Photographer’s Work Joins The Permanent Collection Of Major Regional Art Gallery

There was reason to celebrate for Yorkshire photographer Stuart Linden Rhodes, as his work was unveiled at Manchester Art Gallery, as part of its permanent public collection.

The acquisition was made possible thanks to the generosity of the North’s largest philanthropic art fund, The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund, which last year recognised the artist as one of just eight annual fund winners.

Founded by Thom Hetherington, Executive Chairman of one of the UK’s largest and most significant art fairs, Manchester Art Fair and The Manchester Contemporary, and supported by individuals passionate about the North, the Fund aims to support rising artists and provide them with a platform through which to achieve critical acclaim and greater popularity.

Since its inception in 2017, it has raised over £86,000 and acquired 38 works for Manchester Art Gallery, to be owned and enjoyed by the people of the North in perpetuity.

The work of Rhodes, unveiled today and now available for all to see in the gallery’s permanent collection, captures the lively LGBTQ+ nightlife scene of the 1990s, featuring the exclusive images ‘Manchester Hacienda 1993’, ‘Blackpool Lucy’s Bar 199’, and ‘Colin at FLESH in Manchester 1993’.

Working as a photographer and reporter throughout the 1990s, the 68-year-old from Halifax regularly contributed to All Points North and Gay Times, photographing the most popular clubs among the LGBTQ+ scene. It wasn’t, however, until during the pandemic, he discovered thousands of undeveloped negatives from his youth, which later led him to launching his book, ‘Out and About with Linden: A Queer Archive for the North’, and in which the three winning works feature.

Speaking on his delight at seeing his work included within such a prestigious permanent public collection, Rhodes said: “To be recognised as a recipient of The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund and have my work displayed in Manchester Art Gallery, for all to enjoy, is of great personal and professional significance. As an artist it’s what you want to do, where you want to be. It’s the pinnacle of your practice.”

Founder of The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund, Thom Hetherington
The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund is a uniquely multi-faceted cultural catalyst and has an impact on the Northern arts ecology on so many levels.

It forms a vital part of Manchester Art Gallery’s acquisitions programme and is of great importance for the artists whose works are collected and the galleries who represent them. To see these latest works unveiled today is incredibly rewarding.

Fellow recipients of The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund (2024) and also featured in Manchester Art Gallery’s permanent collection are David Penny and Sophie Dickinson from Manchester, Angelina May Davis from Birmingham, Lewis Graham from Worcester, Dale Christopher Wells from Grimsby and Dapper Bruce Lafitte from New Orleans.

Founded in 2017, The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund purchases work from The Manchester Contemporary Art Fair to support rising artists and provide them with a platform through which to achieve critical acclaim and greater popularity.

The 2024 Manchester Contemporary Art Fund’s Members Include: Christian Anderton, Lisa Ashurst, Pepin Aslett, Jo & Tom Bloxham, Andrew & Savitha Calthorpe, Frank & Cherryl Cohen, Dan Cornwell & Carrie Eyre, Gill Crook, Jon & Rebecca Drape, James & Katie Eden, Matthew Frost, Mark Garner, Emma Holden, Mark & Toni Hawthorn, Thom Hetherington & Sophie Helm, Sam Jones, Nicolas Konig, Jack Livingstone, Alison Loveday, Kate & Leon Martyn, Sarah Moulson, Lucy Noone Blake & David Blake, Howard Ratcliffe & Melissa Ratcliffe, Jeremy & Jane Roberts, Jon Sharples and Martyn Torevell.

The Manchester Contemporary returns to Manchester Central this November 21-23. For further information visit https://www.manchesterartfair.co.uk/the-manchester-contemporary.