MMU Art Students Turn Used Car Parts into Money for Local Charities

Art students from Manchester Metropolitan University have turned used Mercedes car parts into sculptures. The artwork was recently exhibited then auctioned online in order to raise money for 6 North West charities.

Dronsfields donated Mercedes car parts from their Manchester lot to MMU. The art students used the parts to create original pieces of art, ranging from abstract sculptures to functional tables and chairs.

After being displayed at the Scrapyard Sculpture Exhibition, the pieces were made available to buy on an online auction to raise money for local charities. The auction has raised a total of £831.

The proceeds will be divided evenly between Joining Jack, Groundwork, Forever Manchester, The Christie at Oldham, Francis House and Kingfisher Community Special School.

The MMU students who volunteered their time and talent to this project include Chris Thorpe, Amy Field, Jodie Cheung, Sue Rowlands, Kieren March, Robin Broadley, Abigail Harris, Joe Brotherton, Chloe Herbert and Alex Barker.

Before participating in the project, Alex Baker was unsure about the direction his course at MMU would take him. During project Alex has designed and constructed a functional writing desk, stool, table and smoking chair from the car parts. He plans to continue creating furniture from scrap metal and hopes to set up a business of his own creating and selling upcycled furniture.

Dronsfields intend to organise more charity events like this in the future.

“We are delighted to have raised £831. None of this would have been possible without the help of Manchester Metropolitan University and the talented art students who participated in the project. We hope to do more charity events in the future.”

Angela Dronsfield
Owner, Dronsfields Independent Mercedes Specialists

“Kingfisher is delighted to have been chosen by Tecmark, Dronsfield Mercedes and the students at MMU to be a beneficiary of their Scrapyard Sculpture project. Kingfisher has a thriving creative arts focus and therefore to link with such creative and talented artists to raise money for developing our school further along with developing further links with the students, was a fantastic opportunity and we are very proud to be associated with the event.”

Michael Unsworth
Business Director, The Kingfisher Community Special School

“We are delighted to have been chosen as one of the charities to benefit from the Scrapyard Sculpture partnership. Groundwork is all about projects that benefit individuals as well as the wider community and this is an excellent example of that.”

Vicki Devonport
Executive Director, Groundwork

“Forever Manchester would like to thank everyone and Tecmark and all of the students involved who created some incredible pieces. All money raised for our charity from the auction will be put straight back into local community projects to make Greater Manchester a better place to live.”

Craig Hough
Volunteer and Events Co-ordinator, Forever Manchester

“Joining Jack were thrilled to be chosen as one of the charities involved in the scrapyard sculpture exhibition. It was a really innovative way to raise funds and awareness, and the funds that were raised for us through the exhibition will go directly to carefully selected researchers and academics who will have the best chance of developing a treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. We’d like to offer a huge thanks to Tecmark, Dronsfields, and all of the Manchester Metropolitan University students involved, for their support!”

Amy Hilton
Fundraising Officer, Joining Jack

“We would like to thank Dronsfields and the students for organising the Scrapyard Sculptures auction. It’s been great to see how such creative ideas can raise vital funds for our charity and help make a difference for our cancer patients.”

Amy Hinks
Corporate Fundraising Officer, The Christie Charity