The Pokémon Company International has announced a partnership with The Trafford Centre today, in the form of an art trail called Pokémon: Art Through the Ages, which will be exhibited in the Manchester shopping centre. A special, treasure hunt-style event will take place this autumn throughout the Trafford Centre, where visitors will be able to discover hidden art of the 151 Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region.
The Pokémon art, available to visit between October 27 and November 13, will showcase a wide variety of artistic techniques and styles from across the ages, including cave paintings, stained glass and oil paintings for families and fans of all ages to enjoy free of charge. Visitors who discover 10 hidden oil paintings and unscramble the secret code can visit GAME within Trafford Centre to collect a double-sided, limited-edition poster at no cost,-although will be subject to availability.
Additional activities will be offered within a booklet visitors can complete at their own leisure, and even more goodies will be up for grabs, including a certificate for finding all 151 Kanto Pokémon! Fans will also be able to hone their creative skills at the Orient Main Stage area where there will be special art workshops designed especially for children aged six to eleven years old.
Guests who want to take a break from art hunting can meet Pikachu at scheduled times or even watch Pokémon movies and episodes of the Pokémon animated series at the Orient Main Stage area. Plus, following the mysterious sightings from 21 September of Pikachu boarding a bus, Pikachu will make its way to Trafford Centre on the new Pokémon Bus to celebrate the event’s opening day on October 17 for one day only.
Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokémon Company International, said: “We are thrilled to announce such a creative partnership with Trafford Centre. Exploration is an element which is key to Pokémon, and we can’t wait for kids and families to embark on their own journey to complete the Kanto Pokédex and see Pokémon depicted in such unique art styles.”
Bruce Gardner, Brand Experience Director at Trafford Centre, said: “When initially sourcing a suitable location for this fantastic event, the Pokémon team were inspired by the unique architecture that is iconic of Trafford Centre. We have worked collaboratively with Pokémon, our Partners such as Transport for Greater Manchester, Clear Channel and our Retailers to ensure Pokémon fans can escape the ordinary and experience a unique, memorable and fun-filled day out.”