Greater Manchester Chamber to Host Work of Renowned Artist

1 year ago

‘A glorious take-over of a very (Greater) Mancunian space melding Commerce and Creativity’ - Thom Hetherington, founder and director of Manchester Art Fair

Greater Manchester Chamber is to host an exhibition to launch a unique partnership with Ghislaine Howard, who has an international reputation as an artist whose powerful paintings chart and interpret our shared human experience.

The exhibition opening will be held in the Chamber’s offices at Elliot House on 11th May and is open to both Chamber members and the public. On display will be a specially curated selection of Ghislaine’s work, which she has co-curated with her husband Michael Howard and the directors of Haigh Hall, acclaimed filmmakers and artists, Al and Al. Ghislaine’s paintings and drawings will be on show throughout the building, including the first of a changing group of works ‘10 Boroughs/10 Paintings’.

Ghislaine was born in Eccles and studied Fine Art at Newcastle University. She lived in London and Paris before moving back to her native North-West with her art historian husband and making their home in Glossop.

Speaking about her work with the Chamber, Ghislaine said: “My relationship with the Chamber began through a series of works I made called ‘Embracing Manchester’ in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack. After they were exhibited at St Ann’s Church, the Chamber became a home for them.

“In the past year since the pandemic, there’s been a drive to move forward, to use my work to reach out into the city, to communicate a sense of humanity and bring people into the building.

“The exhibition at Elliot House is very much in tune with my work in general. It’s about human lives, right from birth through to old age. It’s about people, it’s about gesture, it’s about emotion.”

Clive Memmott OBE, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Chamber, said: “I’m delighted that we’re able to share Ghislaine’s work with local businesses and the wider community. She creates powerful and passionate paintings, which cover every aspect of human experience.

“Greater Manchester’s business community has a proud history of supporting art exhibitions and founding public art galleries.

"By hosting the Ghislaine Howard Collection, we are continuing that tradition and showing how the worlds of business and culture can connect and learn from each other.”

The exhibition opening, which takes place between 6pm - 8pm on 11th May, is free to attend but places must be booked in advance at Eventbriteusing the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ghislaine-howard-collection-at-elliot-house-tickets-316732815377.

Drinks and canapés will be served and after the opening guests are welcome to continue the evening at neighbouring bar and restaurant Gusto.

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Press contact:

Simon Cronin, Communications Manager: simon.cronin@gmchamber.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Ghislaine is known as painter of powerful and expressive means, whose work charts and interprets our shared experience. She was named Woman of the Year in 2008 for her contribution to art and society. She first came to public attention with her ground-breaking exhibition concerning pregnancy and birth, the first of its kind, at Manchester City Art Gallery. Entitled 'A Shared Experience', the exhibition attracted much critical acclaim.

Link to the Eventbrite details:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ghislaine-howard-collection-at-elliot-house-tickets-316732815377

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About Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK, providing business support to approximately 4,500 members who collectively employ 446,000 people, around one-third of Greater Manchester’s workforce. Recognised as a leader in its field, Greater Manchester Chamber’s reputation in government circles has grown locally and nationally. At the heart of the area of greatest economic intensity outside London and the South East, the Chamber is the primary body for business support, policy, representation and networking. The Chamber is an independent, not-for-profit private company and its aim is to support businesses and help create the best climate for the region to prosper. This is achieved by ensuring that those taking decisions on key issues such as transport, taxation and business regulation hear the voice of our members. The representation of our members’ views is central to the work of the policy team at the Chamber; these views are gathered in a range of ways including our local councils, policy committees, sector councils, the main Chamber council, focus groups, meetings with politicians and consultations. The Chamber also offers a range of networking forums across Greater Manchester, free as part of membership, plus a variety of other events and services designed to benefit specific sectors or individuals and help businesses to grow.

Press Contacts

GMCC Comms Team

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