Manchester Launches Artists of the Future Competition to Showcase Young Talent
A vibrant new initiative designed to champion young creativity across Greater Manchester has been officially launched. The Artists of the Future competition, unveiled at the recent Manchester Art Fair, invites young people to create artwork that will be displayed on a large-scale community exhibition space.
Hands-On Workshops and Community Engagement
The launch event featured hands-on creative workshops delivered by Gorse Hill Studios, offering a first glimpse of the activities that will soon be rolled out to local schools and youth groups. This initiative is part of Therme Manchester's broader social value strategy, developed in partnership with Trafford Council and Salford City Council to ensure lasting local impact.
Therme Manchester, set to become the UK's first urban wellbeing resort, is committed to making wellbeing accessible for all through biodiverse gardens, immersive art, thermal experiences, and family-focused leisure spaces. The development aims to create jobs, apprenticeships, and numerous community projects.
Competition Details and Participating Schools
The competition encourages young artists to explore themes central to Therme's global ethos: nature, water, fun, and wellbeing. Winning designs will be professionally reproduced as large-format artworks and showcased on the Therme Manchester Outdoor Gallery, transforming the construction site hoardings at TraffordCity into a vibrant public exhibition.
Artists of the Future is being developed in collaboration with Gorse Hill Studios, a Trafford-based creative youth arts charity. The project involves schools and youth centres across Trafford and Salford, including:
- Barton Clough Primary School
- St Monica's Primary School in Trafford
- Holy Cross and All Saints RC Primary School
- Lewis Street Primary School
- Beech Street Community Primary School
- St Gilbert's Primary School
- Westwood Park Community Primary School
- Arbour Academy Secondary School in Salford
Arts Let Loose CIC, an accessible community-led creative space in Swinton, is also participating. Therme Manchester will provide all art materials for the competition.
Prizes and Judging Panel
Winners will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a family trip to Therme Bucharest in Romania in spring 2026. All participants will be invited to a celebratory event at Gorse Hill Studios focused on art, food, and wellbeing.
A distinguished panel of judges has been appointed to select the winning designs, which will be announced in February 2026:
- Helena Worthington: A Manchester-based multidisciplinary artist specialising in sculpture and painting, known for blending craft, colour, and storytelling.
- AKSE-P19: An internationally acclaimed street artist renowned for powerful, photorealistic murals that reflect community culture.
- Roksanna Ciurysek-Gedir: Representing Therme Art, Therme Group's global arts initiative dedicated to creativity and wellbeing.
Community Impact and Testimonials
Katie Mason, inclusion and disability co-ordinator at Gorse Hill Studios, commented: "It's fantastic to see young people being given opportunities like this right on their doorstep. Art can be a real confidence-builder, and seeing children's work celebrated publicly shows them that their ideas matter. Projects like Artists of the Future don't just brighten up the area - they help young people feel proud of where they're from and excited about what they can create."
Rob Creber, head of social value and partnerships at Therme UK, added: "Therme Manchester is about wellbeing, community, and connection. The Artists of the Future competition allows us to celebrate young creativity and give local children the chance to inspire us all and leave their mark on one of the region's most exciting developments. It's a meaningful way to connect art, community, and wellbeing."
This initiative promises to turn the developing Therme Manchester site into a dynamic outdoor gallery, celebrating local imagination and talent while fostering a sense of community pride and artistic expression among the youth of Greater Manchester.
