The Sculpts commissioned for landmark Manchester-Barcelona cultural project
A local design studio and retailer is playing a central role in an international cultural celebration linking Manchester with Barcelona.
The Sculpts, who have a shop in Stanley Square, have been commissioned to create a new piece of artwork and a range of special edition merchandise for Manchester at La Mercè 2025 – a major cultural programme that will see Manchester take centre stage as Guest City at Barcelona’s biggest annual festival.
Running from 23-28 September 2025, La Mercè attracts millions of visitors and is regarded as one of the greatest outdoor arts festivals in the world. Manchester’s programme will feature parades, performances and creative collaborations, many of which will later return home for Manchester Day 2026.
To mark this unique cultural exchange, The Sculpts’ founder and director Richard Bennett has designed A Crest for Connection, a vibrant new artwork that celebrates the shared spirit of the two cities.
The piece is full of rich symbolism: from Manchester’s iconic worker bee and ship to Barcelona’s fire-breathing dragon and festival fireworks, flanked by both cities’ town halls to represent civic ties. The design has been developed into a collection of merchandise including ceramic tiles, mugs, coasters, posters, prints and pin badges.
Shoppers in Sale will be among the first to get their hands on the collection, which will be sold at The Sculpts’ Stanley Square shop, as well as online and at their Manchester Airport store. A free greetings card will be included with every purchase and a percentage of sales will support XTRAX, the Manchester-based organisation leading the city’s outdoor arts programme in Barcelona.
Richard Bennett said, “Manchester has always been a melting pot of culture, style, music, art and entrepreneurial energy – proudly anti-hierarchical and impossible to pin down. Our bond with Barcelona goes deeper than connection; it’s a shared vision that has shaped everything from investment in the arts to the fabric of the city. Which is why being commissioned by XTRAX to illustrate this cultural and creative exchange has been such a privilege.”
Maggie Clarke, director of XTRAX, added, “This unique design commission with The Sculpts reinforces what Manchester can achieve when we join creative forces across all disciplines, and share with the world what a creative powerhouse we are.”
📍 The Sculpts, 26 Stanley Square, Sale M33 7XZ
