ACTING UP!
2025-08-26 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00 UTC
ACTING UP! tells the story of 40 years of HIV activism in the region through archives, testimonies and films. The exhibition honours the memories of lives lost and continues the fight for a world free of HIV stigma and discrimination.
Visit the exhibition in the ground floor of Central Library from 2 April till 31 December 2025, with a special display in the first floor Reading Room until 31 May 2025.
Acting Up! is organised by George House Trust, a charity which provides support, advice, information and advocacy services to people living with HIV in Greater Manchester and the wider North West.
The exhibition is part of ‘40 years of HIV Activism in Greater Manchester’, a project marking 40 years of George House Trust and the broader regional response to HIV.
Free – please drop in.
Please consider making a donation to support our Library Live programme here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Piccadilly Radio Archive: Nobody Did It Better!
2025-08-26 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00 | Ground Floor
Explore the history of independent radio in Manchester from the birth of Piccadilly Radio in 1974 through to Key 103’s 1990s heyday. This free exhibition tells the story of the DJs, programme makers and listeners through audio, photography and ephemera. Listen to clips from your favourite DJs, find out what it was like to work at the station and learn about how the station’s archive is being cared for and digitised by the Archives+ team. Over 750 Piccadilly Radio shows are now available to listen on Central Library’s Sound + Vision pods.
The project was made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players. It was supported by Manchester Libraries Trust.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Punk: The Art of Rebellion
2025-08-26 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00 | First Floor Display Cases
A new exhibition explores how punk exploded from the streets of 1970s Britain – raw, loud, and unapologetic. Born of crisis, it raged against capitalism, racism, and conformity. Through music, fashion, protest, and art, punk gave voice to the voiceless, challenged gender roles, and still shapes culture today.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

LGBT Foundation’s 50 Years of Queer Hope & Joy Exhibition
2025-08-26 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00 | Wolfson Reading Room and Lower Ground Floor
2025 marks 50 years of queer hope and joy for LGBT Foundation—and the heart of the celebrations begins in the centre of Manchester.
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and proudly sponsored by Barefoot Wine, the 50 Years of Queer Hope & Joy Exhibition at Manchester Central Library invites the public into a powerful, moving, and often joyful journey through the stories that shaped five decades of LGBTQ+ life in Greater Manchester and beyond.
From never-before-seen archive materials and oral histories to community artefacts and campaign posters, the exhibition showcases the resilience, resistance, and creativity of LGBTQ+ people across generations. Whether you’re rediscovering the past or encountering it for the first time, this in-person exhibition places the lived experiences of queer people at the heart of the narrative.
The 50 Years of Queer Hope and Joy Exhibition is open to the public on the Lower Ground Floor at the entrance to City Library, and in the Wolfson Reading Room on the First Floor till 31 December 2025.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

From Page to Stage: 20 Years of Manchester Literature Festival
2025-09-12 08:00 - 2025-12-16 17:00 | Wolfson Reading Room
Feast your eyes on two decades of literary magic with From Page to Stage, a photographic exhibition celebrating Manchester Literature Festival’s 20th anniversary. This intimate collection of photos charts the Festival’s journey from its early days to becoming one of the UK’s most distinctive literary events. Through striking images, we revisit the unforgettable moments and remarkable voices that have shaped the Festival – from award-winning novelists and poets, to leading songwriters and musicians, activists and change-makers.
Featuring brilliant photos of homegrown favourites Lemn Sissay, Jeanette Winterson, Jackie Kay and Simon Armitage alongside much loved cultural figures Johnny Marr, Guy Garvey, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Vivienne Westwood, these images tell a story of inspired ideas, playful conversations and communities brought together. From intimate readings to bold, genre-defying events, the exhibition captures the energy, diversity and creativity that defines Manchester Literature Festival.
Come and join us in celebrating 20 years of bringing literature to life.
Image copyright: Jon Parker Lee.
Free – drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Libraries 175: Celebrating 175 years of the Public Libraries Act 1850
2025-09-22 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00 | First Floor
Pop in and view this fascinating exhibition at Central Library – Libraries 175: Celebrating 175 years of the Public Libraries Act 1850.
175 years ago the Public Libraries Act was passed, which allowed Local Authorities to raise taxes to fund free public libraries. The borough of Manchester was the first borough in the country to open a free public library under the new Public Libraries Act. Manchester Free Library opened on 6th September 1852 at Campfield.
Commenting on the exhibition, Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said:
‘Libraries are more than books and always have been. They play an important role at the heart of our communities, providing huge opportunities for learning and community engagement. The legacy of the Public Libraries Act reminds us that we need to keep investing in these vital spaces and adapting them to make them relevant for the communities they serve. Libraries have always been places of inspiration which is why they deserve our continued support.’
Neil MacInnes, OBE, Head of Service, Libraries, Galleries and Culture said:
‘Manchester has a proud history of investing in its libraries. We work hard to ensure they remain relevant to our communities, adapting and changing to the current needs and we will continue to look after and promote libraries for future generations. They are and will continue to be the heart and soul of learning, development and nourishment and long may they remain so.’
Free – please drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

South Manchester Camera Club Exhibition
2025-10-13 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00 | First Floor
South Manchester Camera Club 2025 Exhibition of Members’ Images.
SMCC welcomes everyone to visit Manchester Central library to view a wide selection of members’ images. Pictures have been captured across a wide section of our members representing their individual skill, technique and style. SMCC is an active, friendly and progressive photography club offering a wide range of speakers, outings and events.
The Club was formed in June 1952 by a group of friends in Didsbury, led by Fred Veal FRPS, FRSA, the Club’s first President. The aim of the Club was to encourage “good friendship through photography” which is now the Club’s motto. The club has a mentoring scheme for Club members by setting up small interest groups. These groups are each led by a couple of experienced leaders and cover Landscape, People, Urban/Street, Macro Photography, Astro Photography and a Basic Skills group.
Each group arranges its own practical outings and review sessions, where images are shared within the groups and constructive and supportive critique is given to help members improve their photography. Members can join as many groups as they want and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
For more information, please contact www.smcc.org.uk
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Our Long Goodbye
2025-11-05 08:00 - 2025-12-19 17:00 | Ground Floor
Our Long Goodbye is an exhibition of photos, films and texts that candidly and sensitively show the everyday love and heartbreak of someone you know living with dementia.
From 5 November until 19 December Central Library hosts this tender exhibition, with the relationship between artist Jenny Harris and her mum at its heart. It is a familiar story; yet one that is rarely spoken about or shown in this way.
Jenny is a drama facilitator and for the last ten years has specialised in creative dementia sessions in care homes, hospitals and community spaces. When Jenny’s own mum started showing signs of dementia, her professional and personal world collided irreversibly, and this exhibition is the outcome of that experience.
As well as the exhibition in the central space on the ground floor, there are two free workshops:
Meet, Chat, Write, Performance Space 1, Friday 14 November, 2.30-4.30pm
This is a gentle writing workshop which offers a chance to respond to creative writing prompts, exploring who and what we love in life. You might have experience of caring for/knowing someone with dementia or you might not. You can expect a range of fun activities and time to yourself to reflect and write in a relaxed setting. Led by Jenny Harris and Lowri Evans.
Creative Ageing Workshop and Artist Talk/ Q & A, Performance Space 1, Wednesday 3 December, 4 -7.30pm (with a break)
This is for anyone interested in older people and the arts. It will be a chance to share ideas about why and how we make this type of work and to find out more about Jenny’s creative process. Followed by a talk and Q and A with the artist and some of the team, as well as a private tour of the exhibition. Led by Jenny Harris and Lowri Evans.
All are welcome to take part in both workshops. To book your place, please email – ourlonggoodbye2025@gmail.com
Presented by Jenny Harris
Visit www.ourlonggoodbye.co.uk for more information
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Architecture for the People - Exhibition
2025-11-07 - 2026-02-28 | First Floor Exhibition Hall
Architecture for the People
Manchester City Architect’s Department, 1902-2003
For 101 years, the City Architect’s Department in the Town Hall served the citizens and met diverse civic needs by designing hundreds of different municipal buildings. They ranged from grand airport terminals to the small public lavatories, from the high profile like the new Free Trade Hall to the hidden away but essential facilities like mortuaries.
For the first time, this exhibition presents a selection of the works delivered under the direction of the seven official City Architects spanning across the twentieth century. In the early days of the Department, Manchester Corporation controlled gas and electricity undertakings, most public transport, schools, police, fire and ambulance services, waste collection, parks and recreation, housing, libraries, crematoriums and more. Such responsibilities meant a need for new buildings and the upkeep of existing facilities. The City Architect’s Department designed and delivered these, changing the face of the city and its suburbs, providing thousands of new homes, and scores of schools, libraries, public baths, amongst a host of civic buildings. Using archival photographs, drawings and ephemera, the exhibition traces the Department and its buildings, showing how architectural commissions mirrored the constitution of the Corporation and the changing fortunes of the city.
Curated by Martin Dodge (University of Manchester) and Richard Brook (Lancaster University)
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Stroboscopic Synergy
2025-11-22 08:00 - 2025-12-13 17:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
Photographer Tracey Welch and five musicians from diverse musical backgrounds come together in an exploration of photography and music. A fascinating collaborative project and exhibition, inspiring new connections, shared experience and experimental composition.
In 2022, photography and music came together in the Stroboscopic Project, an exploration of photographic technique and musical inspiration. Such was its success, the project has continued to evolve and its latest incarnation, Stroboscopic Synergy is about to emerge, in the form of new visuals, cross genre musical composition and a documentary film. Un-Convention Manchester will be the first opportunity to view the latest still images from the project, featuring musicians Leonore Wheatley (vocals and synth), Inder Goldfinger (Tabla), Rich Westley (drums), Charlotte Cartwright (piano and vocals) and James Adrian Brown (guitar). The exhibition will then move to Manchester’s Central Library, where visitors will also get an insight into the stop motion style moving imagery and music.
Stroboscopic Synergy has once again attracted support from Arts Council England. Photographer Tracey Welch, who co-founded the project with drummer Rich Westley (Reverend and the Makers) feels this underlines the creative value of their latest collaboration:
“The artists involved in Stroboscopic Synergy are from really diverse musical backgrounds. The stop motion style of photography enables them to reflect on their performance in a really unique way. This, in
turn, inspires musical experimentation and an exchange of creative ideas. It has been really fascinating to document the process in film”. The collaboration culminated in a studio session where artists came together to develop and deliver a completely new, organic composition. “We’re excited to share the new, stroboscopic images in Manchester, alongside some of the music and some stop-motion style film. Like the musicians, I’m learning from the experience and inspired by the energy and creativity the project has generated.”
Free please drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

The Great Hall Exhibition
2025-11-26 08:00 - 2026-05-30 17:00 | Lower Ground Floor Exhibition Space
Manchester Town Hall closed in January 2018 and work then began on a labour of love: a once-in-a-lifetime chance to repair, protect and update this architectural masterpiece for future generations. The Great Hall is the Town Hall’s centrepiece. It includes a huge variety of conservation and restoration projects and is a great example of the work we’re doing throughout the building. Our approach to the unique elements of this space reflects the level of care needed for the whole project. This exhibition looks at just three details of the Great Hall to tell some of the story of the Our Town Hall project.

Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online
