Library Live

Town Hall Artisans, Trades and Treasures Display
2024-02-26 08:00 - 2024-06-29 17:00 UTC | First Floor Display Cases
Find out more about what’s happening to The Town Hall behind all that scaffolding and building wrap.

This display celebrates progress on our Town Hall’s restoration, showing some of the objects and discoveries uncovered so far, with a focus on some of the trades that are bringing twenty-first century conservation skills to the Victorian objects on display.

So, you can see a freshly restored oil painting of Manchester’s radical Mayor Abel Heywood, and some of the conservation materials used to repair the canvas and removed built-up dust and particulates.

Mosaic tesserae originally laid by Venetian craftsmen in the 1870s are on display with some of the tools of the trade being used by today’s artisans to renew them.

Beautiful stained and clear glass from the Town Hall’s ornate windows is also on show, as are bells and ropes and other gear from the building’s clock tower.

You’ll find these interesting displays on the first floor, to the left of the entrance to the Wolfson Reading Room until Saturday 29 June.
Free – please drop in

Greater Mancunians Exhibition
2024-04-19 08:00 - 2024-06-29 17:00 | First Floor Exhibition Hall
The Manchester College presents Greater Mancunians – a student led, landmark photography project, seven years in the making. The exhibition celebrates people born and bred in Greater Manchester, or those who have made it their home and have in some way shaped the city and its surrounding boroughs, for the greater good. They include musicians, sportsmen and women, entertainers, entrepreneurs, politicians, actors, academics, comedians, artists and community champions – all photographed at a poignant or significant location of their choosing, and very much a celebration of the Mancunian spirit.
Why not take a look at BBC NW Tonight’s excellent review piece of the exhibition on Instagram before of after your visit or the exhibition taster on YouTube
Free – drop in – please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in the venue, or online
