CityLife

The Manchester Art Crawl

AN innovative idea dreamt up by several of Manchester’s art students, the Art Crawl hit upon the idea of showcasing original work while exploring some of the city’s hidden spaces.
 

In an ordinary gallery space much of the work exhibited would have struggled to make an impression, and with the pieces ranging from the interesting to the downright awful, the quality was often dubious but always provoked debate.
 

The star of the show however was Manchester itself, and the organisers’ inspired decision to exhibit in empty shops, grungy basements and abandoned buildings offered attenders a peek at a different side to the city.

So often exhibited in stark white gallery spaces, the juxtaposition of contemporary art in such unusual places raised the bar.
 

The old Service Point building opposite Deansgate Locks was perhaps the most inspired space of all, all three floors taken over with pictures, installations and objects to ensure a fresh bustle permeated the eerie quiet.

 

Tweet