Castlefield Gallery and Spinningfields are raising money to support people who are or have been homeless in Greater Manchester

Posted on 1 November 2018

Castlefield Gallery and Spinningfields are raising money to enable someone who has been homeless to gain employment with Street Support, contributing to the independent charity’s work across Greater Manchester.

Street Support works with over 50 homelessness organisations in Manchester, 250 homelessness organisations in Greater Manchester, and are working with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s office on A Bed Every Night that help the 10 GM Boroughs work together during the coming winter months through a ground-breaking scheme.

HOST, a series of nine sculptures by artist Hilary Jack and the second Spinningfields Art Commission launched in 2016, was made to raise awareness of the activities of the Manchester Homelessness Charter. Following the sculptures display in and around the Spinningfields estate, Castlefield Gallery in collaboration with Spinningfields (Allied London), raised just over £10,000 by calling for donations to the Manchester Homelessness Charter in exchange for donors receiving one of the sculptures into their homes or business premises.

As Greater Manchester prepares for the International Arts and Homelessness Summit & Festival (12 – 18 November 2018), to mark the occasion Spinningfields and Castlefield Gallery are making the remaining HOST sculptures available to those interested in permanently housing the works in exchange for donations to Street Support.  

One of the HOST works has also been gifted to Manchester Art Gallery’s collection, and this will go on long-term display in Manchester Art Gallery’s atrium in time for the festival from the 12 November 2018.

The funds raised by Castlefield Gallery and Spinningfields in 2016/17, donated via the Manchester Homelessness Charter, enabled Street Support to employ an individual with lived experience of homelessness.

Two people employed out of five on the Street Support team have lived experience of homelessness. Please help us to ensure Street Support can continue to engage those who have been homeless in the city, ensuring their voice is at the heart of Street Support’s work, by giving people a vital step back into employment and a stable life away from the streets.

The sculptures of varying sizes have values starting from £2,500. Anyone interested in finding out more about the remaining sculptures and pledging a donation should contact Jennifer Dean, Castlefield Gallery Communications & Audience Development Coordinator, and Individual Giving Manager, at Castlefield Gallery on jennifer@castlefieldgallery.co.uk / 0161 832 8034

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