines - Cass’s mission of ‘filling every town with artists’ has seen partnerships with leading institutions like the National Gallery, while founder Mark is also a trustee of the Cass Sculpture Foundation: a charity devoted to the promotion of 21st British sculpture through public commissions and exhibitions. Staff are often artists themselves.
@theatremighty came to say HEY & had a tasty coconut latte. come again soon! #itsmanchester #tibstreet #artofhope pic.twitter.com/VlcpJzZymN
— The Art Of Hope (@TheArt_ofhope) April 26, 2017
Much like other Cass stores, Manchester will therefore offer an adjoining exhibition space. Located below the ground floor shop, this former basement dance studio will be free to hire and generally host a new showcase every two to three weeks. Additionally to crossover events with Cass Liverpool, there are also plans for a calendar of workshops and life drawing classes (local artists wishing to host events are welcome to enquire).
Following the opening show with Sky Arts finalist Liam Dickinson, MMU School of Art will be taking over on 10 May for Punk Project - a Unit X Festival event in collaboration with influential designer Malcolm Garrett - allowing students to gain firsthand skills in exhibition planning.
Let’s hope that, with the rise of democratic spaces like Cass and the growth of key events like the Buy Art Fair, Manchester's arts scene continues to flourish and the city does indeed become full with artists.
Buy Art Fair will occupy Manchester Central on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th October 2017, following a Friday night launch.
Cass Art is now open at 55-57 Oldham Street, M1 1JR. There will be a launch event 6-7 May with 10% off all products and free art materials worth £50+ for the first 2000 customers who spend over £15
