Capital&Centric hunt for muralist to deliver Manchester’s latest street art masterpiece

A historic Manchester mill is being offered up as a massive new canvas to add to the city’s flourishing street art scene.

Capital&Centric are on the hunt for a talented muralist to deliver a striking, permanent piece at Neptune Mill in the city’s Piccadilly East neighbourhood.

Artists are encouraged to submit an interest in the paid commission for the five-story brick canvas – with the developers looking for a bold, impactful design that will turn the heads of Manchester’s passionate art seekers and become fixture in the city.

The social impact developers are looking for a unique design that will take over the entire west side wall of the mill, as well as the tower rising above it and a smaller spot, to be painted before the doors open to occupiers this summer.

The 19th century building on Chapeltown Street is currently undergoing the classic Capital&Centric treatment. Work is underway to restore and repurpose the mill into  22,000 sq. ft of creative workspaces. The new offices will retain the building’s innate original charm and features (think exposed brick, timber beams, huge windows and cast iron columns) and match with bold contemporary elements for the businesses of today – with one floor becoming Capital&Centric’s new HQ.

It comes as the team release a new artist’s impression of a lush new courtyard, planned to provide some much-needed greenery to the street and outdoor seating for a ground floor coffee shop.

Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said:

“Manchester’s street art scene is thriving, bringing colour and creativity to the city’s streets. Increasingly, some of the pieces are connected to brands and only available for a short spell for people to marvel at. We want to hand over Neptune Mill to a talented artist to paint the piece they’ve always wanted to deliver, creating a permanent fixture on Manchester’s scene.

“The piece will mark the start of the building’s next chapter as a five-storey hub for businesses that want a creative, beautiful base. The on-site coffee shop and new courtyard will be really cool spaces where people can spend time and meet like-minded neighbouring businesses. Work on site’s progressing well and the first occupiers will be able to move in and call Neptune home this summer.”

The hunt for an artist looks to build on the successful Mancunian Art Spray in 2019, which saw the neighbouring Baird Street Car Park turn into an incredible street art gallery for charitable causes.

Those wanting to express and interest in the paid-for street art commission, new workspaces available this summer, and the opportunity to operate the coffee shop can find out more here.