Craftform

Make designs on Manchester craft event
The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Spinningfields

October 22-25, 2009
Spinningfields, Manchester city centre
www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair is back! And for its second year of showcasing the most up-and-coming and leading designer makers, the event will be held in Manchester city centre.

Just off Deansgate, Spinningfields is to host this year’s Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair. Set in an open space, surrounded by cafes and restaurants, the exhibitors will be housed in a large hard-sided pavilion.

The event provides a unique shopping experience where original contemporary craft can be purchased and commissioned directly from the UK’s leading and emerging designer-makers.

With more than 140 exhibitors showcasing the finest works of contemporary craft, including jewellery, interior textiles and fashion accessories, ceramics, glass, metal-work, furniture and more. Established makers and emerging talent have been selected by a panel of experts to ensure work is both innovative and of the highest quality.

Organiser Ann-Marie Franey said: “We want visitors to appreciate how much work goes into each unique piece and encourage them to buy items that will last decades, rather than years. As we move away from excess and mass production this event is about finding something you love and buying it directly from the person who made it.”

Organiser Angela Mann added, “This year is thoroughly exciting, and we were incredibly pleased to received Arts Council funding. We’re looking forward to growing this event, which was set up to champion designer-makers in the North and bring their work to new audiences.”

The event at Spinningfields will allow visitors to spend the day in a relaxed yet inspiring atmosphere, chat to the makers and find out the story and making process behind each unique piece..

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair will take place on Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25 and promises to be a great cultural event, offering a refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous high street. The fair provides a perfect opportunity for visitors to treat themselves, buy one-off gorgeous gifts for Christmas or invest in a distinctive piece for their home.

The inaugural event in 2008 saw approximately 3,500 visitors spend in excess of £150,000 highlighting the demand for high quality, hand-made craft and a desire to spend one’s money in a more thoughtful way.

Having moved to the city centre, this year’s event is going to be bigger and better! Come down and check it out for yourself.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

High-resolution images of all exhibitors’ work are available
Further information on exhibitors for features on shopping, collecting, fashion accessories, interior products and alternatives to the high street available

Opening times:

Preview by invitation only: Thursday, October 22 from 6pm-9.30pm
Friday, October 23: 11am – 8.30pm
Saturday, October 24: 10am – 6pm
Sunday, October 25: 10am-5pm
Admission on door: £5 (£4 concession)

Spinningfields yellow card holders can attend the fair at a discounted rate of £4 per person. To sign up for a free yellow card visit www.spinningfieldsonline.com.
For advance tickets, 30% discount with NCP car parks with a validated ticket, directions and further info visit http://www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk or email enquiries@greatnorthernevents.co.uk

Address of Pavilion: Hardman Boulevard, Spinningfields, off Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3AQ

Spinningfields is the most significant Grade A office development in Manchester and the largest city centre office scheme in the UK. With a total investment of £1.5bn, Spinningfields comprises 427,450 sq m (4,600,000 sq ft) mixed-use development between the River Irwell and Deansgate – one of Manchester’s main thoroughfares.
It has a combination of world-class architecture and inviting contemporary public space, with a vitality that comes from its exciting mix of offices, retail, restaurants, bars and living space. Its twelve signature buildings, built to BREEAM Excellent standards, feature large floorplates designed with the financial and professional services sector in mind, have already attracted a raft of prestigious tenants including; RBS, Baker Tilly, NatWest, HSBC, Grant Thornton, The Bank of New York Mellon, Pinsent Masons, Deloitte, Halliwells, Regus, Barclays Group, BDO Stoy Hayward, The Ministry of Justice and The Guardian Media Group.
www.spinningfieldsonline.com

This year The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair is supported the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

CONTACTS

For further information, interviews and images please contact:
Carolyn Hughes
E: press@greatnorthernevents.co.uk
T: 07743 406 503

Organisers:
Ann-Marie Franey 07973 574735
Angela Mann 07749258661

Also contact Manchester PR Agency SKV Communications on 0161 838 7770 for PR on Spinningfields.

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair is organised by Great Northern Events NW Ltd, a not for profit organisation registered in England Company No 6419531.
Great Northern Events NW Ltd 23 Belfield Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6BJ

Location