Stone Roses legend John Squire has become the latest celebrity to back Art Battle Manchester, which returns to the city next month.
The event, at the Soup Kitchen on June 5, sees artists compete to make the best painting in 30 minutes, and is a return to the competition after a year’s break.
Squire has donated a signed print of his painting ‘Tracey Emin’ to the competition which takes place this June, the fourth of its kind.
The painting will be auctioned alongside other compositions to raise money for The Homeless Film Festival, which works to confront and present the diverse issues of homelessness.
For the competition, easels are set up in a round and ten artists fight to create the best original artwork in just 30 minutes.
Spectators pick their favourite and the best scoring composition will go through to the final round, with a ballot box vote deciding the ultimate winner.
All creations are then placed into a silent charity auction with proceeds split between the struggling artists and The Homeless Film Festival.
Art Battle III in 2013 saw Private Eye and The Times cartoonist Tony Husband enter the ring to compete with nine other artists in front of 200 people at Oxford Road’s Contact Theatre.
John Macaulay, one of the organizers for Art Battle, said: “After Tony joined in the last Art Battle, we knew we needed something special for our fourth.
“Luckily through working with The Homeless Film Festival, we were able to receive this fine contribution from Squire.
“Art Battle is about art for the people, by the people, so it’s great to showcase lesser-known and well known artists side by side whilst raising money for a great cause.”
Many artists will appear at the event including visual journalist Elizabeth Kwant who creates unique layered designs.
She will compete against such characters as Rob whose array of colourful characters will offer art fans the ultimate grudge match.
Filmmaker Mike Dawson will referee proceedings should the battle get heated with music provided by local DJs.
Macaulay stated that: “At Art Battle you don’t have to have lots of artistic knowledge to have a great night.
“That’s the beauty of it – some of our competitors have been painting for years and others have only recently picked up a paintbrush. It’s the same for the audience members; some have never set foot in an art gallery. “
Doors will open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.
Picture courtesy of Art Battle Manchester, with thanks.
