Art for £25: Mystery Tubes vending machine launch at Islington Mill ft. free Cloudwater

‘Mystery Tubes’ are the latest creative intervention in the race to raise funds to fix Islington Mill’s collapsed roof and match-fund an Arts Council award that’s set to renovate the Salford arts hub and transform it into the largest accessible creative venue of its kind in the UK. The Mystery Tubes project has been dreamt up by The Engine House collective, a group of designers, artists and crafts-people based at Islington Mill. In response to their initiative, local and international artists and designers have donated work in the form of screen-prints, risographs, rare poster designs and original hand-drawn one-offs, ranging in size from A2 to A6. The work has been divided into sets of six and placed inside giant cardboard tubes that will be sold from the bespoke Mystery Tubes Vending Machine. Each tube costs £25 and profits go directly to the fundraising campaign. In proper Mill style, the project kicks off with a free launch party this Friday in the Mill’s gallery space where you’ll find free booze from the Cloudwater brewery, music from Islington Mill DJs, and maybe some sunshine in the courtyard. The bespoke Mystery Tubes Vending Machine will be unveiled and the first buyers will get the ball rolling. The machine heads off to Fred Aldous the very next day where it will reside for a month before moving onto a new destination. The Tubes will also be available to buy online from the Fred Aldous website so you can help to protect a Salford institution from just about anywhere (but don’t miss the party…)

Fri 7 Apr, Islington Mill, 1 James Street, Salford M3 5HW. Tel: 0161 278 6404, 6–10pm, FREE, www.facebook.com