Music for the Senses is live from 7 July to 31 August 2025. 88 artworks are on display across Manchester city centre with two satellite locations at Etihad Campus and Hulme.

It’s completely free to enjoy the trail! The artworks are out on the streets and in shop windows and venues so can be viewed by anyone at any time.

If you’d like to explore the trail in more detail, you can download the Music for the Senses app or pick up a printed map.

Our app is available to download from the App Store and Google Play for £1.99.

Not only can you use the map and collect each artwork on the app, there is also over £160 worth of free and discounted offers on food, drink and activities plus chances to win gig tickets to Co-op Live, AO Arena, Beyond the Music festival and more!

25% of the net proceeds of each sale goes to our charity partner Forever Manchester.

Prefer a physical map? Pick one up from:

Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, M2 5PD
Open Mon-Thu 9am – 8pm, Fri-Sat 9am – 5pm

The Manchester Shop, 35-39 Oldham Street, M1 1JG
Open Mon-Sat 10am – 6pm, Sun 11am – 5pm

People’s History Museum, Left Bank Spinningfields, M3 3ER
Open 10am-5pm daily except Tuesday

Forsyth Music Shop, 126 Deansgate, M3 2GR
Open Mon-Sat 10am – 5.30pm, Sun 11am – 5pm

National Football Museum, Urbis, Cathedral Gardens M4 3BG
Open 10am – 5pm daily

City Centre

Train stations: Piccadilly, Victoria, Oxford Road, Deansgate
Tram stops: St Peter’s Square, Deansgate-Castlefield, Shudehill, Market Street, Exchange Square, Victoria
Free city centre shuttle bus: 1, 2, 3

Etihad Campus

Follow the ‘Citylink’ walking route to Co-op Live from Manchester City Centre.

Oxford Road

Nearest tram stop: St Peter’s Square
Key Bus Routes: 42, 43, 142, 143, 147

Hulme

Nearest Tram Stop: Deansgate-Castlefield
Key Bus Routes: 85, 86, 250

Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website for more information.

As an event supporting grassroots music projects and venues, it was important for us to involve Manchester’s independent music venues, shops, and cultural spaces. Where possible, we partnered with these local venues to host our guitars or spotlight existing music-inspired art already on display. We understand that opening hours vary, so when needed, we’ve placed a plaque with the app code outside.

When a venue has specific opening hours, these are highlighted in the app. You’ll also find links to them below.

AO Arena – open unless a show is on
Aviva Studios – closed Mondays
Band on the Wall – evening opening hours
Central Library
IBIS Styles Portland St
Johnny Roadhouses Music – closed Sundays
Kim’s Kitchen – closed Tuesdays
Martin Harris Centre
Matt and Phreds – evening opening hours
New Century Hall – closed Mondays
Night and Day Cafe – open from 12pm
People’s History Museum – closed Tuesdays
Piccadilly Records
Represent
Richmond Tea Rooms
Royal Exchange Theatre
Selfridges
Side Street Cafe
The Manchester College – closed on weekends
The Pen and Pencil
Zambrero UK

The music industry has changed. As global superstars fill arenas and ticket prices soar, it’s becoming harder than ever for new talent to break through.

Grassroots venues – the lifeblood of local scenes and the launchpad for countless artists – are struggling to survive. And for emerging musicians, a lack of funding, resources, and support often stands in the way.

The Forever Manchester Grassroots Music Fund is here to help.

On 12 September, 60 hand-painted guitars – some gifted by well-known artists, including Oasis, Elbow, Doves and many more – will be auctioned to raise money for the fund.

Managed by our charity partner Forever Manchester, the fund will champion the people and places that keep Greater Manchester’s music scene alive: independent venues, community events, local festivals, and the artists at the heart of it all.

Want to be the first to hear more about the Fund when it opens later this year? Sign up to the Forever Manchester newsletter at forevermanchester.com/contact-us

Yes! After the Music for the Senses art trail finishes, all the guitar artworks will be displayed at an exhibition at the People’s History Museum from Friday 5 – Sunday 7 September 2025.

This will be your last chance to see all the artworks before the auction!

To be the first to find out more information, please sign up to our newsletter.

Visit Forever Manchester’s online shop to treat yourself or someone else to official Music for the Senses merchandise and souvenirs including tote bags and T-shirts.

Plus, if you unlock ‘The Music Scene’ in the app you’ll access a 25% off code for the merchandise.

Exhibition

After the Music for the Senses art trail finishes, all the guitar artworks will be displayed at an exhibition at the People’s History Museum from Friday 5 – Sunday 7 September 2025.

This will be your last chance to see all the artworks before the auction!

To be the first to find out more information, please sign up to our newsletter.

Auction

The decorated and musician donated guitars will be auctioned on Friday 12 September at Hallé St Peter’s in Ancoats. Money raised from the auction will support grassroots music projects and venues throughout Greater Manchester.

This will be via a dedicated music fund managed by our charity partner Forever Manchester, in collaboration with Manchester Music City.

To be the first to find out more about the auction, visit our auction page and register your interest.

The murals and mosaics will remain as public art for years to come.

The Design a Guitar Competition gave schools, colleges and young people’s groups the opportunity to elevate their young people’s creativity and contribute their voices to this city-wide celebration of art and music.

There are three guitar artworks on the trail which were designed by Manchester Communication Academy, Humbug Art’s The League of Artists Programme and The Manchester College.

Read our FAQs on the App page and if you’re still having an issue, please log it on our App Support page.

Report it to the app support team and we’ll get you up and running in no time. Please check your spam/junk folders for our replies. App support is monitored between 9am – 5pm (Monday – Friday).

Music for the Senses is created by Wild in Art in collaboration with Manchester City Council. It is part of the council’s MCR Live 25, an all-access pass to a summer packed with sound and celebration.

Wild in Art is also working with its charity partner Forever Manchester. Forever Manchester is Greater Manchester’s Community Foundation, the only charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester.

The auction will take place at Hallé St Peters in Ancoats on Friday 12 September 2025. The time will be confirmed here soon.

Yes, each artwork is unique has been created by a professional artist.

You can preview the auction lots at the Music for the Senses Exhibition at the People’s History Museum from 5-7 September.

More information about opening times and tickets will be available soon.

If you are interested in bidding at auction and would like to preview lots, please contact hello@musicforthesenses.co.uk

More information about auction tickets will be available soon. Please register your interest at musicforthesenses.co.uk/auction

All serious bidders aged 18+ are welcome to our auction. We hope to fill the auction room with people who are going to bid so that we can raise lots and lots of money for the Forever Manchester Grassroots Music Fund. More information about tickets will be available soon so please register your interest at musicforthesenses.co.uk/auction

For families, or for people who are not able to bid but are interested in seeing the guitars all together, we advise that the Music for the Senses Exhibition at the People’s History Museum is more suitable.

If your ticket application is successful and you wish to bid for a guitar, you will need to complete the Bidder Registration Form. This will be sent to you or you will also find it at musicforthesenses.co.uk/auction.

Please return your Bidder Registration Form to hello@musicforthesenses.co.uk or bring it with you on the night along with your ID. This will make the process easier on the night and you will be allocated a paddle.

If you don’t plan to make a bid but change your mind on the night, that’s okay too! Please refer to our Guide for Bidders and Terms and Conditions available at musicforthesenses.co.uk/auction for more information.

You must bring one form of ID which must include government-issued photo identification. If this does not state your current address, proof of address will also be required.

If you are bidding on behalf of an organisation, you must provide a copy of the certificate of incorporation, or, in the case of unregistered entities, other evidence satisfactory to Wild in Art. Please contact us at hello@musicforthesenses.co.uk for confirmation of what will be acceptable.

Please see the Terms and Conditions at musicforthesenses.co.uk/auction for more information.

Yes, you can bid online or place an absentee bid.

1.Before the Auction

You will need to create an online bidding account with Wild in Art and register for the Music for the Senses auction at mfs.wildinartauctions.com

You can have a look through the auction lots and choose the guitar that you would like to bid on.

If you would like to place an online bid for in advance, just enter the maximum amount you would be happy to pay for the lot. Your bid will be automatically executed for you as other bidders bid against you. You will be notified by email if your bid is outbid. If you want to increase your bid just enter your new bid and click the bid button.

Bids placed online in advance of the auction will then be administered on the night as part of the live auction on 12 September 2025 so don’t forget to log in and watch the action on the night. If you are outbid by a bidder in the room, you will be able to increase you online bid as part of the live bidding on the night.

2.During the Live Auction on 12 September 2025

Participating in the auction on 12 September is easy. Make sure you are registered and approved as a bidder to bid online in advance so that you are ready to go.

Please also make sure you are logged in so you are ready to go before the auction starts.

When the auction starts you will be able to see a live stream of the auctioneer selling the lots as well as seeing a real-time feed of the current bid. When your lot comes up online, get ready to click the bid button! Auctions are fast paced so make sure you don’t miss out.

If you can’t attend the auction you can still take part in the bidding by completing the Bidder Registration and Absentee Bid form available at musicforthesenses.co.uk/auction. Please ensure this is returned to us at hello@musicforthesenses.co.uk at least 24 hours prior to the start of the auction.

You will need to pre-select which lots you would like to bid for and the amount you would like to bid. You will also be required to provide a copy of your passport/driving license and proof of address. A member of the auction team will be authorised to bid on your behalf to your specified limit. If you are successful with your bid, you will be contacted after your chosen lot has closed to confirm your preferred payment method. Written bids will be executed at the lowest possible price.

Please contact us at hello@musicforthesenses.co.uk to discuss telephone bidding.

Yes, VAT at the applicable rate will be added to the final hammer price for each lot so please consider this when placing your bids.

No, it is not gift aid-able.

Wild in Art will raise invoices for each successful Bid at the end of the Auction and these will be sent to the successful Bidders by hand/email. The invoice will show the Hammer Price to be to be paid, VAT at the applicable rate and identify the Lot purchased.

We will have the facility to take payment on the night using all major debit and credit cards.

Please see the Terms and Conditions for more information at musicforthesenses.co.uk/auction

All lots are covered by Wild in Art’s insurance until your payment has cleared. Once payment is cleared our insurance will cease and you will become the owner of the guitar and therefore responsible for any insurance cover.

The auction proceeds will go to the Forever Manchester Grassroots Music Fund, managed by Forever Manchester registered charity number 1017504.

The music industry has changed. As global superstars fill arenas and ticket prices soar, it’s becoming harder than ever for new talent to break through. Grassroots venues – the lifeblood of local scenes and the launchpad for countless artists – are struggling to survive. And for emerging musicians, a lack of funding, resources, and support often stands in the way.

Managed by our charity partner Forever Manchester, the fund will champion the people and places that keep Greater Manchester’s music scene alive: independent venues, community events, local festivals, and the artists at the heart of it all.

To be the first to hear more about the Fund when it opens later this year, sign up to the Forever Manchester newsletter at forevermanchester.com/contact-us.