Stretford Arts Exhibition

Lisa Heanley, Bridget Collin, Ian G Tattersall, Olivia Savage, Becky Moore, Rebecca de Lacy, Edward de Lacy, Michael Anthony, Will da Costa, Hayley Hare, Jo Emmerson, Loop Systems, F Williams, Jeffrey Knopf, Margit van der Zwan, Peter Mackereth, Paul Thomas, Oliver Stanion, Ben Pepper , Paul Allen, Emma Lloyd, Nadia Peters, Monika Titane, Liz Janson, Julie Walsh, Paula Hardy Kangelos, Kerris McEvoy-Kelsall, Simon Buckley, David Donovan-Brown, RP Roberts, Andrew Hatton, Amanda Wheatley, Davina Whitnall, Andrew Dawson, Shirley Bainbridge & Katherine Hsuan.

Sretford Arts Collective, SAC32, presented their first open submission exhibition last weekend, showcasing the work of 40 local creatives at a temporary gallery space inside the impressive, grade 2 listed Stretford Public Hall. SAC32, a small group of diverse artists based at the hall’s shared studio space, curated the 3 day event in demonstration of their founding principle, to share their individual creativity and collective love for the arts with the people of Stretford and beyond.

An open call for exhibitors in August resulted in an unprecedented number of applicants, eventually whittled down to 40 by the SAC32 team. Featured artists ranged from 18-80 to years old and from hobbyists to professionals, working in a number of craft, art and design disciplines and utilising a number of surprising mediums including cardboard, bones and buttons. The resultant display was a refreshingly cosmopolitan and contemporary show, corroborating Stretford’s historical standing as an unlikely but undeniable cultural hotbed. Formerly home to both L.S. Lowry and Stephen Patrick Morrissey, Stretford now seems to have a talented artist or musician in residence on every street.

Friday evening’s drinks reception included a speech from local superstar DJ Mr Scruff, and a visit from MP, Kate Green, but the real stars of the event were the 900 vibrant and supportive Stretfordians who attended the show throughout the weekend, and the beautiful hall itself, now firmly back in the hands and hearts of the local community, as Sir John Rylands originally bequeathed it.

SAC32’s second open exhibition is planned for summer 2017. If you’d like to keep up-to-date with plans for the show,

as well as learn about SAC32’s not-for-profit community workshops, you are welcome to join the emailing list at www.stretfordpublichall.org.uk.