• Untold Stories of the Village

    Ground Floor

    In partnership with The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre and Education Trust, Holding Her Space presents 'Untold Stories of the Village' exhibition. Working with photographer Tanya Weekes and artist Tina Ramos Ekongo, the exhibition follows 12 mothers as they share their stories within pregnancy, birth, postpartum as well as highlighting personal and cultural experiences. The […]

  • 10 Years – David Gleave Photography

    First Floor Exhibition Hall

    David Gleave is a Manchester-based image-maker who took up photography through his passion for social history. He chronicles his life and the people and events he has encountered. David sees the present as the past, rescuing moments in time for ever. This exhibition covers the first ten years of his record. Free – just drop […]

  • Out in the World – Exhibition & Closing Event Invite

    First Floor

    The Consulate General of Ireland, Manchester, is delighted to present Out In The World, an exhibition highlighting 12 stories from the vast yet largely untold history of Ireland’s LGBTQ+ diaspora. Across the generations, Irish LGBTQ+ people have emigrated and found opportunities to live and love abroad. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, in partnership with the Irish Department […]

  • Town Hall Artisans, Trades and Treasures Display

    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 […]

  • Coming in from the Cold: Taking Centre Stage Exhibition

    Lower Ground Floor Link

    An exhibition of Global Majority led community projects exploring stories of identity, loss, creativity, joy, our heritage, togetherness, resilience and journeys. Supported by The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust. Free - drop in - please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in […]

  • Greater Mancunians Exhibition

    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, […]

  • Responses

    Foundation Art and Design Students from The Manchester College have brought the Art School’s ethos of research to the heart of Manchester Central Library's iconic Wolfson Reading Room. Each student has developed a personal body of work which has initially been inspired by one of the books from the venue. The work on the boards […]

  • A Northern Life – it’s not all about Margaret

    First Floor Display Cases

    Lorraine Rudyard creates three-dimensional sculptures using recycled materials and vintage finds, encapsulated in story boxes. Her work is very Northern and what you will see are closely observed people and lots of lovely details and references to Lorraine's childhood, i.e. a budgie in a cage named Monty, a bathroom scene with fish wall-paper that are […]

  • Migration Stories North West Exhibition & Preview

    Lwr Ground Floor - Manchester Histories Hub

    A history of migration in and out of North West England told through 100 stories from Roman times to the present day. Explore the region’s long history of migration and ways in which it has shaped and continues to shape our social landscape. Browse the stories of individual women, men and children arriving in and […]

  • Our Town Hall – Portraits of a Workforce

    First Floor Exhibition Hall

    Our latest first-floor exhibition comes courtesy of the team currently working on the Our Town Hall Project to repair, renovate and refurbish Manchester's iconic Town Hall. Extraordinarily little is known about the artisans who built the Town Hall between 1868 and 1877, and certainly no photographs exist. But fast-forward 150 years and today’s skilled workers […]

  • Manchester Theatres Exhibition

    Lower Ground Floor Exhibition Space

    Visit this latest exhibition showcasing items from our unique archive, including playbills, programmes, posters and other memorabilia, dating from the 18th century to the present day and documenting the vibrant history of theatre in Manchester. Free - just drop in. Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our […]