Mancunians may have come across some unusual coins placed on benches, bus stops and ledges across the city and here’s why.
Artist Ryan Gander has placed 200,000 coins across the city for his latest art project called The Find as part of Manchester International Arts Festival running from June 29th – July 16th.
“My mum has this saying, ‘there’s no pockets in the shroud’,” Gander told the Manchester Evening News.
“She’s like some middle class suburban Buddhist, and means I’m not going to get any inheritance, probably — but she’s got a point.”
He continued: “We understand the world by stuff. Things, articles, objects and we always want more, more, more.
“Actually, we should be understanding the world by events and conversations and moments — things that we can take with us.”
The strange coins are valueless in monetary terms and can not be spent but contain a lot of value in the sense that they provoke thought. Finders can be keepers of the coins if they wish, or they can put them back for someone else to find.
They display messages which offer a choice on either side of each coin; together or solo, action or pause, and speak or listen.
Around 100 volunteers have been out around the city placing the coins in places for people to find them including benches, at bus stops, and on window ledges.
But some honest Mancunians have been handing the coins back to community support officers and at Central Library. Gander says: “People are so honest.
“Very honest Mancunians. It’s quite weird. There are very few things in the world that are a gift, so to give a gift to a third of the population of a city, it’s a remarkable thing.
“People take different things from it. I’ve met people already who carry all three in their pockets and say they’re going to carry them for life and use them.”
He added: “There are two audiences really, there is the audience that know about the festival, and about my work on the hunt to get collectable art works, but then theres’ the 99% who are people who don’t know they are engaging with contemporary art.”
Gander, who is originally from Chester was awarded an OBE for his services to contemporary art back in 2017.
He says he’s quite aware that contemporary art can still be quite an ‘incredibly elitist’ space and so that’s where his work comes in.
He said: “People engage with the coins, by chance, outside of the institution of art, and by the time that they’re engaged and they’re doing it, it’s only then that they realise it’s contemporary art, and the stigma disappears. It’s accessible, and it’s a good way in. People have their guard down.”
Gander is hoping his display of public contemporary art will help people make changes in their lives rather than make a habit of repetition, saying: “We automatically make decisions, but based on habit.
“We should be asking ourselves questions every day, even if we know the answers, because the world changes all around us, and the answers change. So most of our answers are wrong.
“The coins are a reminder that we can learn and explore and live a little bit differently, but mostly just break the repetition that we all live by.
“Walk the long way to work, eat something different for lunch, talk to someone you’ve never spoken to. I’m at fault with all those things too.”
Adding: “But I know when I make decisions which are out of habit and out of character, it mega mega mega enriches my life.”
The Find is currently taking place across the city as part of Manchester International Arts Festival. Have you found any of Ryan Gander’s coins?
Stockport’s free, one-day Christmas festival is returning this festive season, with 200 performers and more than 50 shows.
Spectacular Sunday will return to the town on November 17th at various sites and venues.
Following the success of last year’s event, hundreds of performers will take over Stockport, with everything from giant roller-skating presents to a living snow globe and roaming Christmas dolls.
There will also be street theatre, including grumpy Christmas grandads, a gigantic balloon man and water show.
Matthew Nichol Photography
Produced by carnival arts organisation Global Grooves and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement. Events will be happening in iconic Stockport locations like Market Place, Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock and Suffragette Square.
A grand finale in Merseyway will bring together the brass bands of Stockport, ending the day with a huge flash mob and rendition of All You Need Is Love.
Cirq Delight
Cllr Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport, said: “We’re so excited to bring this event back after last year’s amazing success.
“It’s such a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit and really shows off what makes Stockport special – our sense of community and joy.
“With loads of free performances and activities, plus a chance to enjoy the newly improved areas of Merseyway, it’s a perfect day out for families.
“Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is all about having fun, making memories, and starting the holiday season in style.” Spectacular Sunday is happening from 11am to 5pm on Sunday November 17th – find out more HERE.
If you’re stuck for somewhere to go this Christmas party season, or for any birthday, stag or hen do, or even a regular weekend with your mates, we’ve got the perfect spot. Boom Battle Bar is a massive games bar in the Printworks, with axe throwing (£45 – £80), shuffleboard (£15 – £25), augmented reality darts (£40 per lane), beer/prosecco pong (£30 per table), and even karaoke booths (£6 – £9 per person).
Manchester’s Finest Group
They also do a bottomless brunch at weekends, alongside a street food offering, including halloumi fries, parmesan and truffle mac and cheese bites, chicken tenders, wings, loaded bacon parmesan fries and dirty BBQ loaded fries.
There’s an impressive array of drinks as well, with cocktails like the Basic B*tch, Honey It’s Time To Party, and GOAT Punch, as well as plenty of beer, wine and even big sharers.
Urban Playground has taken things to the next level, revealing three brand new games for thrill-seekers to sink their teeth into.
The Manchester Arndale entertainment venue, which is already home to an impressive array of games, has added even more fun to the line up. From mini golf to arcade games and loads of food and drink, Urban Playground has everything you need for an incredible day out.
Manchester’s Finest Group
They’ve now added three new games to The Cube Live experience, ahead of the upcoming Christmas party season. ‘Pass’, ‘Exit’ and ‘Locate’ are the three new nail-bitingly tense games, and you’ll recognise them all from TV.
In Pass, two players rapidly weave a foam brick back and forth between free-standing poles, avoiding knocking the poles over as they go – requiring agility and great communication. Exit sees two players work together manoeuvring a ball out of a maze testing their patience to the max.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Lastly, Locate is a single player game where players must memorise an illuminated white square’s location, before placing a block on it while blindfolded. They’re all deceptively straightforward, while also fiendishly addictive, and perfect for a team day out. Get booked in HERE to try the new games for yourself.