Music for the Senses: A City-Wide Celebration of Sound and Art
Manchester has long been at the heart of music culture, and this summer, the city will come alive with an extraordinary fusion of music and art. Music for the Senses, a brand-new multi-sensory art trail, is set to take over the city from 7 July – 31 August 2025, offering residents and visitors alike the chance to immerse themselves in an unparalleled creative experience.
Organised by Wild in Art in collaboration with Manchester City Council, Music for the Senses will weave together a rich tapestry of installations, exhibitions, and interactive experiences. At the heart of this celebration is a guitar amnesty, a city-wide call for Manchester’s music lovers to donate their instruments, ensuring that old, broken, or cherished guitars can find new life as part of a unique, large-scale art event.
Music for the Senses: Lazerian’s Interactive Installation on Guitar Street
As part of this grand initiative, Lazerian will be creating an ambitious interactive installation to be displayed on ‘Guitar Street.’ Led by artist and designer Liam Hopkins, Lazerian will breathe new life into over 100 broken guitars, repurposing them into an immersive, large-scale sculptural installation that captures the spirit and legacy of Manchester’s music scene. This art arrangement will take pride of place on a yet-to-be-revealed street in Manchester’s city centre, serving as a must-visit landmark within the Music for the Senses trail.
This bold and innovative project will allow visitors to not only admire the transformed instruments but also engage with the installation in an interactive way, ensuring that music and creativity remain at the core of the experience. By repurposing these guitars, Lazerian will craft a dynamic piece of public art that reflects the city’s deep-rooted connection to music and innovation.
The Art Installation
Guitar Street is not just an art installation; it’s a vibrant celebration of Manchester’s music scene. This unique and interactive exhibit, repurposes over 100 broken guitars into a stunning display of creativity and innovation. Nestled in the heart of Manchester city centre, Guitar Street is a cornerstone of the Music for the Senses art trail, a project that underscores Manchester’s status as a musical city.
This ambitious installation is a collaborative effort between global art producer Wild in Art and Manchester City Council. Their shared vision is to support grassroots music projects and venues across Greater Manchester, ensuring that the city’s rich musical heritage continues to thrive. By transforming discarded instruments into public art, Guitar Street not only celebrates the past but also inspires future generations of musicians and artists.
Concept and Inspiration
The concept behind Guitar Street is deeply rooted in Manchester’s rich musical history and its dynamic music scene. Liam Hopkins, the creative force behind the installation, will draw inspiration from the city’s iconic music venues and the legendary musicians who have graced their stages. The choice to use broken guitars as a medium is a tribute to Manchester’s DIY ethos and the resourcefulness that characterises its music community.
Each guitar in the installation tells its own story, reflecting the diverse and storied past of Manchester’s musical landscape. From the raw energy of punk to the soulful melodies of indie rock, Guitar Street encapsulates the spirit of a city that has always been at the forefront of musical innovation. This installation is not just a visual feast but a heartfelt homage to the city’s enduring love affair with music.
A City-Wide Artistic Movement by Manchester City Council
Beyond Guitar Street, 50+ additional guitars will be creatively transformed by a selection of visual artists, including Hammo and Danielle Rhoda. These hand-painted and adorned guitars will be showcased in shop windows and cultural venues across the city, each one celebrating Manchester’s vibrant musical history. These installations contribute to the city-wide art trail called Music for the Senses, which aims to celebrate Manchester’s music scene through various interactive installations, particularly focusing on contributions of guitars from the local community.
Manchester punks Loose Articles are also joining the project (via Hammo’s artwork), bringing their raw energy and bold artistic spirit to the installations. Hammo’s artwork will highlight their journey as an emerging powerhouse in the UK’s music scene, having recently shared the stage with legends like New Order, Foo Fighters, The Lovely Eggs, and Gang of Four.
Guitar Amnesty: How to Get Involved
Manchester’s music lovers are invited to contribute to this creative movement by donating their guitars, whether they are new, old, broken, or beloved relics. These donations will play a key role in shaping the Music for the Senses experience, celebrating the city’s rich musical history. The contributions will be used either as part of an art installation or as a musical lifeline for up-and-coming grassroots artists.
Instruments in good condition or of significant value will be assessed by Rigby Music MCR and donated to a music charity, ensuring they continue to be played by the next generation of artists.
Those interested in donating guitars can drop them off at the following Manchester libraries and music venues:
Libraries:
- Central Library (St Peter’s Square)
- Forum Library Windenshawe
- Chorlton Library
- Burnage Library, Activity and Information Hub
- Didsbury Library
- Longsight Library and Learning Centre
- Gorton Library
- Newton Heath Library
- Avenue Library and Learning Centre (Blackley)
- North City Library (Harpurhey)
Music Shops and Businesses: Johnny Roadhouse Music
- Johnny Roadhouse Music (Oxford Road)
- Forsyth’s Music Shop (Deansgate, Manchester)
- PMT (Play Music Today) (Regent’s Road, Salford)
- Rigby Music MCR: The Guitar and Bass Shop (Heaton Lane, Stockport)
All donors will be credited as part of the trailallowing them to seek out their contributions and witness their transformation into public artworks enjoyed by thousands.
Sponsorship and Charity Auction with Charity Partner Forever Manchester
Businesses across Manchester are encouraged to sponsor artworks and installations, supporting the city’s creative and musical landscape. Once the trail concludes, the custom-designed guitars will be auctioned, with proceeds going to grassroots music projects and venues across Greater Manchester. This initiative will be managed by charity partner Forever Manchester, ensuring that funds reach those who need them most within the local music scene.
A Celebration to Celebrate Manchester’s Music Scene, Art, and Community
Manchester’s Deputy Leader Councillor Garry Bridges emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating:
“Manchester is already known the world over as a city of music and with 1.3 million music tourists set to visit us this summer, we want to harness the moment and celebrate the massive contribution that music makes to the city.”
By blending music, art, and community engagement, Music for the Senses is set to be a defining moment in Manchester’s cultural calendar, creating a lasting legacy of creativity and collaboration.
Join the Movement
Music lovers, artists, and businesses are all invited to be part of this extraordinary journey. Whether you’re donating a guitar, visiting the installations, or sponsoring an artwork, your contribution will help shape a city-wide tribute to the power of music and art.
For more details on how to get involved, donate an instrument, or explore sponsorship opportunities, visit musicforthesenses.co.uk or contact hello@musicforthesenses.co.uk.
