Our cultural countdown to Christmas… Today, pair a trip to see hand-picked emerging artists at International 3 with Christmas gift-buying at beautiful stationery shop Pencil Me In.

There’s something properly intriguing about an exhibition of emerging artists, where you wonder if you’ll spot the next Emin – and Institution | Outstitution at The International 3 on Salford’s Chapel Street is no different. It’s a curated selection of work by recent graduates identified by the gallery’s co-directors Paulette Terry Brien and Laurence Lane. The title of the exhibition refers to the transitory stage the graduates are now at as they move from student to practitioner; from operating within, to outside of, an educational framework. Institution | Outstitution, The International 3, 16-18 December & 8-29 January 2016 (open 12pm-5pm Wed-Fri), free

The next generation of artists and beautiful gifts by British makers

Handily also in Salford, and on Chapel Street, is Pencil Me In, a shop that’s passionate about products by British makers. Inside the elegantly arranged space you can find luxurious stationery (any paper geek knows stationery can be luxurious), gift bundles, screen prints, clipboards, mugs, home wares for the hipster in your life (everyone has / is one) and, of course, pencils. There’s an online shop, too, if you fancy browsing from home. Pencil Me In, Salford (open 12pm-6pm Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat. Extra Christmas opening: 12pm-4pm 20th December, 11am-6pm 21st & 22nd December)