Manchester art competition launched to create new permanent installation in city

City centre entertainment venue, Printworks, is calling on UK artists for a collaboration on a permanent art installation at the venue, with the winning artist receiving a commission fee and four shortlisted artists receiving an honorarium for their work. 

Grammy and Brit Award winning musician and DJ, Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, has joined the independent judging panel for Printworks’ Big Art Project, in partnership with event producers, Wild in Art.

Open to all artists across the UK, the commission will reflect Manchester’s vibrant and inclusive soul, and will be displayed ceiling-high within Printworks Manchester, where over eight million visitors will be able to see the art each year. 

The art installation will mark a significant year in Printworks’ history, following the announcement of a £22m refurbishment this year.

The selected artist can help deliver a refreshed and Manchester-centric look and feel to the venue with the art spanning across a 215m² centrally located feature wall. 

“Manchester is renowned for its creativity, with people from all walks of life displaying their talents in many forms,” said Marnie Ahmed from Printworks.

“We’re delighted to be supporting artists and offering them a once in a lifetime opportunity to have their work permanently displayed at our iconic venue.”

Ben Reed from Wild in Art said this is “a fantastic opportunity for any artist to express their appreciation for Manchester through getting creative and exploring what really makes the city unique.

“It’s sure to be a popular competition and it will be exciting to see how artists incorporate different iconic aspects of Manchester into their work.”

DJ, musician and record producer Norman Cook said: “Creativity is the beating heart and soul of Manchester and I’ve always enjoyed playing in the city.

“This is an exceptional opportunity for artists and creatives to showcase their work and I’m delighted to be part of it.

“I can’t wait to see the design submissions.”

To apply, artists must complete an online submission, available from the Printworks’ website, and email to [email protected].

Submissions must include a CV, examples of past work and a short statement of interest in response to the brief, detailing the proposed artistic style and general concept overview in no more than 400 words. 

Competition entries are now open, with a Stage 1 deadline of 5pm on 14th March. Stage 2 will see the shortlisted artists’ concepts displayed at Printworks for feedback from the public. For more information of all stages of the competition and to download the submission form, click here.