Visit the website for details about sponsorship opportunities

Global art producer, Wild in Art (Bee in the City, Gratitude) has announced the businesses sponsoring Music for the Senses, the guitar led trail of artworks, exhibitions and installations taking over the city this summer (7 July – 31 August 2025).

The team has been overwhelmed with businesses that want to get involved and the first confirmed sponsors and partners include: Transport for Greater Manchester – Bee Network, Co-op Live, Hobs Repro, AO Arena, King Street, Kimpton Clock Tower Hotel, The Great Northern, N Brown, Manchester Gin, Represent, Aviva Studios home of Factory International, Selfridges, Westwood Group, Junction at Manchester Central, JW Lees, The Growth Company, Manchester BID, Richmond Tea Rooms, Cornerstone Design and Marketing, Noma, Beyond the Music, Ocean Outdoor, Manchester Airports Group, and Marketing Manchester.

Julie Gaskell, Head of Partnerships, Wild in Art commented: “We’ve been astounded by the number and quality of guitar designs we’ve received from artists. About 50% on the shortlist are Manchester, Greater Manchester and North West artists and we are keen to commission as many as possible, so it’s a really wonderful opportunity.

“We are seeing lots of different businesses from different sectors getting in touch about taking part, which is absolutely brilliant as this is exactly what happened with Bee in the City in 2018. This surge in sponsors wanting to take part comes as people realise that Manchester city centre is set to host over 1.3 million music tourists this summer, and this is a chance for their staff and customers to join in and contribute.”

The trail, which is a collaboration between global art producer Wild in Art (Bee in the City, Gratitude) and Manchester City Council, will be free to visit and will make people feel like they are part of what promises to be a huge summer of music in Manchester as well-known musicians, including Oasis, have donated guitars to be displayed; it will feature a free app where members of the public can vote for their favourite guitar and access special rewards given by sponsors. Wild in Art predicts that over 20,000 people will download the free app and over 550,000 people will get involved and visit the trail. 

Sponsors will be doing their bit to help grassroots music and venues as the guitars will be auctioned off to support them through a special fund put together by charity partner Forever Manchester charity in collaboration with Manchester Music City.

Becoming a sponsor holds many more benefits for businesses; they can choose a guitar design from the portfolio of submissions from professional artists, include their logo alongside their guitar on display as well as on the trail website and app, and provide a reward for the app which allows their guitar to link to their products or services and feed into their database.

In addition it presents an opportunity to join in the conversations with a huge, engaged audience on the trail’s social media channels, and be invited along to VIP sponsor events and networking opportunities.

As the launch of the trail draws closer, there’s still time for more businesses to participate as Wild in Art is set to showcase the shortlisted guitar design submissions available to sponsors at a special event on Monday the 19th May 4-6pm at the Kimpton Clocktower hotel, so if you are part of a business that would like to join the mission, please contact hello@musicforthesenses.co.uk to apply for tickets. 

This event will be the last chance for potential sponsors to see the shortlisted designs up close, and Wild in Art is encouraging businesses to sign up by 2nd June to make the most of the benefits on offer.