The only UK contemporary art fair outside London
The Manchester Contemporary is a leading art fair dedicated to showcasing critically engaged contemporary artists through a carefully curated selection of independent galleries and artist-led spaces from across the UK and internationally.
For its upcoming edition, the fair is extending to four days, opening with an exclusive Thursday evening preview, followed by public days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This expanded format is designed to maximise commercial impact, offering early access to engaged collectors and curators alongside sustained exposure across a full weekend of public attendance.
Visitors to the fair
I am really impressed with how Manchester’s art scene has developed in recent years. There is no shortage of potential art buyers in the region, and the fair is vital to inspire and develop a significant audience of collectors.
It was our first time exhibiting at The Manchester Contemporary and we had a very positive overall experience. We were delighted that a work by one of our artists was acquired by the Manchester Art Gallery with support of the TMC Art Fund, which demonstrates the keen support of local philanthropists and a significant institution for the growing contemporary art scene in the city.
The Manchester Contemporary is a rare opportunity to see so many different artists and gallerist come together in one place, offering a snap shot of what's going on in contemporary art.
Invaluable exposure … with a heck of a lot of interest in the work of the PRIMATE artists that included multiple sales plus several curators and collectors are consequently planning visits to our Primary organisation in Nottingham.
The Fair continues to be a genuine counterweight to London – and a real part of the art world ecology outside the capital.
The Manchester Contemporary Audience
spent more than hour exploring the fair.
will visit the fair next year and recommend to friends & family.
of visitors come from the North of England.
own more than 10 pieces of art.
spend up to £5,000 a year on art.
of visitors are aged 25 and above
The City
With an international reputation for the visual arts and institutions such as Manchester Art Gallery, The Whitworth, HOME, Manchester International Festival, The Lowry and Aviva Studios, Manchester is the ‘original modern city’.
Manchester has been named as one of 25 global destinations to be included in the Where to Go 2024 list by prestigious US travel publication AFAR, has been named in the New York Times’ 52 Places to Go list for 2024 and is the only UK city in National Geographic's influential ‘Best of the World’ list which annually sets out 25 of the must-see places to visit around the globe.
The Venue
The Fair’s venue, Manchester Central located at the heart of the city centre is served by its own dedicated tram stop, free city centre shuttle buses and on-site parking for 700 cars.
Combing state-of-the-art exhibition facilities and little extras such as dedicated porters and trolleys we aim to make exhibiting as easy as possible. Once the fair’s doors close at the end of a successful day the city centre’s restaurants, bars and theatres are on your doorstep to enjoy!