The Lockdown Art Trail Supporting Manchester's Homeless People

Billboards across Manchester are showing a new project to reach those experiencing homelessness and the wider community of Manchester.

By Alex Watson | 30 January 2021

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Invisible Cities have recently announced that not only are the family-friendly guided walking tours back open they have launched a 2nd-year anniversary art project in collaboration with artist John Hewitt.

Invisible (Manchester) is a social enterprise training those affected by homelessness to become walking tour guides of the city centre. 

The work aims to break down negative stigmas that surround homelessness while empowering the guides to give them a platform for their voices and stories to be heard and giving 100% of profits back to those experiencing homelessness.

Bridging the gap between Hewitt’s images and the words of guides, the new anniversary art project will be depicted on billboards across Manchester to reach those experiencing homelessness and the wider community of Manchester.

Hewitt states: “Both the poems and drawings want people to empathise with those who have no roof or no walls to shelter them – homelessness is such a visually shocking presence in our city.”

Alongside this project, Invisible Manchester is also launching a Lockdown Discovery Trail, an initiative to encourage those out on their daily exercise to explore the city in a safe way.

The trail has been designed by the guides and also has fun activities for children to do along the way.

The tours are self-guided throughout the pandemic and you can complete them any time!

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