Museum of Science and Industry

Some of the top contenders for the position of Manchester's Mona Lisa paid a special visit to the Da Vinci - The Genius exhibition at MOSI as the Museum announced that the exhibition run has been extended, and launched a vote for the best Manchester Mona Lisa.

The exhibition was due to close on 13 June 2010 but due to highly positive feedback from visitors MOSI management decided to extend its run until 12 September 2010.

To celebrate the extension MOSI has launched a display of the shortlisted candidates for the Manchester Mona Lisa photo competition, which ran during May. People with the 'Mona Lisa touch' from throughout Greater Manchester sent in their pictures to be part of a gallery of images for the Da Vinci exhibition, which are now on a digital display. You can cast your online vote for the winner at http://davincithegenius.ning.com/page/vote-for-manchester-mona

The competition aimed to attract anyone who has the qualities (not necessarily the features) of Leonardo da Vinci's classic painting, the Mona Lisa, and could apply to women, men or even pets! Candidates had to have to have an air of mystery, calm and an enigmatic smile.

MOSI director Tony Hill said: "Our feedback shows visitors really enjoyed the Da Vinci - The Genius exhibition, so we have decided to extend it over the summer. We are searching for the modern-day Manchester equivalent of the Mona Lisa and we considered all entries for our gallery - however amusing! It's great that people really entered into the spirit of the competition - we've had entries from women, men, children and even dogs! Please do look at the entries online and cast your vote!"

The Da Vinci - The Genius exhibition is the largest of its kind in Europe and includes a dedicated section on the Mona Lisa, which features the UK premiere of the work of Pascal Cotte. Cotte used a special hi-resolution camera to reveal the original colours and details of the Mona Lisa - such as her missing eyebrows, a fur lined coat on her lap and brighter blues and greens of the background.

Last year, actress Michelle Keegan (who plays Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street), had a full makeover as the Mona Lisa, to celebrate the start of the Manchester-based exhibition.

The exhibition also includes 200 machine inventions such as a glider, parachute and military tank, which have been created from Da Vinci's designs and notes and demonstrate the full range of his talents. Italian artisans worked with Da Vinci's drawings, deciphering his unusual shorthand (written from right to left) and Florentine dialect, to bring his work to life for the first time using the techniques and materials of 15th century Italy.

Please vote for the Manchester Mona Lisa at http://davincithegenius.ning.com/page/vote-for-manchester-mona

Da Vinci - The Genius has been extended until 12 September 2010 at MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry), Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester. Ticket prices are £7.50 for adults, £5 for concessions or £20 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children). Tickets are available at the MOSI Box Office or www.ticketmaster.co.uk, call 0844 847 2261 (24 hours). Group bookings: 0844 847 2354. Tickets are non-refundable. For more information look up www.mosi.org.uk or www.davincithegenius.com

For media information, interviews with candidates or images please call Sarah Roe on 0161 606 0176 m: 07847 372647.

Notes to editors

About Grande Exhibitions: Creators and promoters of the Exhibition who have researched, sourced and interpreted much of what is contained in the exhibition. Based in Rome Italy and Melbourne Australia, Grande Exhibitions is dedicated to delivering quality blockbuster exhibitions of mass appeal that entertain and educate

About The Anthropos Foundation: From Il Genio de Leonardo Da Vinci Museo in Rome, talented and gifted Artisans have made the machines inventions and many items that you see on display at the exhibitions. They have spent more than 10 years bringing to life over 120 of Leonardo's concepts and designs and use in the main techniques and materials available in 15th Century Italy

The Radisson Edwardian, Manchester is the official sponsor of the exhibition

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