Graphic Designer Call-Out: Manchester Folk Festival

Are you a graphic designer, artist or illustrator who would like to help shape the future of Manchester Folk and Manchester Folk Festival?

We are commissioning a graphic designer or design team to create a set of core visual assets that will define the look and feel of our 2026 and 2027 festival campaigns, across both digital and physical platforms.

This is an exciting period of development for the festival as we continue to grow, extend our reach, expand our programme and strengthen our partnerships. We want the design to reflect this.

Manchester Folk Festival is an annual celebration of contemporary and traditional folk, roots and acoustic music. Produced by Sound Roots, a registered charity that supports the independent music sector to thrive, the three-day event brings together a diverse range of artists, audiences and communities each spring in the heart of the city. 

Now is the ideal time to get on board and help shape a bold, distinctive visual identity for the future of Manchester Folk.

The commission will involve: 

• Designing the 2026 brochure cover as a creative bridge to a new visual identity

• Developing borders and logo treatments in 2027 with a view toward a full rebrand for both Manchester Folk and Manchester Folk Festival

• Working with and evolving our existing visual elements to build a stronger, more coherent identity for 2027 and beyond

• Creating a visual language that balances folk heritage with modernity, drawing on natural and folkloric motifs and evolving seasonally throughout the year

You can find a full artistic brief at the button below with further details on who we are, our previous designs, our objectives and vision for 2026/2027, deliverables, timelines and what to submit with your proposal.

Please submit your proposal to davidw@soundroots.uk 

Proposal deadline: Friday 19th September 2025