Library Live

Our Lives, Our Privacy
2025-04-01 08:00 - 2025-06-30 17:00 UTC | First Floor
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is marking its 40th anniversary with an exhibition of 40 items, showing how privacy and information rights have played a pivotal role at prominent times during the past four decades.
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

Manc Holes and Beyond Exhibition
2025-04-10 08:00 - 2025-06-27 17:00 | First Floor Display Cases
The Manchester Manhole Collective is proud to present Manc Holes and Beyond, the world’s first exhibition celebrating the art and design of manhole & drain covers. These well-trodden yet often overlooked works of art that adorn the streets, roads & pavements of Manchester and beyond.
Amaze at how these heavy industrial designs exemplify art at the heart of cities and towns and witness how they have inspired individuals to photograph, paint, write poems & books, create ceramics, make films and produce interior designs such as fabrics and wallpapers. Our hope is to encourage people to seek out these urban art forms, engage their imaginations, be inspired, and join community of operculists knowing that creative activities help improve mental health and wellbeing.
Whilst creative pursuits help improve mental health and wellbeing, the services of charities in the arena of mental health are indispensable. As such, The Manchester Manhole Collective, encourage individuals to support We are Survivors, the Manchester based charity that offers help male survivors of sexual abuse.
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

Real Contentment Exhibition
2025-06-02 10:00 - 2025-06-17 17:00
Exploring the natural world through literature and between UK and China, this exhibition is a culmination of a nine month project that forges a lasting connection between the UNESCO Cities of Literature and of Lifelong Learning.
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

ACTING UP!
2025-08-26 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00
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

Architecture for the People - Exhibition
2025-11-07 - 2026-03-30 | 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 - 2026-07-31 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

Funny Stuff – Exhibition
2026-01-12 08:00 - 2026-02-28 17:00 | Ground Floor
A creative and humorous response to grief, memories and the stuff we accumulate, hoard and hate to let go, from Manchester comedy legend, Lipservice Theatre Company.
Sue Ryding is one half of legendary comedy duo LipService. In 2022 her comedy partner Maggie Fox died and Sue was left with a shipping container full of stage props, costumes, wigs, hats, shoes, sheep, you name it. This exhibition looks at all the “stuff” we accumulate, hoard and hate to let go.
In this humorous and creative response to grief, Sue struggles to part with a life sized stuffed sheep, a badger onesie, some ruby slippers, a sinking bog, Charlotte Bronte’s knickers and a host of soft toys.
Touring anecdotes are combined with archive footage from LipService shows. We follow the stories of things Sue has already given away, the wicker horse that appeared every night in an improvised panto, the vintage suitcases turned into a sculpture in Stockport, the crazy Chief Exec of the Tall Ships Festival who dresses up as a fish! Not all the items will be making it back up the loft ladder, so the audience is invited to take something home.
Sue is aiming to end up with “the right stuff”, a small selection that captures the essence of LipService Theatre to go into a national theatre collection. Help Sue on her journey of letting go.
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

My Voice Travelling Exhibition
2026-01-19 08:00 - 2026-02-20 17:00 | First Floor
Manchester Central Library and The Fed’s My Voice Project are proud to announce the launch of the My Voice Travelling Exhibition – a powerful public showcase of Holocaust Survivor life stories that have shaped Greater Manchester.

The exhibition forms a key part of the Sanctuary Through Story: Inspiring Unity After Hate initiative and brings to life the extraordinary testimonies of Survivors who rebuilt their lives in Greater Manchester. Their stories – rooted in courage, resilience, gratitude and hope – offer visitors a deeply meaningful educational experience.

The exhibition helps people of all ages explore:

The dangers of prejudice and antisemitism
The importance of empathy, respect and moral responsibility
How diversity strengthens communities
Why rejecting hate is essential for a safe and cohesive Manchester

This launch is especially significant following the Heaton Park Synagogue terrorist attack, offering a space where communities can come together, reflect and reinforce Manchester’s commitment to unity, understanding and compassion.

The Travelling Exhibition will ensure these vital lessons reach people of all ages.
Free – please drop in

Bridge of Sunflowers - Exhibition
2026-01-24 08:00 - 2026-02-26 17:00 | Ground Floor and Reading Room
Drop by the Reading and Ground Floor Oculus area to see this compelling exhibition composed of artwork by young Ukrainian artists from the city of Lviv. This unique collection explores the impacts of the ongoing conflict, as well as the hopes and dreams of those living through it.
Participants were supported by the Sunflower Dreams Project, which showcases the work of Ukrainian children in exhibitions across the European Union, the United Kingdom and North America. The project was created and is supported exclusively by a team of multinational volunteers.
Creative responses from young people in Manchester can be viewed alongside the artwork. These are the outcome of workshops run by creative arts charity Never Such Innocence (NSI), who give children and young people a voice on conflict. The workshops were led by expert practitioners – author Nik Perring and artist Alex Hinge. All of the work on display is responding to NSI’s international competition theme for 2025/26 – ‘In Someone Else’s Shoes’.
This exhibition is a collaboration between the Sunflower Dreams Project, Never Such Innocence and Manchester Libraries.
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

VR Headset Experiences
2026-02-04 11:00 - 2026-02-07 19:00 | Ground Floor
For three weeks in February, Manchester Libraries will be hosting state-of-the-art VR headsets and a feast of FREE digital experiences.
Get ready for brand new immersive experiences with David Attenborough, and Laika – The First Dog In Space. Plus, Wallace & Gromit, The Berlin Blitz, Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Lark Ascending’, meditation experiences, and more.
Manchester Libraries are one of nine library services in England to take part in Digital Spaces, an innovative collaboration to enhance digital engagement and accessibility in libraries. This ambitious new programme is in association with Arts Council England, BFI, awarding National Lottery funding and The Space.
After a resoundingly successful debut last summer, which saw hundreds of Manchester residents dive into virtual realities, Manchester Libraries are delighted to confirm that the headsets will return for a series of FREE public drop-in sessions at Manchester Central Library (4-7 Feb), Abraham Moss Library (9-14 Feb), and Wythenshawe Forum (17-20 Feb).
Across the three weeks, visitors to these libraries will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in an array of awe-inspiring virtual worlds featuring some familiar faces, plus leap into some brand new experiences too. Amongst the thrilling programme of VR offerings, the experiences on offer will include:

**New** Hold the World with Sir David Attenborough: Embark on a ground-breaking interactive VR tour of the Natural History Museum in London with the most iconic of guides. Sir David, who was filmed by more than 100 cameras and digitally recreated as a lifelike SD hologram for the experience, acts as a private guide, imparting his expert knowledge on rare objects from †he museum’s collection, including a blue whale, a stegosaurus, and more. Get hands-on with rare specimens from its world-famous collection, and experience priceless artefacts coming back to life.

Wallace & Gromit in the Grand Getaway: Step into the shoes (and paws) of the legendary Aardman duo as they blast-off on a cracking new adventure that will take you from the familiar sights of West Wallaby Street to the strange surroundings of deep space. An interactive treat – all in glorious VR-O-Rama!

**New** Laika – Witness one of the most poignant true stories in history with Laika, an immersive VR short film from BAFTA and Academy Award-winning director Asif Kapadia. Adapted from Nick Abadzis’ acclaimed graphic novel, Laika will transport you to the dawn of the Space Age as it tells the story of an unwanted stray dog who became Earth’s first space traveller.

The Philharmonia Virtual Orchestra – The Lark Ascending: Experience a mesmerising 360-degree performance of Vaughan Williams’ masterpiece featuring Nicola Benedetti.

Monoliths: Explore England’s northern landscape through the voices and spoken word of three women, in this poignant XR experience by Pilot Theatre and One to One Development Trust.

Berlin Blitz: 80 years on from VE Day, travel back in time to experience this especially tense period of WWII history from a seat in the cockpit of a Lancaster Bomber. Hold tight.

Phase Space: Escape from the hustle and bustle of life, with this calming, restorative and meditative experience. Feel calmer and more in control in just 7 minutes.

The VR headset experiences arrive as part of Manchester Libraries recently announced participation in the new Libraries Digital Network, a ground-breaking collaboration with eight other library services, including: Bradford, Cambridgeshire, Coventry, Leeds, Newham, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, and Sunderland. This innovative network is the first of its kind, uniquely combining local relevance with national impact. It aims to empower our local community and is supported by comprehensive training for our colleagues, who will guide our networks on exciting digital journeys.
The Digital Spaces VR headsets will be freely available to the public to experience in a series of open drop-in sessions throughout February.
Come along to a session at these dates and times as follows:
Wednesday 4 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [10.00 – 12.00]

Drop-In Session [13.00 – 15.00]

Drop-In Session [16.00 – 18.00]

Thursday 5 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [10.00 – 12.00]

Drop-In Session [13.00 – 15.00]

Drop-In Session [16.00 – 18.00]

Friday 6 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [9.00 – 11.00]

Drop-In Session [12.00 – 14.00]

Drop-In Session [15.00 – 16.45]

Saturday 7 Feb – Drop-In Sessions @ Central Library

Drop-In Session [10.00 – 12.00]

Drop-In Session [14.00 – 16.00]

Monday 9 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Tuesday 10 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Wednesday 11 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Friday 13 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Session [Afternoon] – Ask staff for details

Saturday 14 Feb – Sessions @ Abraham Moss Library

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Tuesday 17 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Wednesday 18 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Thursday 19 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

Friday 20 Feb – Sessions at Wythenshawe Forum Library Creative Space

Drop-In Sessions – Ask staff for details

All sessions are 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

Building China: People’s Infrastructure
2026-03-01 08:00 - 2026-05-30 17:00 | Lower Ground Floor Link
“Building China: People’s Infrastructure” invites audiences to encounter China from the kitchen table and the street corner rather than the skyline. Bringing together photographs and prints from the 1950s to the 1980s with field images from the early 2000s and contemporary works, the exhibition traces urban change through the ordinary spaces where life unfolds.
Across work unit housing, factory yards, courtyards, pavements, parks and markets, the exhibition foregrounds infrastructure as lived experience. Socialist era photographs reveal campaigns that sought to educate as they built, capturing moments of collective labour and care. Reform era scenes register development in motion, with unfinished structures and provisional arrangements shaping everyday routines. Contemporary contributions attend to elevated roads, pavements and public spaces as shared infrastructures, animated through drawing, film and photography that remain attentive to movement and sound.
“Building China: People’s Infrastructure” offers a portrait of continuous infrastructuring, understood as the ongoing adaptation of spaces, rules and materials to meet everyday needs. By bringing the intimacy of routine practices into focus, the exhibition reframes one of the world’s most discussed urban transformations through the ordinary scenes that sustain it.
This exhibition is supported by The Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester. CI is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026 and this exhibition forms part of our celebrations. Exhibition launch details will be announced shortly.
Lead curator: Prof Deljana Iossifova (Architecture & Urban Studies), University of Manchester
With contributions from Deljana Iossifova, Xin Li, Qiwei Peng, Ziqiu Ren, Rujin Wang and photographs by the late David Lea.
More information: Building China: People’s Infrastructure | Events at The University of Manchester
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

Heritage Meets Heritage - Echoes of Sahyadri
2026-03-02 08:00 - 2026-05-30 17:00 | First Floor
Exhibition featuring 12 UNESCO Heritage Forts.
Organised by Leena Desshmukh, Founder of Sahyadri CIC UK, in collaboration with Sahyadri Pratishtan India.
This exhibition honours the extraordinary hill forts of the Sahyadri mountain range, recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their outstanding universal value. These formidable structures stand as enduring symbols of architectural innovation, strategic brilliance and cultural legacy.
Carved into rugged landscapes and rising majestically above valleys and coastlines, the forts represent centuries of vision, resilience and statecraft. Their sophisticated defence systems, water management engineering and harmonious integration with natural terrain reflect a remarkable synthesis of art, science and military intelligence.
Through meticulously crafted fort models, curated historical narratives and immersive visual presentation, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to engage with this monumental chapter of global heritage. Visitors are invited to experience the spirit, strength and enduring legacy of the Sahyadri forts in an educational and culturally enriching environment.
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 Long Road South to find True North
2026-03-09 08:00 - 2026-05-29 17:00 | Archives+ Ground Floor
Take a poetry journey from loss to hope, from home to infinity, to find your own personal True North.
80 people from Cornerstone Day Centre in Hulme, many affected by homelessness and other issues, have made poetic paths for all to follow, opening eyes to a wider world.
These restless poems leap from the page into 3-dimensions. Intriguing, bright and curious poetic paper sculptures, filled with intense life experience. Navigation tools for the journey – “wish frogs”, folded globes, infinity poems. And songs for the journey…
Echoing the footsteps of the footloose Japanese haiku poet Basho, our word-magicians lead us onward to help each of us find our own inner Northstar.
This year-long project at Caritas Cornerstone Day Centre was co-created by the makers with poet Philip Davenport, artists Christine Johnson and Darren Marsh.
Funded by Arts Council England
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

Exiles and Descendants
2026-03-09 08:00 - 2026-06-30 17:00 | Archives+ Ground Floor
This exhibition from Polonia Northern England uncovers the remarkable history of a Polish community (Polonia) deported and displaced during WWII. Through photographs, letters, and personal documents, it showcases experiences of forced deportation, war crimes, refuge, and significant contributions to Britain’s freedom. The exhibition also explores post-war resettlement in exile in Northern England and community efforts to maintain cultural identity whilst Poland was under communist rule. PNE safeguards and shares this history to strengthen collective memory and fill the gaps in historical records.
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

Voices of the City
2026-04-08 08:00 - 2026-04-30 17:00 | Ground Floor (Oculus Area)
Voices of the City exhibition is a powerful and welcoming photography exhibition of a creative project which celebrated identity, belonging and community.
Created by Community Arts North West, the project brought together a group of diverse young people and adults to tell their stories by working with drama facilitator and physical theatre director, Julia Wilson of SmallActs theatre company, to explore character, costume and movement. Their journey was captured in striking photographs by Shirlaine Forrest (whose work includes photographing Taylor Swift, Stormzy and Billie Eilish).
Experience powerful photos, discover real stories, and enjoy the chance to see the city (and its young people) in a new way. The result is a unique, multi-generational exhibition full of energy, imagination and real voices from our city. You might recognise a face or even a bit of yourself.
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
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Plus, free launch event. Drop in to the Oculus Space on the ground floor on Wednesday 8 April, 1-3.30pm, for an informal launch with live music.
Stay for a relaxed Q&A (2 -3.30pm) in the Henry Watson Music Library on the first floor with young people, creative producer Michelle Udogu, and photographer Shirlaine Forrest.
Voices of the City is funded by BBC Children in Need and The Granada Foundation.
Photograph: Shirlaine Forrest

Cultural Masterplanning - How Manchester changed the way we make cities
2026-04-15 08:00 - 2026-09-26 17:00
A major new exhibition at Manchester Central Library explores the process of Cultural Masterplanning and how creative interventions in urban spaces undergoing redevelopment can reconnect fragmented places with their past and allow us to look to a dynamic shared future. These playful interactions change how transformation feels and help us involved and that change is happening with us, not to us.
Showcased across the Exhibition Hall and Wolfson Reading Room at Central Library from April to September 2026 are glimpses of buried histories of lives and industry which sparked curiosity and conversation about places in transition such as Ancoats, Central Library itself and Mayfield Depot, as well as examples from Glasgow and London.
Citizen Manchester takes a deep dive into the extraordinary transformation of Central Library and Town Hall Extension, Manchester’s historic twin treasures whose restoration began in 2014 and continues to lead the city’s rebirth as a global icon blending heritage and innovation. Citizen Manchester records and celebrates the creation of the first ever Modern City. From April to August 2026 Central Library’s Exhibition Hall and First Floor corridors of Central Library will feature photographs and artefacts from the transformation, allowing viewers a close-up look at the rich patina and textures captured within the walls of these beloved spaces.
The Lost World of Mayfield has returned to the First Floor Reading Room of Central Library, showcasing archival treasures from Mayfield, the area now transformed by a thriving green space including a brand-new public park and the transformed Mayfield Depot. This area behind Manchester’s Piccadilly Station was formerly a wasteland whose industrial heritage was largely forgotten so much that few locals knew its original name. Currently on show are artefacts and images from the Mayfield Pattern Book, Graham’s Dye Recipe Book and the Mayfield Grit Walk story cards which uncover the history of Thomas Hoyle and Sons Calico Printing Works and the dwellings and bathhouse which served the residents and workers following its demise.
The Cultural Masterplanning exhibition has been curated by Sam Hallas and produced by Dan Dubowitz of FLEX Manchester School of Architecture in collaboration with Manchester City Council, Archives+, and Manchester Art Gallery. It can be viewed in the Exhibition Hall at Central Library until the end of June 2026 and continues on the First Floor and Reading Room with Citizen Manchester, Grit Walks and the Lost World of Mayfield on display until the end of September 2026.
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

Manchester Bomb 1996: Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Manchester IRA explosion
2026-06-04 08:00 - 2026-09-26 17:00 | Archives+ Ground Floor
Manchester Archives+ presents archive material, photographs and film footage from the Archives+ collections to remember the day when time stood still for the city. This exhibition captures Manchester’s drive to recover and rebuild, aided by the extraordinary wave of support from people, communities and institutions across the region and the world.
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
