This sky is your sky

'This sky is your sky' is a two-part public art installation that intertwines the rich history of the iconic building of 422 Arts at 422 Stockport Road in Manchester with the hopes and dreams of its community. The project was commissioned by 422 Arts with the support of Arts Council England and selected through a public vote by local residents in autumn 2023. The first part of the installation is an illuminated sign on the building's façade bearing the phrase "This sky is your sky". The choice of the artist to create a text-based artwork was not only a poetic declaration, but also a reference to the building's past as one of the first free public libraries in the United Kingdom. The phrase serves as a constant reminder that this building – and by extension, this neighbourhood – belongs to the people. It is a place where everyone is invited to find support, dream freely, and thrive. Inside the building, the Hall's windows feature semi-transparent photographs of the local sky at different times of the day, taken by community members during workshops held in collaboration with photography students and tutors from Manchester Metropolitan University in April 2024. These images capture the literal and metaphorical essence of the installation, as the light filtering through them creates a striking visual experience that connects the building's interior with its surroundings. Balaskas collaborated closely with local residents, 422's team, and volunteers in a 10-month community-led development process to create a work that acknowledges the building's significance as a welcoming and supportive space for local communities in Longsight – one of Manchester's most ethnically diverse inner-city areas. 'This Sky is your sky' now constitutes a distinctive landmark at the heart of Longsight, marking the 422 Stockport Road building as a place where people are encouraged to connect, find support, and look towards the future.