AS 2015 shapes up to be a pivotal year in Manchester’s cultural development, the Buy Art Fair returns to Old Granada Studios on 24-27 September 2015. Now in its eighth year, the fair will bring together over 100 galleries and artists to feed an appetite whetted by HOME, MIF, The Whitworth and the like.

If you love it and you can afford it, just buy it!

“The art world does not stand still,” says Thom Hetherington, reflecting on the new developments. “Therefore we have to be just as dynamic in the ways that we offer interaction between art buyers, artists, gallerists and curators. Old Granada Studios is a raw, exciting space that cries out for innovation and creativity and we are confident that we have responded.” 

“Manchester’s cultural renaissance is undeniable, led by Manchester International Festival, Whitworth Art Gallery and HOME, along with smaller spaces like Castlefield Gallery. It is a momentum that is happening across the North and I think our art buyers, who come from across the region, feel proud and excited not only to have the chance to acquire wonderful pieces of art but also to be part of the process of supporting and nurturing the arts scene up here.”

Buy Art FairBuy Art Fair

Buy Art Fair 2015 will have plenty for those who simply want to check out new art, as well as those coming to buy. The new-look fair has expanded to host three separate spaces showcasing galleries from the UK and abroad, representing both up-and-coming talent and more established names. Works will be hung in the trendy ‘salon-style’, and with a hang-before-you-buy option, you can try out your chosen piece on one of the set walls to get a feel for how it would look at home before commiting.  

 

 

But this isn’t just a fancy shopping experience. This year’s line-up includes a programme of cultural talks and conversations; food and drink from Living Ventures; music and live performances; print workshops and artists painting live; alongside guest installations and guided tours of The Manchester Contemporary. There’s even a concierge service to help buyers find the right piece. 

Visitors can combine a browse around Buy Art Fair with the chance to get out and explore the city’s cultural offerings, from big names to hidden gems, with an official art trail map. Exclusive special offers to discover Manchester’s food scene will make the fair a true occasion. Also look out for workshops, children’s activities and a school exhibition, making this one of the friendliest, most inclusive art fairs around.

.Norwich Studios Galleries

The fair will also play host to The Manchester Contemporary, offering critically engaged art from emerging artists represented by a curated selection of galleries and supported with public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, plus the new Artist’s Studio will feature a carefully chosen selection of over thirty individual artists to deliver the broadest and most balanced mix of styles yet. 

With just fifteen weeks to go, Hetherington has one piece of advice for potential buyers: “Do your research ahead of time. Images of all of the art from all our artists and galleries will be listed on the Buy Art Fair and The Manchester Contemporary websites by late Summer, and if you know who and what you are coming to see then it makes the experience so much easier and more productive when you walk through the door. 

“Aside from that, don’t agonise. If you love it and you can afford it, just buy it!”

For further information and to register for free tickets, visit www.buyartfair.co.uk /www.themanchestercontemporary.com. Follow @buyartfair and @mancontemporary.

.Jiri Borsky - Birds Over Allotment