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Where to Find Art in Manchester’s Northern Quarter

A round-up of the best galleries and art centres in NQ

A well-lit bookstore with wooden shelves filled with books, magazines, and various other items. Two people browse through the materials. The walls display framed photos and large posters. A sign reading Photos hangs from the ceiling at the far end.
Image © On the Grid

Attention, creatives far and wide! There’s nothing like a bit of craftsmanship in Manchester, especially in Northern Quarter. In the beating heart of the city sits a vibrant community of music, architecture and crafty genius waiting to be explored. Most importantly, it’s time you were introduced to the sensational world of art it has to offer…

Fred Aldous Ltd

A split imahe: the left side shows the street view/exterior of Fred Aldous Ltd, the right side shows a shelf inside the shop filled with colourful art materials
FredAldousLtd.co.uk

37 Lever St, Manchester M1 1LW

This family-owned craft shop exists thanks to a man called Fred (rumour has it he had a great beard as well as great ideas). In 1886 Fred was working in a cotton mill in Manchester when he realised the potential to import cane for the baskets that carried cotton around. All these years later and Fred Aldous Ltd is still doing what Fred did best - supplying materials to people who make things. From oil paints and flower crafts, to the art of clay and rug making, if you can make it, they’ve got it. 

It’s a marvellous emporium for creatives known around the country, and their residency in Manchester is pretty pleasing on the eye, featuring funky window displays and a very Instagrammable gift shop. If you’re feeling really wild, hop into their photobooth to capture some memories!

Cass Art

The exterior of Cass Art in Manchester; a cool grey building frames a warm interior filled with wooden floor and shelves of art supplies
TheArtsShelf.com

55-57 Oldham St, Manchester, M1 1JR

Cass Art is a magnificent creative playground based in Northern Quarter. Their motto is to “fill this town with artists” - and quite rightly so -  which speaks to their mission of making everyone realise their inner creative talents. The impressively styled store is available to browse and interact with art materials. So, if you fancy treating yourself to a new easel or getting stuck into screen printing, then this is the place. 

The staff are all artists themselves (it doesn’t get much better than that), and the art space offers events, exhibitions and workshops for the local community. An introduction to macramé with Ministry of Craft is definitely not one to miss.

esea contemporary

Inside a walk-through exhibition at esea contemporary in Manchester; on the left side of a partition a glowing red light, and on the other, at the end of a dark corridor, a black-and-white screen shows a man’s face
eseacontemporary.org

Market Buildings, 13 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1EU

esea contemporary is the UK’s leading organisation for the promotion of contemporary East and Southeast Asian art. Formerly known as the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, this unique art gallery has a year-round programme of exhibitions, residency’s and events, and it’s one of the only public galleries in Northern Quarter.

esea is ideal if you’re on the hunt to discover new and emerging artists. They also specialise in exploring relevant global issues from different international perspectives. The gallery formed a partnership with The University of Salford Art Collection, and this resulted to co-commissioning and building a collection of contemporary Chinese art from founding artists. Paintings, sculptures, videos, installations and photographs have been exhibited internationally and are available for loan to museums and galleries.
 
The gallery and shop are free to enter and open daily from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am - 5pm.

Manchester Craft and Design Centre

17 Oak St, Manchester M4 5JD

The Craft and Design Centre is a hidden beauty in Northern Quarter and it’s safe to say you can expect to enter a magical universe for all things creative. The Victorian building is home to 19 studios spread across two floors, brimming with artists and makers who can be found crafting textiles, jewellery, ceramics, prints, fine art, sculpture and a whole lot more. The centre hosts superb workshops from glass screen printing to calligraphy, as well as exhibitions including the newly arrived Misshaping Peterloo. They also put on events such as team building away days!

This is an absolute must if you want to treat your pals (even the ones from work). Choose a workshop led by a Resident Maker, immerse yourself in the creative surroundings and make a one-off craft available to take home, or just get stuck in and have a go!

Egoïste Gallery

A woman with blue hair, wearing a black dress and hat, stands looking at the camera surrounded by art prints in the Egoiste Gallery in Manchester’s Afflecks Palace
Afflecks.com

Floor 3, Afflecks Palace, 52 Church Street, Manchester M4 1PW

It doesn’t get any more ‘Manchester’ than the world-famous Afflecks Palace, the city’s “emporium of eclecticism“ and bohemian home showcasing the wares of around 60 independent retailers. 

On the third floor, Egoïste Gallery is run by Andrew Courtenay and Baiba Auria and represents iconic traditional and progressive artists, (some of whom are exclusive to Egoïste). True patrons of the arts, they also host a professional framing and fine art printing service. You can follow their movements on Instagram @egoistegallery.