what is x.trax

X.TRAX is an organisation based in Manchester that runs a range of events and projects designed to promote and support the UK street arts and performance sector.

PaBoom (Photo by Paul Herrmann)
Union Dance

40 x 10 - Carnival Consortium
Union Dance

Da Da Dang

The X.TRAX showcase

The largest event we run is the X.TRAX showcase the UK's premier, international street arts showcase that presents to local audiences and an invited list arts promoters, festival directors and arts professionals, an outstanding selection of contemporary outdoor performance. The showcase is designed as an opportunity for artists to show their work to the people who are able to buy it, and an opportunity for promoters to see work they may want to book. You can find information about some of our previous showcases in the Archive section...

X.TRAX works as a development agency

X.TRAX works as a strategic development agency in the outdoor performance and events sector. As part of its core work, it runs special events, networking meetings, training projects, and promotional initiatives to support the work of artists. It works throughout the year to develop partnerships between national and international agencies to raise the profile and quality of outdoor performance in Britain.

X.TRAX also offers project management and consultancy services and is committed to support of new work by culturally diverse artists. The X.TRAX website is an integral, continually developing part of our work that works to compliment our live programme of events.

X.TRAX projects and events

X.TRAX organises and delivers events and projects for a range of clients and partners.

X.TRAX is pleased to be working with the National Association of Street Artists, (NASA) and the Independent Street Arts Network (ISAN) on a number of projects to support the development of the sector including analysis of the training needs of outdoor artists in the UK, and strategies to encourage disabled artists to create outdoor work.

X.TRAX networking services

As well as co-ordinating showcasing events X.TRAX also offers strategic support to artists and promoters, and facilitates networking opportunities throughout the year. To find out about our next networking meeting contact nicole@xtrax.org.uk

X.TRAX offers networking opportunities throughout the year via this website.
Over 400 artists and companies are listed on our Directory of Street Artists and hundreds of promoters are listed on our Directory of Street Arts promoters and professionals. You will need to create a profile to view this section ? its free and it helps you connect with hundreds of promoters and artists in the UK and internationally

History of X.TRAX

The X.TRAX showcase was established in 1997 by Manchester International Arts (MIA) as part of the Streets Ahead festival, Greater Manchester's outdoor festival of arts and cultural animation.

Led by MIA Directors Anne Tucker and Jeremy Shine and inspired by some of the large and well established European showcase festivals, X.TRAX was set up to attract promoters of venues and festivals from the UK and overseas to Manchester to see the best UK (and some international) performance work with a view to booking it. It was a strategic attempt to create a showcase that would enable artists to sell their work to the specialists who could book it, in the context of a popular street festival.

X.TRAX became a separate company in 2001 and began to expand the programme and develop the scope of the showcase and the work of the company. X.TRAX ran two showcases of culturally diverse performance in 2003 and 2005 in association with decibel, a department of Arts Council England. The company works as a street arts development agency running a range of projects and events to support the development of street arts in the UK including and the showcase has gradually grown in size and stature and is now one of the leading performance showcase events in Europe.