Manchester Made
Supporting Manchester Open 2026
Greater Manchester is full of stories. They live in our neighbourhoods, our languages, our histories, our cultures — and in the creativity of the people who call this region home.
Every two years, Manchester Open brings those stories together in one place. Open to anyone living in Greater Manchester, the exhibition welcomes professional artists, students and first-time exhibitors alike. It fills HOME’s main gallery with work that reflects the full breadth of creative practice across our city — from painting and photography to performance, sculpture and installation.
The Manchester Open is more than an exhibition. It is a living portrait of Greater Manchester: a tapestry woven from thousands of different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. It is a place to see your region reflected back at you — and to discover voices, ideas and stories you may never have encountered before.
Why Manchester Made?
Manchester Made is our campaign supporting the next edition of Manchester Open in June.
Everything about the exhibition is Manchester Made. The artwork is created by local people. The audiences who visit are our neighbours, families and friends. And the support that makes it possible comes from people who believe in the power of creativity to connect, represent and inspire.
What your support makes possible
Donations to Manchester Made will help us deliver a Manchester Open that is free, inclusive and truly representative of Greater Manchester’s diverse communities. With your support, we will:
- Support 450 artists living in Greater Manchester to exhibit their work
- Fund five Manchester Open Awards, offering financial support, year-long mentorship, professional development and showcasing opportunities
- Work with schoolchildren and underrepresented communities, providing artist-led workshops and support to create and submit work
- Keep the exhibition free to enter for artists and free to visit for audiences, removing financial barriers to participation
Alongside the main exhibition, The Little Open will launch in 2026: working with three schools in communities facing higher levels of disadvantage, pupils will take part in creative workshops and see their work exhibited at HOME for the very first time.
Support the Manchester Open 2026
A shared picture of who we are
Manchester Open creates a space that is open, welcoming and shaped by the people of this city.
By supporting Manchester Made, you are helping to create an exhibition that reflects the reality of Greater Manchester today: complex, diverse, creative and full of possibility. You are helping to make a place where people can recognise themselves, learn about each other, and feel proud of where they live.
This is Greater Manchester, seen through the eyes of the people who make it.
Be part of Manchester Made
We invite you to join us in supporting Manchester Open 2026. Whether you donate, share the campaign, or simply come and experience the exhibition, you are part of what makes it possible.
Together, we can make Manchester Open 2026 proudly Manchester Made.
💫 With the amazing support of our sponsors Ask Real Estate & First Street Manchester every donation to Manchester Made will be matched up to £3,500, doubling the impact of your generosity!