Manchester Art Fair
180 exhibitors, 600 artists — modern and contemporary work you can actually buy.
Manchester Art Fair puts about 180 exhibitors and 600 artists into Manchester Central for four days of modern and contemporary work. A lot of it is for sale, which changes how you look: prices on the wall, gallerists who will talk, and the odd piece you could actually imagine in a hallway. Alongside the stands there are talks and masterclasses if a wander is not enough.
It runs from 19 to 22 November at the old station on Windmill Street. Check tickets. You can leave with nothing and still have used the afternoon, or you can spend an hour with one exhibitor and come out with a print wrapped in brown paper. The hall is large, so it rewards a slow walk rather than a sprint to the far wall. Weekday slots are calmer than the Saturday crush. If you are buying, ask about the work before you ask about the price. The people on the stands would rather tell you who made it.