Now in its sixth edition, The Manchester Contemporary, launches with 27 carefully selected participants and a prestigious programme for collectors and curators.

The UK’s only art fair for world-class critically engaged contemporary art outside of London, The Manchester Contemporary, returns to the iconic Old Granada Studios from 24 to 27 September 2015.

Returning for its sixth year, the invitational art fair was first established to reflect the growth and strength of the UK-wide art scene, as well as to cater to the region’s emerging collector base. Participants are selected by curatorial coordinators, Paulette Terry Brien and Laurence Lane, Directors of The International 3, based on the strength of gallery programming and the quality of the artists they work with. These include several new project spaces that have been recently initiated by emerging artists and curators, as well as established commercial exhibitors that return to the fair each year.

Speaking on the aims of The Manchester Contemporary, Paulette Terry Brien said: “The Manchester Contemporary's underlying ethos is to present the best in emerging critically engaged contemporary art by artists of regional, national and international repute. It gives a platform to commercial and not-for-profit initiatives that are committed to developing artists’ careers and establishing long-term relationships with audiences and collectors alike”.

Taking part in The Manchester Contemporary for the first time is Breese Little, showing a solo presentation by Royal Academy Schools alumni Aimee Parrott. Breese Little Director, Henry Little, said of the gallery’s selection: “The fair's roster of galleries and artist-run spaces from outside London is a particular draw for us, and demonstrates the vibrant strength of contemporary art outside the capital. This is not only important in itself, but suggests a brighter future in which other major UK cities can host and nurture markets for critically engaged contemporary art. We very much look forward to participating."

Returning to The Manchester Contemporary for the third time is VITRINE, a gallery with a programme of off-site projects that run in parallel to the main exhibitions, taking place in Basel, London and elsewhere in the UK.

“The Manchester Contemporary is about bringing emerging contemporary art practice from across the UK to an emerging and expanding collector-base beyond London,” said director Alys Williams. “It’s a great fit for VITRINE because of our emphasis on encouraging artistic experimentation and developments”.

This year VITRINE will using the fair to present new work by Tim Etchells and Charlie Godet Thomas.

Further work available at The Manchester Contemporary includes that of:

Hyun-Min Ry is presented by IMT Gallery

Exploring the sometimes uncomfortable relationship between society and the individual, Hyun-Min Ryu’s multidisciplinary practice includes photography, film and installation. With low-key humour, Ryu captures both the mundane and fantastical within every day life. Born in Daegu, South Korea, Hyun-min Ryu graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, London with an MFA in Fine Art Media in 2012 and was Winner of a Slade Award.

Pippa Gatty presented by Man&Eve

Working in a variety of mediums, Pippa Gatty draws from the romantic tradition and uses archives for inspiration within her exploratory practice. Process and the concept of artistic labour are also important in the production of Gatty’s richly layered oil paintings, gouaches and drawings, sometimes on found objects, which seek to address the act of pretending or believing.

Jo Mcgonigal presented by OBJECT / A

Currently undertaking a PhD examining Painting and Materiality at The University of Leeds, and having recently co-curated the exhibition Real Painting at Castlefield Gallery, Jo McGonigal’s practice rigorously questions the experiential basis of painting for the viewer; not what the painting means but what it does. Thus, Mcgonigal’s work can includes three dimensional chunks of timber and knotted spandex, questioning the limits of the medium through hybridised forms.

The Manchester Contemporary is delivered by Buy Art Fair Limited, using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.