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museum exhibitions schedule Jul 9, 2025 visibility 20 link 12 artists, 1 gallery

football city, art united transforms manchester's aviva studios into a pitch for creativity

Manchester International Festival 2025 presents "Football City, Art United" at Aviva Studios, a group exhibition co-curated by former footballer Juan Mata, curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Josh Willdigg. The show pairs eleven international footballers with artists across media—including Ryan Gander with Eric Cantona, Keiken with Ella Toone, and Suzanne Lacy with Vivianne Miedema and Ali Riley—to explore intersections of sport and contemporary art. Works range from a holographic tribute to Diego Maradona by Jill Mulleady to an interactive installation by Stefano Boeri Architetti with Sandro Mazzola. The exhibition runs through August 24, 2025.

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Eric Cantona and Ella Toone help meld football and art for Manchester festival

The Manchester International Festival presents "Football City, Art United," an exhibition that pairs 11 footballers with contemporary artists to create collaborative artworks. Highlights include a tunnel installation by artist Paul Pfeiffer and former Dutch footballer Edgar Davids, recreating pre-match tension; a piece by Eric Cantona and artist Ryan Gander exploring fame; and an interactive work by artist collective Keiken with England star Ella Toone. The exhibition is co-curated by Serpentine artistic director Hans Ulrich Obrist, Josh Willdigg, and former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, and takes place at Aviva Studios in Manchester.