Will Marshall

UPLIFT Making an Exhibition with Will Marshall ( @_texture____ ) 11th Feb 6:30-8:30pm We have added MORE workshops! We're delighted to be joined by Will Marshall (texture) for a behind-the-scenes look at the work that turns an idea into a public exhibition. You'll learn about the process of producing an independent exhibition start to end, from the initial ideas, to selecting artists, to writing press releases and then hanging the work in the space. We will discuss step by step how Will goes about working, and break down many of the elements that go into exhibition making, not all of which is obvious or visible. About the Facilitator Will Marshall is a curator based in Manchester. He previously worked as a curator at Bankley Gallery, an artist-led studios and gallery in South Manchester, and also co-ran the nomadic Scaffold Gallery, producing exhibitions in artist-led spaces across the region. He currently runs texture, an independent gallery founded in 2025 which is defined by a curated programme of exhibitions featuring artists from outside the region as well as local. About UPLIFT UPLIFT is a funded, 10-part workshop series for artists, freelancers, and cultural workers in Greater Manchester. It offers practical support for everyday creative work — funding, pricing, marketing, contracts, exhibitions, and sustainability. Workshops run January–February 2026, delivered in person and online. Some sessions are larger and open; others are smaller and more focused. All are free, with limited places. Accessibility In person workshops will take place in a step-free venue with lift access, wheelchair-accessible and gender-neutral toilets, and seating throughout. Sessions run in mixed formats, with large-print materials, captioned online sessions, and flexible participation where possible. Please contact [email protected] to discuss any accessibility requirements, we are happy to help. Other UPLIFT workshops and booking details are available via PINK’s website (link in bio). UPLIFT is supported by Funding from the UK Government. Design: @2091studio

For anyone that doesn't know, I'm opening my first gallery @_texture____ It launches next Friday 30 May, with three solo shows, from @craigcoulthard @candicedehnavi @errolaart There will be shows every six weeks or so - to get invites to future ones sign up to the mailing list. If you wanna come along to the launch night and haven't had an invite yet, let me know and I'll send you the info.

CritTrips #4 is coming to @bankleygallery with @joeor_ @aeg.000 @chloelouisse Places are limited as the studios aren't massive! Book on via link in bio 🔥

CritTrips #3 @depot_art_studios with @studemood @kaythughes @_alistairwoods Watch out for #4 coming to @bankleygallery next month

CritTrips #3 is 2 weeks away, this time we're visiting @depot_art_studios to meet @studemood @kaythughes and @_alistairwoods Places are limited as we like to keep it small, so book on via the link in my bio if you would like to come 17:30 Sunday 18th August

CritTrips #2 coming up! Sunday 7th July, this time at @rogueartists_studios We'll be visiting @ruthmurrayartist and @sophykingart Book on via link in my bio! CritTrips A crit group ran once a month for curators, artists, and anyone else interested to take part in meaningful dialogue around artist's work, to exchange ideas, and to cultivate networks. Each month we will visit a different studio group, where three artists will open their studio doors to offer an intimate group crit to talk about their work. A session for interesting, informal conversation, where we will get to know the artists and witness the space where their work is made. It's not just about offering feedback; it's about fostering connection, understanding, challenging, and appreciation for the approaches and techniques unique to each artist through critical discourse.

CritTrips - a new crit monthly crit group Session #1 - Paradise Works, Salford 6.00-8.30pm Sunday 26th May Places are limited - book via link in bio A crit group ran once a month for curators, artists, and anyone else interested to take part in meaningful dialogue around artist's work, to exchange ideas, and to cultivate networks. Each month we visit a different studio group, where three artists will open their studio doors to offer an intimate group crit to talk about their work. A session for interesting, informal conversation, to get to know the artists and witness the space where their work is made. Not just about offering feedback; it's about fostering connection, understanding, challenging, and appreciation for the approaches and techniques unique to each artist through critical discourse. Open to anyone interested in joining in! Img#2: @anna.clough_ , The Earth is Warm (2023) Img#3: @fleuryearsley , I've Been Waiting For You All My Life (2024) Img#4: @naomiharwin , Becoming Airborne, a daily attempt to stay grounded (2023)

(long overdue) photos from Bankley Exchanges #2 with @jillmcknight_ @gwenevanswork @laura.spark at @bankleygallery in October 2023 Bankley Exchanges was a series of exhibitions each involving 3 different artists from across the North West, brought together through a process of group studio visits that led to the eventual exhibitions at Bankley Gallery in South Manchester. For this edition, me and @joeor_ co-curated the show, and decided the show needed a dark, atmospheric feel with spotlights. Laura Spark's video piece 'Madder Isle' dominated the space as you entered, blasting out loud and setting the tone for the show. Two of Gwen Evan's beautiful and mysterious paintings were sunk into the gallery walls, their smooth surfaces appearing as if strange windows into other worlds. Gwen also included drawings, sat either side of a wall mural by Jill McKnight, which featured a selection of works on paper. Her dismembered sculptural works dotted the space, and they began to feel as if part of the stories hinted at in both Laura and Gwen's work. Throughout the conversations in the build up to the exhibition, we developed a venn-diagram featuring a lot of the ideas each artist was interested in, or that we found in the work. We did this for each of the Bankley Exchanges shows, and they were presented on the wall as you entered the gallery. These acted as a kind of exhibition text, becoming a way to interact with the works, to explore their interrelations and individualities.

Bankley Exchanges #2: Gwen Evans, Jill McKnight, Laura Spark Opening Night 7-9pm Friday 20th October 2023 Exhibition Continues 12-4pm Saturdays + Sundays until 5th November Bankley Exchanges is a series of exhibitions bringing together artists from studio groups in neighbouring cities, and exploring their work in relation to one another. For the second edition, we present three artists who all explore untold, overlooked, and ambiguous stories from influences including folklore, gender, working-class communities, and contemporary anxieties.

Returning to @bankleygallery to curate Bankley Exchanges #2 Gwen Evans, Jill McKnight, Laura Spark, co-curated with @joeor_ Opens next Friday 20th October @gwenevanswork @jillmcknight_ @laura.spark

After 5 or so years I'm officially leaving @bankleygallery , moved out of my space and stepped down from the gallery team. It's been an absolute blast. A lot of hard work, some top shows and been able to work with loads of amazing people! Leaving the gallery team in the very capable hands of @joeor_ @emilysurnamexox_x @styxthalia make sure you come this Friday to the Open Call show they've been hard at work producing! I'll still be returning to co-curate two more shows in October and November that we've been playing for a while so keep an eye out for those! Img1. My empty space as I said goodbye Img2. Me, @joeor_ and @bellaprobyn in front of the billboard we made for Bankley Open 2021 Img3. The exhibition Stories (2022) Img4. The show to celebrate 30 years of Bankley Studios Img5. Hang Out (2019) a live exhibition I produced where visitors got to choose where artworks should go Img6. Installation shot of a film I made about Bankley for the 30 year exhibition Img7. Me giving a guided tour of @ruthmurrayartist solo exhibition The Green Ray (2021) Img8. Bankley Exchanges (2023) an exhibition curated by me and @joeor_ featuring @karanjitpanesar @naomiharwin @charlottedawsonart Img9. Bankley Open 2021 Img10. Me and @joeor_ staffing the bar on an exhibition opening night

Tied To Everything Else, a solo exhibition by @chrisalton , which I had the pleasure of curating at @paradiseworks_ in April 2023 The show brought together an array of artworks produced by Chris Alton over the last 7 years, which all address the climate crisis in some way. Pictured here you can see various banners, drawings, a large wall-based mural featuring a font Chris designed, posters, and video works. Visit his website to see get a better look at them. The show also featured a mind-map (img. 2) which condensed the extraordinary breadth of ideas Chris explored in all of these works, seeking to illustrate both the interconnected nature of the artworks, and the crossovers between climate crisis, colonialism, language, neoliberal capitalism and more. There's also a brilliant publication with texts written by Chris - get in touch with him to buy a copy! 📸@hcm2023e