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Manchester’s best-loved entertainment complex, Printworks has commissioned renowned artist, Justin Eagleton to create a lasting piece of nostalgic artwork, celebrating the city’s rich and vibrant history.
Printworks has been at the heart of the city for over one hundred years, and part of Manchester’s entertainment scene for nearly twenty. The mural, which stands at 4.8m wide by 2.4m high, will take pride of place on Dantzic Street, and looks back at Manchester’s diverse heritage, celebrating the people and places that make the city what it is.
The artwork includes famous landmarks including Belle Vue Circus, Beetham Tower, the Royal Exchange and the cotton mills that famously dot the city’s landscape. Music heroes and comedians such as The Stone Roses, Oasis, Victoria Wood and Steve Coogan are also featured.
There is a nod to some of the most influential Mancunians such as Emmeline Pankhurst, Professor Brian Cox and Alan Turing, referencing the city’s rich political and scientific heritage. But the mural wouldn’t be complete without including the city’s famous symbol, the Manchester bee.
Printworks has also partnered with Forever Manchester, the only charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester; working with local people in communities to inspire and encourage projects that they want to see, to make their neighbourhoods happier and safer places to be. All of the money raised for Forever Manchester is used to fund and support over 1,000 community projects in Greater Manchester each year.
Fred Booth, Printworks’ Centre Director, said “Printworks has a long-standing heritage across Greater Manchester, so what better way to celebrate this than with a mural of memories, showcasing the people and places that have carved their own place in our city’s history.
“We want the people of Manchester to visit our fantastic mural and share in the memories of our great city!”
Justin Eagleton explained, “Printworks is an iconic venue in the heart of the city and the perfect place to feature a mural celebrating all things Manchester. This city means so much to so many and I hope everyone will be able to relate to an image, or see something that makes them smile within the mural. I’d like to thank Printworks for allowing me to create this wonderful piece of nostalgia for the city to enjoy.”
Nick Massey, Chief Executive at Forever Manchester explained, “Forever Manchester is delighted to be the chosen charity for the launch of this fantastic mural which celebrates this city’s heritage, history and its people.
“We’re thrilled that our Manchester super hero, Captain Manchester is included in the mural. Every penny raised from the sale of artwork of the mural will go directly to supporting grassroot community projects across Greater Manchester reflecting the rich social backbone of local community activity in and around this great city.”
In 2018, Printworks teamed up with Justin for the Bee in the City campaign, commissioning him to create a charity Hac-BEE-enda bee installation, which took pride of place in the Printworks and was later auctioned off for charity, with over £20,000 going to the We Love MCR Charity.
Renowned photographers, Paul Husband, Ian Tilton, Paul Wolfgang Webster and Jill Furmanovsky allowed their iconic images to be used on the mural.
The mural is now on display at the Printworks on Dantzic Street.