The Great Northern Warehouse has partnered with the team behind Art Battle Manchester, to open an interactive, arts and crafts sanctuary for Christmas shoppers.
The Art & Graft pop up will be open to visitors at The Village Hall, Deansgate Mews, Great Northern Warehouse (up the colourful steps opposite the Hilton Hotel) on weekends 20thNovember in the lead up to Christmas.
After eight years of delivering sold out events across Manchester, giving a platform to over 200 local artists, Art Battle Manchester are working alongside Great Northern to set up a pop-up shop with a difference on Deansgate in the lead up to Christmas.
The space has been specially designed for visitors to relax, meet Manchester’s creative community, watch live art, and explore their creative sides through learning some new skills. Guests will also have a chance to purchase the unique artwork and support the local artists.
At the pop-up, there will be a range of festive workshops on offer, giving visitors two hour taster sessions where they can take a break from Christmas shopping to enjoy some wholesome activities including, Christmas decoration making, ceramics, leather working, bling art and miniature boom making. Refreshments will also be provided.
Some examples of the workshops on offer include;
Resin
The Resin workshop offers shoppers a two-and-a-half-hour taster session to learn the basics and is specifically designed for first time epoxy users. Visitors can get creative and their very own unique Christmas decorations to take home.
Wire and Bead decorations
Guests can brighten up their Christmas trees with some wire and bead decorations created during this two-hour session. Visitors will learn to craft up to three beautiful, beaded trinkets to take home, these crafts make perfect additions to a dull Christmas tree.
Mosaics
Get a glimpse of the wonderful world of mosaics in this two-and-a-half-hour taster session led by renowned mosaic artist, Tracey Cartledge. During the session, visitors will learn about the tools and techniques of this intricate craft, before having a go and creating their very own mosaic coaster to take home for all those festive hot drinks throughout winter.
There will also be live interactive art for visitors to be involved in the guys behind Overdrawn – Manchester’s long standing interactive art event. Local legend Pete Obsolete will be helping people to doodle.
The Art & Graft pop-up will feature specially selected 10 local and fiercely independent artists offering an eclectic range of unique art perfect for stocking fillers. Big hitters include Illustrator Stan Chow, Doodle-mapper Dave Draw, and the current reigning Art Battle Manchester Champion -painter Rob Wilson. Visitors can also have a chance to meet their favourite artists.
The pop-up is also helping raise money for Forever Manchester, a charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester. So, guests are not only supporting local artists but also helping a local cause.
Pete Obsolete, Art Battle Manchester Artist, “I’ve been working with Art Battle Manchester for the past few years, having painted live at one of their amazing gigs and manning their merch stall for the past few events, and love everything about what they do. Art Battle Manchester represents local talent, and supports the ever-growing creative scenes in Manchester, and I’m looking forward to continuing the collaboration into the ‘Art & Graft’ Shop!”
Mark Schofield, Centre Director for The Great Northern, added, “We’re delighted to welcome this pop-up to Great Northern in collaboration with Art Battle Manchester. We hope visitors of Art & Graft enjoy some much-needed escapism from the stresses Christmas shopping brings and get creative at one of the workshops on offer.”
Visitors are encouraged guests to not wait too long to visit, as the pop-up is only open for a limited-time only.
For more information click here.
