The countdown is on with the single biggest art fair outside of London, returning to Manchester Central this weekend . Works from 600 artists available to buy including Banksy, David Shrigley, Ai Weiwei, Gillian Wearing and Damien Hirst

Celebrating its eleventh year, Aviva Investors Manchester Art Fair, featuring The Manchester Contemporary, is instrumental in bringing modern and contemporary art from established UK and international artists and galleries to the North West.

Famous names selling work at this year’s fair include Banksy, Damien Hirst, David Shrigley, Gillian Wearing, Ai Weiwei, Sir Peter Blake, David Hockney and Dame Elizabeth Blackadder RA. These heavyweight names are joined by a host of leading Northern artists showcasing their work including Liam Spencer, Louise Giovanelli, Rob Wilson, Jen Orpin, David Bez and Gemma Trueman.

Speaking on the event this coming weekend, CEO of Aviva Investors Manchester Art Fair, Thom Hetherington, commented: “Our ambition was always to support and nurture a burgeoning art market in Manchester and across the North, and I feel that, after eleven years, we have achieved that aim.

“We’re certainly not resting on our laurels though, and this year’s fair has our largest line-up to date, and more than half of those artists and galleries are set to bring pieces that have not been seen at any other fair, with many pieces created exclusively for sale in Manchester. It’s creating a real buzz around the region, and is proof that art doesn’t live and die in London.”

A world first, Aviva Investors Manchester Art Fair has been selected to showcase The Saatchi Art Opus. Never before exhibited outside its namesake gallery, the prestigious art book will be on display and available for purchase throughout the weekend.

In a further exclusive, visitors to this year’s event will have the rare opportunity to purchase one of just 100 limited edition signed prints and original canvases from highly sought after street artist Ben Eine. Created especially for Aviva Investors Manchester Art Fair, 10% of proceeds from the sale of the prints will be donated to local charity The Mustard Tree.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary alongside the fair, The Manchester Contemporary will return this Friday, with its most ambitious line-up to date. Under the new curatorship of Nathaniel Pitt, founder and director of Division of Labour, the UK’s only invitation art fair for critically engaged contemporary art outside of London, has secured a roster of new galleries to showcase work. Three quarters of those exhibiting this year have never before attended the fair, including international galleries: Grimmuseum (Berlin), Kevin Kavanagh (Dublin), Lundgren Gallery (Majorca), Galerie Nivet-Carzon (Paris), Galeria Isabel Hurley (Spain) and Joey Ramone (Rotterdam).

A true celebration of Manchester’s ongoing cultural renaissance, Aviva Investors Manchester Art Fair will offer a range of complementary activities for visitors to enjoy. Highlights include free children’s activities with Cass Art & The Big Draw 2018, print demonstrations with Hot Bed Press, adult drawing classes and the opportunity to learn more about Manchester’s cultural history with guided art walks around the city.

Manchester Art Fair opens with a VIP Preview at 17:00 on Friday 12 October while public days take place on Saturday 13 October from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Sunday 14 October from 10:00 to 17:00.

Weekend tickets are £5 each and VIP preview night tickets are £12. Tickets are available now at manchesterartfair.co.uk

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