"The [Manchester Art] Fair continues to be a genuine counterweight to London - and a real part of the art world ecology outside the capital"
The Fair
We are a small team, based in the North of England, and for over 20 years we have been delivering exhibitions and events in the areas we are hugely passionate about, culture and hospitality.
When we launched Manchester Art Fair (MAF) over 12 years ago, we set out to do something different, to create a more inclusive and supportive event for our exhibitors and to develop a sense of community for the art collectors of the North.
We are immensely proud that MAF has grown to become the largest and most successful art fair outside London, with over 120 exhibitors, 8000+ visitors and over £500,000 worth of art sold every year.
Our current exhibitions portfolio includes Manchester Art Fair, The Manchester Contemporary, Salon Hang and Northern Restaurant & Bar, and we champion the arts ecology of the region all year round.
CEO Thom Hetherington, is a trustee of Manchester Art Gallery, consults for arts organisations such as the Manchester International Festival, has judged the New Light Art Prize and was named as a ‘Cultural Icon’ in the Manchester Evening News City Life awards for his work.
The City
With an international reputation for the visual arts and institutions such as Manchester Art Gallery, The Whitworth, HOME, Manchester International Festival and The Lowry, Manchester is the ‘original modern city’ with a huge catchment of art lovers centrally and within its suburbs.
Manchester city region has a population of 7m within 1 hour and 21.5m within 2 hours. Our audience however reaches across the North from Liverpool to Leeds and the Lake District to the Peak District.
This is a place with a radical mantra, a saying that goes: ‘This is Manchester, we do things differently here.’
The Venue
Manchester Central, located in the heart of the bustling city centre, is easily accessible to visitors with its own dedicated tram stop, free city centre shuttle bus and parking for 700 cars. Converted from a Victorian train station, the original red brick walls, vaulted high ceilings, and striking glass frontage make for a stunning backdrop to the fair, with natural light flooding the hall and views across the city. Combined with state-of-the-art exhibition facilities and little extras such as dedicated porters and trolleys we aim to make exhibiting a breeze, and once the doors close at the end of a busy day the city is on your doorstep to enjoy, so it’s not all work and no play!
Testimonials
Saul Hay Gallery
''As always we were brilliantly looked after by the team at Manchester Art Fair. The huge number of visitors across the weekend shows that there is an appetite for contemporary art in Manchester and the North.'
MASA Gallery
''The quality of the fair, the communication of the organisers to the exhibitors and clients, together with that Manchester charm, makes this one of the best art fairs in the whole of Britain.''
Marketing The Fair
Each year we deliver an extensive marketing campaign that encompasses print, digital and social media. The 2019 fair delivered record breaking visitor numbers of 8000+ and art sales in excess of £500,000. Highlights include
Online Art Sales
2020 has been a year like no other as art fairs across the country and around the world have postponed leaving artists and galleries without a vital route to market and art loving audiences unable to buy.
We couldn’t stand by watching our community suffer. So, we created EASEL, an online sales platform connecting artists and galleries with our audience all year round. Exhibitors rebooking for Manchester Art Fair 2021 will, in addition to their stand, secure a complimentary 12 month subscription to EASEL worth over £500. New exhibitors will also secure a complimentary subscription to EASEL active from the date of booking until the Fair worth over £40 per month.
Previous Galleries include
Amar Gallery, Arusha, Drang Gallery, Bearspace, Contemporary Six, Eames Fine Art, Eclectic Gallery, Elastic Space, Ffin y Parc Gallery, Gateway Gallery, Goldmark Gallery, Ikon Gallery, K Contemporary, Linda Blackstone Gallery, Liverpool Biennial, Strange Tracey, Saul Hay & Zillah Bell.
Application Information
Manchester Art Fair accepts contemporary & modern art, sculpture, photography and limited edition prints.
To see in-depth stats, analysis and audience breakdown please email Fair Director Sophie Helm to request further information on exhibiting.
Exhibitor Package
- Stand with 3m high wooden walling, standard lighting & signage
- Exhibitor passes
- Exhibitor profile on website
- Exhibitor Listing in printed catalogue
- Onsite art wrap service
- Secure artwork storage
- Free tickets to the preview and public days
- Porters with trolleys to help loading and unloading