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EXHIBITOR INFORMATION
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M A N C H E S T E R A R T FA I R
I N FO R MAT I O N
MAF is the best art fair I have exhibited at for many years. Amazing turn out and engaging public. Fantastic sales and commissions. I’ll be busy fulfilling my orders for many months. STEVE YEATES
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M A N C H E S T E R A R T FA I R
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.
Our current portfolio on the arts sector includes Salon Hang, EASEL and EASEL Bespoke. 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.
I N FO R MAT I O N
ABOUT MANCHESTER ART FAIR
Thom Hetherington CEO
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. Sophie Helm Fair Director
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.
The Fair’s venue, Manchester Central (Exhibition Centre), located in the heart of the bustling city centre is easily accessible to visitors. It is served by its own dedicated tram stop, free city centre shuttle bus and hosts on-site 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!
Excellent Art Fair for both Exhibitors and the general public, a broad range of art and prices to suit all tastes. TOTALLY BIBLICAL GALLERY
I N FO R MAT I O N
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
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Great buzz at this weekend’s Manchester Art Fair. So many lovely customers and sales were a-plenty. A HEART OF GLASS
VISITOR PROFILE
96%
51%
97%
84%
HAD VISITED THE FAIR BEFORE
WILL VISIT NEXT YEAR AND RECOMMEND TO FRIENDS & FAMILY
OF VISITORS ARE FROM MANCHESTER, GREATER MANCHESTER AND CHESHIRE
HAD PLANNED THEIR VISIT IN ADVANCE
34%
64%
77%
17%
OF VISITORS OWN MORE THAN TEN PIECES OF ORIGINAL ART
OF VISITORS SPEND 1-2 HOURS AT THE FAIR
SPEND UP TO £1000 PER YEAR ON ART
SPEND MORE THAN £1000 PER YEAR
I N FO R MAT I O N
ART SALES UP 30% YEAR ON YEAR
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SALES AND MARKETING
I N FO R MAT I O N
Since launch, MAF has welcomed over 80,000 visitors and sold over £5m worth of art. Our annual audience of 8,000 art collectors and corporate buyers from Manchester and Cheshire ensured that in 2021 the fair delivered record breaking visitor numbers and delivered art sales in excess of £500,000. Just some of the ways we reach our audience every year are below:
OUTDOOR
We use digital and traditional poster advertising sites across the city. So, if you are out and about in Manchester or work in the city centre there’s no avoiding the fact MAF is ON!
LEAFLETS
150,000 Leaflets were distributed via exhibitors, cultural partners, retail and leisure venues, directly into homes and in the city centre across Greater Manchester and Cheshire’s wealthy suburbs. Over 120,000 Manchester art fair leaflets were delivered directly into homes targeting the most wealthy areas of the city centre, Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
FEATURED IN:
Our website remains as popular as ever with thousands of visitors in the run up to the event looking for what’s on, who’s exhibiting, and planning their day at the fair. Plus year-round engagement from our EASEL platform.
Just some of the print and broadcast media that have featured MAF:
Our social media reach was equally as impressive thanks to organic reach and a targeted paid for campaign with in excess of 30,000 followers and 400,000 impressions across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn in November 2021. Email campaigns featuring exhibiting artists and galleries were sent in the weeks leading up to the fair reaching our exclusive database of 30,000+ MAF buyers, attendees and subscribers.
I N FO R MAT I O N
WEB, SOCIAL & EMAIL
1.44M ESTIMATED COVERAGE VIEWS
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M A N C H E S T E R A R T FA I R
THE ONLINE PLATFORM FROM MANCHESTER ART FAIR
IAN MOOD
EASEL, the art buying platform from the creators of Manchester Art Fair, brings original art from hundreds of British and international artists together in one simple, elegant space where people can view, explore and buy. Manchester Art Fair stand bookings include a premium EASEL subscription worth £40 per month. EASEL is promoted to our own audience and has a paid for year-round marketing campaign creating even more opportunities for you to sell.
I’m delighted to have my work on EASEL - the site is very professional, there is so much excellent work on display, and i was very happy to sell two paintings shortly after I joined. JANE FRASER
I N FO R MAT I O N
EASEL
It feels uniquely Mancunian - independent, designled, forward thinking and community driven.
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It is not often I get a chance to exhibit outside of London and the south and so it was wonderful to be able to reach a new and receptive audience for my work. People were really willing to engage with my work and there was a good atmosphere across the whole fair which had both a stylish and accessible feel about it. I’m very much looking forward to exhibiting again next year. NICOLA SLATTERY RBA
FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
• The Halle • The Hepworth Wakefield • Liverpool Biennial • Manchester Art Gallery • Own Art • Royal Northern College of Music • The Arts Society • The Tetley • The Whitworth
I N FO R MAT I O N
The support of our friends at Northern cultural institutions is invaluable. Each cultural partner promoted the fair to their members and patrons using websites, emails and social media including:
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As a gallery it was a joy to be surrounded by so many people who loved art. The fair had a fabulous energy and it was so busy! HOPE GALLERY
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APPLICATION PROCESS SELECTION CRITERIA
STAND PACKAGE
HOW TO APPLY
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Standard traditional white wooden walls, spotlights and signage
All applicants are asked to apply online at www.manchesterartfair.co.uk/apply
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Exhibitor passes
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Profile on Manchester Art Fair website
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Exhibitor Listing in printed catalogue
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Free art wrap service
The online application form asks for exhibitor information along with artist details, images of artworks, price range and the size of stand required.
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24hr Secure artwork storage
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Complimentary tickets to the preview evening and public days
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Free WiFi
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Porters to help with loading and unloading during build-up and breakdown.
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Complimentary EASEL online shop subscription worth £40pcm from date of signing up to exhibit until one month after the fair.
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All exhibitors must show original work and all work must be for sale and priced above £50 -£5000 (uncapped). Original prints and prints made with the hand of the artist are acceptable with a maximum edition size of 100. Limited fine art photography is acceptable when signed and numbered with a maximum edition size of 100. Digitally created artwork will be considered on an individual basis. Mass produced digital or giclée reproductions are not acceptable. The decision of the organisers is final and based upon the selection criteria and fair objectives.
APPLICATION PROCESS Manchester Art Fair considers applications from galleries, artist collectives and individual artists. Stands will be located in the relevant section of the Fair.
Successful applicants will be contacted with a stand allocation within 4 weeks. Regretfully we cannot provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. An admin fee of £20 applies to all applications. A deposit of 20% of the total invoice is payable on booking. Followed by 2 instalments of 40%. (Please note any bookings less than 6 months from the event will have stand invoices rolled together accordingly).
I N FO R MAT I O N
Manchester Art Fair accepts gallery and artist led applications.
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STAND PRICES 2x2m (6m wall space) with 3 spotlights
£1124
3x2m (7m wall space) with 3 spotlights
£1686
4x2m (8m wall space) with 4 spotlights
£2248
5x2m (9m wall space) with 4 spotlights
£2810
6x2m (10m wall space) with 4 spotlights
£3372
7x2m (11m wall space) with 6 spotlights 8x2m (12m wall space) with 6 spotlights 4x4m (12m wall space) with 6 spotlights
Café & Bar
315
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232
234
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246
245
244
242
254
256
200
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270
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298
297
295 293 292 291
274 275 277
260
280
279
314
311
309
307
290 300
305
303
301
281
302
385
319 320 345
£4496
01457 851152 sophie.helm@holdenmedia.co.uk
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VIP BAR
£4496
Sophie Helm - Fair Director
250
224
252
£3934
For further information please contact:
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ART WRAP
342 340
341 349
321
372
370
338
328 329
330
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332 331
347 348 354
355
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360
365
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362 361
339
346
324 325 326 327
322
369 368
366
390
TALKS & WORKSHOPS, CENTRAL 3
350
373
375
377
I N FO R MAT I O N
230
213
ENTRANCE
STAND SIZES & PRICES
219
E X H I B I TO R
M A N C H E S T E R A R T FA I R
379
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manchesterartfair.co.uk 01457 851152 sophie.helm@holdenmedia.co.uk