The Manchester Contemporary returns this October with prestigious participants and a stimulating programme for collectors, curators and enthusiasts at Manchester Central.

The Manchester Contemporary is the only UK invitational art fair for critically engaged contemporary art outside London and brings art professionals and collectors together with emerging galleries and artists.

2017 marks the tenth edition of the fair which started as a collaborative project of graduate work and curated exhibitors back in 2008. Now ten years on it is moving to Manchester Central, one of the city’s most historic buildings, providing it with increased space and room to grow and allowing it to continue to drive the North’s art market forward for years to come. The fair continues to be supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Thom Hetherington, CEO of The Manchester Contemporary, says “We are proud to take place in one of Europe’s most vibrant and creative cities, and delighted to have secured a new long-term home at the historic Manchester Central exhibition centre. It places us firmly at the heart of the region’s unprecedented cultural renaissance.”

This year sees the curation of the largest number of exhibitors bringing together commercial galleries, artist led spaces and educational institutions of regional, national and international repute.

Speaking of the exhibitor list announcement, curatorial coordinators of the fair Paulette Terry Brien & Laurence Lane of The International 3 said: “We are delighted once again to bring to Manchester a selection of first-time exhibitors alongside regular participants, with an exciting range of work that will appeal both to the seasoned collector and the intrepid first timer.’’

“Year on year the fair has sought to respond to the needs of artists and exhibitors and the wider art market and it is all underpinned by our core ambition to give audiences a high-quality art viewing and art buying experience” added Paulette.

The Manchester Contemporary takes place this year from 27-29 October. An exclusive performance art piece by much-heralded Plastique Fantastique, collaborating with East London’s IMT Gallery, is scheduled at the VIP Preview at 17:00 GMT on Friday 27 October. Over the weekend there will be a full programme of events including the popular Pavel Büchler with his ‘in conversation with artists’ series and the chance to join a curator led guided tour of the fair.