Canal Street Online Manchester

50 Windows of Creativity - A City To Be Proud In

50 Windows of Creativity - A City To Be Proud In

Manchester Pride and Lee Baxter Create Art Installation That Celebrates & Sees All Of Greater Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Identities

50 Windows of Creativity, celebrates Manchester’s rich creative culture with a huge array of spectacular mosaics, installations, fine art, photography, craft, murals and more set to pop up in windows, venues, businesses and spaces across the city centre from 26th October to 5th December 2020.

Created by the team behind the award-winning Bee in the City event, 50 Windows of Creativity will transform Manchester into an innovative art gallery taking art fans on a colourful, inspiring and safe journey around the city centre. 

LGBTQ+ charity Manchester Pride has partnered with artist Lee Baxter to create an installation in the window of the Northern Quarter Gallery at the Corn Exchange.  A business which is renowned for its support of LGBTQ+ communities in Greater Manchester.

Photographer and designer Lee Baxter’s images tend to be visualised and constructed from a graphic perspective, informed through his visual design experience. Living in a vibrant city, its colourful residents, and its multifaceted architectural landscape make for an inspiring backdrop to create an ongoing, expanding body of work. Lee is a well-known member of the LGBTQ+ community in Manchester, and his work has involved different subcultures of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ scene.

In 2019, Manchester Pride launched a new visual identity, designed to better represent the make-up of LGBTQ+ communities within the region.  It celebrates trans, intersex, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, non-binary, genderqueer people along with some of our community’s subcultures such as bears, leather & rubber. 

Furthermore, research from TIME Magazine in 2014 discovered that Manchester is in the top ten cities in the WORLD for taking selfies. The window is designed to merge the charity’s visual identity, Lee’s photography of this beautiful city, and a full length mirror to create a visually stunning, inclusive and engaging window that not only stops people in their tracks, but encourages them to share the moment.

Mark Fletcher, CEO for Manchester Pride, said; “The window will provide the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate that Pride is for everyone.  Our goal is for every member of the community and its allies to walk past the window and 'see' themselves both in our identity and in the mirror, and recognise that this is truly a city to be proud in.”

Lee Baxter said; “I am pleased to be part of this artistic initiative, having worked with Manchester Pride in several projects in the past. This collaborative work with Manchester Pride is a multilayered display about inclusivity, identity and pride against the backdrop of our vibrant city.”

The 50 Windows of Creativity displays are in windows and spaces around Manchester city centre and can be enjoyed within social distancing regulations. All visitors are encouraged to maintain a safe distance, wear a face covering when appropriate and be respectful to other trail visitors.

Visitors to the trail will be able to explore via the 50 Windows of Creativity app, available to download from 26th October, and an interactive trail map, available now via the link below

The trail, supported by Manchester City Council and event partners Auto Trader and Dandara Living, will raise money for the artists involved and The Lord Mayor of Manchester Charity Appeal Trust - We Love MCR Charity.

All pieces on display will be available to buy directly from the artist or maker and the project culminates with an auction on 10 December 2020 streamed live from the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel which will see a selection of pieces auctioned with proceeds going to their artists and makers, and to The Lord Mayor of Manchester Charity Appeal Trust - We Love MCR Charity (registered charity number 1066972) which supports disadvantaged communities and individuals to be the best they can be.

Download the 50 Windows of Creativity app from the App Store or on Google Play from 26 October 2020. 

Manchester Pride campaigns for the advancement of LGBT+ equality; celebrates LGBT+ life and creates opportunities that engage LGBT+ people so that they can thrive.

As one of the leading LGBT+ charities in the UK, its work aims to challenge discrimination in relation to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and through our grant-giving, it supports, enrich and empowers LGBT+ community groups, events and causes in Greater Manchester.  

For more information visit https://www.manchesterpride.com/

Read More

Published: 29-Oct-2020: (6029)

Canal-st.co.uk Top Stories

LGBT Walking tours of Manchester

LGBT Walking tours of Manchester

Explore Manchester’s world-famous Gay Village with Josh’s LGBT+ Manchester Walking Tour!

Feedback from the Village Action Forum

Feedback from the Village Action Forum

Members of various stakeholder parties met again recently and here is what resulted moving forward

Pride events and dates for 2024

Pride events and dates for 2024

Save The Date: Greater Manchester Pride Events for 2024

All Wmn 24 launched

All Wmn 24 launched

We share the news of a new community event bringing Women together through live music