Samba Sounds Make Pele Party Go With A Swing

Pelé: Art, Life, Football opened at the National Football Museum last night (Thursday 18 May) with an open-to-all party as part of Manchester After Hours.

New exhibition Pelé: Art, Life, Football, presented in partnership with the Halcyon Gallery, features artwork and photography inspired by the first truly global football superstar. In addition to the artworks, items from the National Football Museum’s own collection and from a selection of private collectors help piece together the story of the boy from Santos who went on to win three World Cups, become the face of soccer in the USA, and even have a career in acting and music.

Visitors at the launch could make their own contribution to another artwork, adding tissue-paper layers to an overhead-kicking wireframe statue. Drummers and dancers from Global Grooves ensured the evening went with a resounding swing as they pounded out samba rhythms inside and outside the museum, with Manchester Capoeira Academy providing demonstrations and dancing.

XS Manchester broadcast their Football Social show live from the launch, with former United and City players Mickey Thomas and Gary Owens in discussion about the day’s football news, as well as speaking to artists featured in the exhibition Pedro Paricio and Louis Sidoli about creating work inspired by Pelé. National Football Museum Creative Exhibitions Officer Jon Sutton spoke to the panel about the ideas behind the exhibition using objects and artworks to help tell football stories. Download a podcast of the broadcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/s1-e94-live-from-the-national-football-museum-manchester/id1190847157?i=1000385598513&mt=2


Pelé: Art, Life, Football is open every day at the National Football Museum until 4 March 2018.


The launch of Pelé: Art, Life, Football took place as part of Manchester After Hours: A city-wide social featuring events and exhibitions open late at 14 venues around town. If you attended the launch the organisers of Manchester After Hours would love to hear from you, with prizes including a guidebook for our exhibition on offer in exchange for completing a short survey, here: https://www.creativetourist.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Manchester-After-Hours-2017-survey.pdf]]>