Manchester Art Fair returns to power the city’s cultural bounceback
| 26th September 2021
Manchester Art Fair: One of the UK’s most ambitious art fairs, is returning to the city with a new headline sponsor and has announced its line-up of exhibiting galleries and artists, more partnerships, as well as a focus on the hot topic of NFTs.
It will welcome visitors looking to buy modern and contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography, editioned prints and digital art. The fair returns to Manchester Central on 20-21 November 2021, forming a centrepiece of Manchester’s cultural season.
The hot trend for this year’s fair is undoubtedly going to be the booming market of NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens). Manchester Art Fair will demystify the world of NFTs, with advice on purchasing, the link to cryptocurrency, and a selection of exhibitors in the fair selling exclusive NFTs.
Fair Director Sophie Helm, explains: “We are excited to be bringing live events back to the city in November supporting its cultural recovery. Our audience of art lovers will be able to buy art from over 130 galleries and artists who will be exhibiting at the fair over the weekend, as well as well learning more about NFTs.”
Founder of White Circle Sarah Maskell, headline sponsor for this year, said: “The opportunity to support Manchester Art Fair has been the most amazing collaboration. As we open up offices and public spaces to celebrate the role culture plays in our environment, this event is an integral part of that journey. Art is such a passion of mine. I feel very fortunate to be able to help continue the support the show gives artists in reaching people, sharing their talents and the joy art brings to our community.”
White Circle interior design was built on the foundation of art; creating and shaping spaces that are defined by its influence, making them a perfect sponsor for the 2021 edition.
Eagerly returning to the fair for 2021 are Northern favourites Saul Hay Gallery, Contemporary Six and Carnes Fine Art joined from further afield by Cornwall’s The Drang Gallery, Hidden Gallery from Brighton and making the trip for the first time from London are Ancel Gallery and Zari Gallery.
In the artist-led section of the fair, returning artists whose work has proven very popular with visitors in previous years include Simone Ridyard’s urban sketches, Anthony Padgett’s sculpture, and the raw expressive paintings of Ian Rayer Smith and joining them for the first time this year are Rachel Camilleri from Salford and Cheshire based wildlife painters Amber Tyldesley and Daniel Wilson.
The full first release list of galleries and artists along with a preview of some of the work which will be available to buy can be seen on the Manchester Art Fair website.
Taking place alongside Manchester Art Fair, The Manchester Contemporary showcases the strength of the UK’s regional artists and galleries. Its ambition is to generate the much-needed regional market presence outside and alongside London and add to the UK offer. The fair has gone from strength to strength over the last ten years, making this a more accessible fair for the audience, collector and gallery alike and providing a unique, critically engaged environment for viewing and buying art. The Manchester Contemporary is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
The fair opens with a launch night at Manchester Central on Friday 19 November from 5-9pm, followed by public days on Saturday (10am-6pm) and Sunday (10am – 5pm).
Tickets are available now
Weekend Tickets – £5
Launch Night Tickets – £15