Welcome to The Art Guide

Developing and supporting the market for contemporary visual arts in the North West

The Art Guide is a detailed listings site that provides access to up-to-date information about visual arts activity in the North West region. It includes details of art fairs, artist book launches, exhibition previews, open studio days, talks, conferences, and live art performances.

The main aim for The Art Guide is to develop and support the market for contemporary visual arts in the North West region. This will be achieved through marketing resources and joint activities that bring together the promoter and the audience or buyer. We aim to broaden audience knowledge for the support of contemporary living artists, and their work, through the provision of better information dissemination regarding opportunities to engage with artists, collectors, promoters and curators.

Castlefield Gallery (http://www.castlefieldgallery.co.uk) is a gallery and resource for contemporary visual artists and their work; founded in 1984, it is one of the UKs artist-led success stories. The Gallery has been an essential part of the artistic community in Manchester and the North West, maintaining a close relationship with studio groups and the continued support for artists through resources and career development events and seminars.

The Art Guide replaces Castlefield Gallerys Independents e-flyer, a weekly email update, which evolved over 2 years to have almost 2000 subscribers, and was born out of a need for marketing support for independent arts initiatives in the region. This regular email update will be retained as a feature of The Art Guide as the site offers support for independent initiatives alongside developing further support for public and commercial sector arts organisations. Consequently, The Art Guide provides a more holistic view of regional visual arts activities and more concise and detailed listings than have previously been provided elsewhere.

Register your details on the 'Subscribe' page to receive a regular e-newsletter and information about forthcoming events. If you are an Agency, Artist-led Project, Studio Group, Gallery or Temporary Venue and wish to promote your events, please contact Castlefield Gallery on guide@castlefieldgallery.co.uk for more information on how to become a member.

Event of the month – Rogue Studios & Project Space -

Category: Launch

Venue: Rogue Artists' Studios, Crusader Mill, 66-72 Chapeltown Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M1 2WH.

Event Date: 18:00 Friday, 16th May 2008 – 21:00 Friday, 16th May 2008

Description: ROGUE ARTISTS’ STUDIOS & PROJECT SPACE LAUNCH & OPEN STUDIOS WEEKEND 16th – 18th May 2008 Preview for Event & Exhibition: 6 – 9pm, Friday 16th May 2008 Open Weekend: Saturday 17th May …

Profile of the month – CUBE

Description: CUBE (Centre for the Urban Built Environment) CUBE is one of Europe’s most exciting architecture and design culture centres, dedicated to broadcasting the ideas and issues that lie behind the buildings and spaces that make up our built environment. This stunning centre consists of three gallery spaces over two floors, an education gallery, seminar space and meeting rooms and a RIBA bookshop, the centre is a unique hub for art and design in the North West. CUBE is joint venture between th…