"It isn't just Salford celebrating its birthday, its a chance for everyone to celebrate"

An award-winning arts company is launching city-wide celebrations ahead of Salford celebrating its 100^th year as a city in 2026.

The company, Art with Heart has launched Salford Voices – a series of free, pop-up celebration events and creative workshops.

The workshops will run in the community from Saturday 23 until Thursday 28 August, to give families and communities across Salford the opportunity to make crafts and record stories.

Through the stories and crafts, it will allow residents to celebrate their lives and experiences of Salford city life.

From Saturday 23 August to Thursday 28 August, Art with Heart will visit three different locations across Salford – Irlam and Cadishead, Swinton and Ordsall.

The events will aim to speak to different community groups across Salford, while also bringing them together to celebrate the past, present, and future.

As Art With Heart Creative Director Sarah Emmott said: “The project as a whole will see us work with different communities across Salford to get a snapshot to celebrate the differences and the city as whole.

“We want to celebrate the pride and identity, when I talk to people from the city you always hear how proud they are to be Salfordian – they are not from Manchester – they are from Salford.

“They have so much care, and it is greater than anyother place. So, we are using the events to celebrate Salford, and the people most importantly.”

She continued: “The city is what it is because of the people that live in it. We want to capture that as Salford turns 100 – and capture all three aspects the past, present, and what we want for the future.

“And the city is changing quick, some faster than others, we are using this to stand still and look at the changes and also see if these are the changes we will need for the next 100 years.

“Salford has such a strong community feel, and an embedded idea of no one being left-behind, so we want to showcase that.”

And with a focus on celebrating the city of Salford the events will see local Artists Phoebe Foxtrot and Sarah Hardacre set up pop-up sessions allowing participants of all ages to drop in and take part in different creative activities.

The participants will also form part of a Salfordian manifesto and legacy that will be deposited in the Local History Library at Salford Museum and Art Gallery for future Salfordians to enjoy for years to come.

Throughout the free pop up celebration events, residents will also be able to sign the Centenary Celebration Book that will go on display in 2026.

Residents will be able to write messages to future Salfordians and share their favourite things about their local town.

Sarah added: “We want to generate conversation, and put a focus on people and place in the city, whilst also capturing stories.

“We want to hear what makes the area special to you – and it can even be a certain cafe around the city, where it just feels like home to you. We all have those stories that make us think ‘Wow this is Salford, this is my favourite place for some many reasons’, its wonderful.”

And these stories will be heard through the brand-new podcast, Conversation Corner by Reform Radio – who will be able to talk in more depth to people about what it means to be a Salfordian past and present, which will be aired during Salford 2026.

Throughout the event, artists Pheobe and Sarah will also be on hand to create speed portraits and a collage of local Salfordians to show the diverse range of people who all make Salford.

There will also be textile pin badge making, an art tombola and lots of paper crafts activities for little ones including Salford landmark colouring and birthday card making to celebrate their city’s upcoming centenary.

Sarah continued: “It isn’t just Salford celebrating its birthday, its a chance for everyone to celebrate their birthday – as the people are the city.

“The birthday card has been made with paper to last over 100 years, so people will able to read these messages – and people can look back at these moments, a true snapshot.”

She added: “We are such a welcoming city, and we want to create a map of Salford that aren’t streets or roads, but the pockets that make the city special to so many people.”

“Whilst also briniging people together for these celebrations.”

For the exciting activities for the event, residents will be able to attend for free, and no bookings will be necessary as Salford Voices runs from Saturday 23 August to Thursday 28 August.

More information can be found here.