Real Contentment, a 9-month artist exchange programme between Manchester and Nanjing has culminated in a huge range of artwork and writing from poets, illustrations, playwrights, and KS2 young people in both cities.

The project between both UNESCO Cities of Literature centres on the ecological and environmental themes of the work of award-winning Nanjing poet and essayist Han Dong. It has resulted in collaborative meetings, cross-disciplinary conversations and a Real Contentment exhibition of artwork, that took place in June 2025 in Manchester Central Library.

You can find a selection of the work created throughout the project below, featuring artwork by young people in Nanjing and Manchester. With thanks to classes at Heyes Lane Primary School, St Gregory’s, St John Fisher and Thomas More Catholic Primary School and Cavendish Community Primary School.

The above artwork captured on video was created by Liane Scholes, a KS2 young person in Manchester who created this piece to the theme of the ‘Year of the Snake’.