Wild in Art’s celebration of Manchester’s musical DNA unites artists, venues and businesses, raising £35,000 to help grassroots musicians hit the road

Manchester’s summer-long public art trail Music for the Senses has delivered a major boost for the city’s creative economy, generating £200,000 in direct support for local artists and creative businesses.

Created by global art producer Wild in Art, the project saw over £162,000 reinvested into Manchester’s creative community through artist commissions, local production and partnerships, alongside £35,000 raised at auction through the sale of artist-decorated and musician-donated guitars. The auction proceeds helped to launch the Greater Manchester Grassroots Music Fund, managed by Forever Manchester, which is now open and designed to support emerging musicians to get out on tour, covering vital costs like transport, engineers and promotion.

Running from July to September 2025, Music for the Senses turned Manchester into a living gallery celebrating the city’s world-famous relationship with music. Across 88 artworks, from the Cathedral of Sound installation at St Peter’s Square, and Mayfield Park, to Guitar Street on King Street (both by Lazerian), visitors encountered murals, mosaics, sculptures and digital experiences inspired by the city’s soundtrack.

At the heart of the trail were the 55 guitars, either donated by the likes of Oasis, New Order, Elbow, Peter Hook, Busted, Doves, Pixies, PINS and Mani, or reimagined as unique works of art by some incredible artists, that were visited by thousands before going under the hammer.

The trail brought the city together on a huge scale, attracting more than 226,000 active participants and generating an estimated £13.3 million total economic impact, including £8.7 million of direct spending.

Ben Reed, Head of Creative Development at Wild in Art said: “Music for the Senses has been an incredible celebration of Manchester’s musical DNA, connecting artists, venues, businesses and the public through creativity. It’s been about more than art on the streets; it’s been about what happens when a city unites behind its culture. The trail directly supported hundreds of local artists and makers and raised funds to help grassroots musicians take their music out on the road.”

Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester’s creative industries are a key part of our economy and who we are as a city.  Music for the Senses showed what happens when creativity, community and business come together. It brought people into the city, celebrated our musical heritage, created real benefit for local artists and venues, and had an economic impact on the city that speaks for itself. The additional support it is now also creating for new and emerging musicians is great and very much complements the support we’re giving to local grassroots live music venues in the city. It’s been a brilliant example of Manchester at its best during a summer that truly belonged to music.”

The trail’s impact stretched far beyond the numbers. 78% of visitors said it encouraged them to walk more, 77% said it got them outdoors, and 70% said it helped them spend more time with family and friends. 76% discovered new parts of the city, 79% said it boosted their wellbeing, and 72% said it brought people together, creating a sense of community in the city.

Survey results show that residents from every Manchester City Council ward got involved in the trail, proving just how far it reached across the city, bringing people together from all walks of life to enjoy a free, creative event at the heart of Manchester. Almost everyone agreed it hit the right note too, with 96% of Manchester and Greater Manchester residents saying they felt proud to have the trail in the city, and 89% saying it made them feel part of Manchester’s Summer of Music.

Among the 71 commissioned artists were well-known names and rising talents, including Lazerian, Nomad Clan, .EPOD, AKSE P19, Thomas Wolski and Kim Thompson. More than a half were Manchester or Greater Manchester-based, with over 60 local businesses, venues and cultural organisations taking part.

One visitor summed it up perfectly: “I took my teenage son around the trail and explained to him why Manchester is a music mecca. I played some New Order and Stone Roses tracks while we were looking at the displays. I think I enjoyed it more than him.”

This is the latest success in Wild in Art’s long track record of using creativity to make a difference. Since 2008, the organisation has raised over £30.3 million for charitable causes around the world, invested more than £5.3 million directly into local creative communities, and engaged over 1.5 million young people in education programmes.

Its large-scale public art trails have reached global audiences, from the London 2012 Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, to award-winning Manchester projects like Bee in the City (2018), Read Manchester (2017), Walking with The Snowman (2018), 50 Windows of Creativity (2020) and Our Year – We Made It (2022).