Migration, Identity and History - Talk
2024-10-16 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | Lwr Ground Floor – Manchester Histories Hub
To what extent through history has British identity been influenced by migration? An event with speakers, short film screening and discussion.
Speakers from the Migration Stories North West project will explore the nature of migrant identity throughout British history and the intersections between the history of migration and issues at the forefront of Black history. There will be an opportunity for open discussion about various perspectives, including questions such as:
· Why are stories of individuals so important for retelling and understanding history?
· What is the social and cultural potential for understanding our history through the lens of migration?
· How did colonialism affect migration?
· Are the migratory roots of various historical figures often overlooked or kept hidden?
· What do the stories from the project tell us about migration and human rights?
Contributing speakers for Migration, Identity and History
Kooj Chuhan of Crossing Footprints will be chairing the Migration, Identity and History event, and there will be a number of contributing speakers including:
Louise Wong is a community development worker at Wai Yin Society and has been serving the Chinese community for decades. She presents the “Dragons Voice” program on Radio AllFM for the Chinese community. Louise co-produced “Crossing the Borders” Chinese oral history project archived at Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Resource Centre which received the Alan Ball Award. She was one of the volunteer researchers for the Migration Stories North West project, researching and producing the story of Jou Lim along with fellow researcher Yichao Shi.
is a Community Development Worker at the Wai Yin Chinese Community Centre in Manchester, and is also a presenter for the The Dragons Voice Radio show on All FM community radio. She was one of the team of volunteer researchers for the Migration Stories North West project in Greater Manchester, researching and producing the story of Jou Lim along with fellow researcher Yichao Shi.
Washington Alcott is a local researcher and teacher specialising in African and Caribbean perspectives. His work includes economic and social history, migration, environment, cultural identities, Pan Africanism and has been an active member of many progressive community and activist groups for decades. He recently contributed to the Guardian’s ‘Cotton Capital’ series.
Washington has been following the Migration Stories North West project in Greater Manchester since it began.
Alison Fisher has worked as a teacher of English as an Additional Language in Bury since 1995. Recently she has worked for Fair Futures developing projects both in schools and in their building in the centre of Bury. Fair Futures are a Community Interest Company working with children, young people and families to promote successful learning and reduce barriers to education. Alison co-delivered workshops at The Derby High School for the Migration Stories North West project in Manchester.
Migration, Identity and History is an event by Crossing Footprints presented within the context of Black History Month, in partnership with Manchester Histories. A part of the Migration Stories Exhibition on show at Manchester Central Library from 3 October.
Free – please drop in

Crime Central Halloween Special!
2024-10-31 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Rob Parker and Manchester Libraries invite you to a CRIME CENTRAL SPOOKTACULAR!!
With Jo Callaghan, Graeme Cumming and Steve Kedie!
Bringing the best from all over!
Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country – the big names are all coming to Manchester!
Go behind the scenes!
Showcasing blockbuster bestsellers, emerging talent and industry insiders, Crime Central will share the real story of what goes on in the crime world.
Meet your favourite authors!
With giveaways, audience interaction, book signings, the chance to ask questions and more – while bringing a crime fiction buzz back to this great northern city

AFTERNOON LECTURE: Space Exploration – how we’re transforming Albert Square
2024-11-21 13:00 - 14:15 | Performance Space
AFTERNOON LECTURE

Our Heritage Lectures shine a light on the work behind the scenes of the Our Town Hall Project.
One of the most obvious parts of the project will be the improvements to Albert Square. As well as pedestrianising almost all of it (just one section of road will remain, for the Metrolink tramlines) to create a 20% larger space, the work includes making all of the Town Hall’s entrances and exits accessible.
Prior to 2018, when we closed the building, only one of the many access points was available to anyone with reduced mobility.This lecture will be given jointly by Kevin Redhead and Matt Stirton from Planit, the project’s landscape architecture and urban design specialists, who are responsible for the work within the Town Hall’s public realm.

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EVENING LECTURE: Space Exploration – how we’re transforming Albert Square
2024-11-21 17:30 - 18:45 | Performance Space
EVENING LECTURE
Our Heritage Lectures shine a light on the work behind the scenes of the Our Town Hall Project.
One of the most obvious parts of the project will be the improvements to Albert Square. As well as pedestrianising almost all of it (just one section of road will remain, for the Metrolink tramlines) to create a 20% larger space, the work includes making all of the Town Hall’s entrances and exits accessible.
Prior to 2018, when we closed the building, only one of the many access points was available to anyone with reduced mobility.This lecture will be given jointly by Kevin Redhead and Matt Stirton from Planit, the project’s landscape architecture and urban design specialists, who are responsible for the work within the Town Hall’s public realm.

Behind the Scenes Tour of Central Library
2024-11-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Entrance Hall
Which musician was once thrown out of the Language and Literature Library?
What would you find now in the space where Patrick Stewart and Helen Mirren – amongst many others – played their first roles?
All these questions – and many more – are answered on a tour of Manchester Central Library which will take you to all the areas not normally accessible to the general public and tell the story of this iconic building. Tours last around 90 minutes and include the chance to see some of our rarest treasures and archives.
Places are strictly limited so please book early.
Please meet in the main entrance (Shakespeare Hall) of Central Library from 5.45pm. The tour starts at 6pm
Book tickets below

Sam Johnson Memorial Lecture 2024 with Jane Rosen
2024-12-04 17:30 - 19:00 | Lwr Ground Floor – Manchester Histories Hub
Sam Johnson Memorial Lecture 2024 with Jane Rosen: The Co-operators, the Peacemakers, and the Enigmas: Women in the SCR
Manchester Histories and Manchester Metropolitan University are delighted to host the Sam Johnson Memorial Lecture 2024 with Jane Rosen.
Discover the important roles women played in the foundation of the Society for Cultural Relations (SCR) with the USSR.
Jane Rosen is a Librarian and has worked in a number of specialist historical and cultural libraries including the Society for Co-operation in Russian and Soviet Studies and the Marx Memorial Library. Her latest publication is a centenary history of the Society for Co-operation in Russian and Soviet Studies.
Free – booking required via this Eventbrite link or clicking the ‘book now’ button underneath ‘related events’ below

A History of Pies and Puddings
2024-12-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Explore the history of some our most beloved British foods with local food historian Neil Buttery: pies and puddings, from their rather posh origins to the present day, where they are beloved by all (and treated with suspicion by some). Both have a fascinating and rather convoluted history, and Neil will talk you through the rather surprising paths they have meandered through the centuries.
Neil will also present some of his research on regional foods: Manchester pudding, Yorkshire pudding haggis and Cornish pasties (expect a bombshell!) as well as some foods which were eaten all year round but are associated with Christmas today, including plum pudding and mince pies.

Tickets are free and available to book below.

Illuminating our heritage – Afternoon Lecture
2025-02-20 13:00 - 14:15 | Performance Space
AFTERNOON LECTURE
Manchester Town Hall has been closed since January 2018 for an extensive restoration programme that will repair and upgrade the building to modern standards.
The work will include the conservation of many of its original heritage features. Our series of Heritage Lectures aims to shine a light on some of the fascinating work that’s been going on behind the scenes.
We’ve already heard about the work on our paintings, mosaic flooring, clock, stained-glass windows, organ, furniture, the Albert Memorial and Albert Square. Now it’s time to turn our attention to some of the highly ornate original lighting.
Join us in Central Library for a chance to hear from Lauren Crossley of Arup. The lecture is free to attend but please book your place.
Illuminating our heritage – restoring Waterhouse’s lighting design
Illuminating the interiors of the Town Hall would have been a real challenge for Waterhouse, but he designed some fabulously ornate lanterns, lamps and lights – all in line with his overall vision and attention to detail. In this lecture we’ll hear about the intensive restoration of the original chandeliers and other light fittings throughout the building.
The task to bring them in line with modern technology – while preserving their heritage significance – has been achieved with a high degree of creativity and many respectful nods to the craftsmen that originally made them.
Lauren Crossley from Arup will present this lecture, in which she’ll also talk about her research on the historical installations and interventions over the decades.
Thursday 20 February 2025, The Performance Space, Central Library
Afternoon Lecture: 12.30pm arrival for a 1pm start (ends 2.15pm)
The lecture is free but you’ll need to book your ticket below.

Illuminating our heritage – Evening Lecture
2025-02-20 17:30 - 18:45
EVENING LECTURE
Manchester Town Hall has been closed since January 2018 for an extensive restoration programme that will repair and upgrade the building to modern standards.
The work will include the conservation of many of its original heritage features. Our series of Heritage Lectures aims to shine a light on some of the fascinating work that’s been going on behind the scenes.
We’ve already heard about the work on our paintings, mosaic flooring, clock, stained-glass windows, organ, furniture, the Albert Memorial and Albert Square. Now it’s time to turn our attention to some of the highly ornate original lighting.
Join us in Central Library for a chance to hear from Lauren Crossley of Arup. The lecture is free to attend but please book your place.
Illuminating our heritage – restoring Waterhouse’s lighting design
Illuminating the interiors of the Town Hall would have been a real challenge for Waterhouse, but he designed some fabulously ornate lanterns, lamps and lights – all in line with his overall vision and attention to detail. In this lecture we’ll hear about the intensive restoration of the original chandeliers and other light fittings throughout the building.
The task to bring them in line with modern technology – while preserving their heritage significance – has been achieved with a high degree of creativity and many respectful nods to the craftsmen that originally made them.
Lauren Crossley from Arup will present this lecture, in which she’ll also talk about her research on the historical installations and interventions over the decades.
Thursday 20 February 2025, The Performance Space, Central Library
Evening Lecture: 5.00pm arrival for a 5.30pm start (ends 6.45pm)
The lecture is free but you’ll need to book your ticket below.

Women's Community Festival 2025
2025-03-08 11:00 - 14:00 | Performance Space
International Women’s Day (IWD) is returning to Manchester as a celebration of women’s empowerment, equality and contributions to the city at Manchester Central Library on Saturday 8 March.
Led and inspired by an already significant history of pioneering women, IWD 2025 is a chance for women across all generations and dedicated allies to come together in advancing women’s rights in Manchester and around the world.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Accelerate Action’, which calls on supporters of gender equality to act against systemic barriers women from all backgrounds face in their personal and professional environments.
In recent years, Manchester City Council has marked IWD with a dedicated ‘Walk for Women’ event. This year, however, the Council has joined forces with a diverse range of women-led community organisations to co-design a different approach.
Funding was made available for community organisations to host IWD events across the city through the annual IWD grants programme. A celebratory community-led programme of workshops, performances and discussions has also been planned for the day itself at Manchester Central Library based around the acronym HER: Heal Encourage, Revive.
The events for IWD 2025 are:
Heal – Performance Space
·  Flourish Together; Mindfulness Activity for relaxation and meditation, 11am-1pm
·  Equal Education Chances; letter writing and positive affirmations session, 11:20am-12:15pm
Encouraged – Performance Space 2 and 3
·    Community Thriving Together; sharing personal stories and overcoming challenges, 11am-11:50am
·   Trailblazers; Creating bookmarks and stitching
·   Young Identity with Shirley May; poetry performance by Young Identity members, 11:55am-12:15pm
·   Flourish Together; a 30-minute fireside chat chaired by Nickala Torkington about women changemakers, 12:20pm-12:50pm.
Revived – Performance Space 2 and 3
·     Bollyfit; an exercise class inspired by multicultural dance, 1pm-1:30pm
·     Councillor Ermina Bell will give a closing speech about the event, 1:35pm-1:45pm
·      DJ set to inspire and uplift
Glass Room/Sensory Space
·     Flourish Together; Bookable pop-up spa for treatments for 20 mins including Indian Head Massage in a clothed and seated setting, 11am-2pm
The events on the day will be accompanied by partner stalls of specialist community organisations including Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH), Manchester Rape Crisis, Fikawele African and Caribbean Mental Health, Walksafe  and Ahmed Iqbal Ullah (AIU) RACE Centre who will be on hand to raise awareness and promote their services.
Councillor Erinma Bell, Lead Member for Women, said: “Manchester has long been a city that has championed and supported women in the fight for gender equality.
“It’s fantastic to see the range of creativity and innovation in the events this year for International Women’s Day with the aim of accelerating further action for women to thrive personally and professionally. “I would encourage women from all backgrounds and generations to get involved, because there is something for everyone and to advocate for more allies join in on the celebrations and inform our priorities for advancing women’s equality this year.”
For more information or to book your place visit Women’s Community Festival.

Exploring Immigration: A Dialogue on Building Our Shared Future
2025-04-23 18:30 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Overview
Join us for an illuminating evening of honest conversation about one of the most significant forces shaping our society. As Manchester continues to evolve into an increasingly diverse metropolis, we’re bringing together remarkable community leaders to explore how immigration enriches our city while thoughtfully addressing the challenges of creating a truly integrated society.
Tickets are free but booking is essential. To book your ticket, please visit MACFEST’s Eventbrite page below.
Our Distinguished Speakers
Qaisra Shahraz MBE JP FRSA
An acclaimed British-Pakistani novelist and activist, she has dedicated her life to weaving connections between communities. As founder of MACFEST (Manchester’s Muslim Arts and Culture Festival), she creates spaces where different cultures can meet, share stories, and discover their common ground. Her work demonstrates how art and culture can transform understanding between people of all backgrounds.
Erinma Bell MBE DL JP
Brings invaluable perspective as a British-Nigerian community peace activist, councillor, and pioneering leader. Her groundbreaking work in Moss Side and Longsight has shown how strong communities can overcome serious challenges through cooperation and mutual support. As the first woman honoured with a sculpture in Manchester Town Hall / Central Library, her legacy inspires new approaches to building safer, more connected neighbourhoods.
Topics for Discussion
Together, they’ll explore questions that matter to all of us: How do we honour both shared identity and cultural distinctiveness? What role can education play in bringing communities together? How can we support newcomers while strengthening existing community bonds? Drawing from their rich personal and professional experiences, our speakers will share insights into creating a society where everyone can thrive.
Event Chair
Guiding this important conversation will be Darryl Morris, the award-winning broadcaster, filmmaker, and writer known for his thoughtful approach to complex social issues. His skilled facilitation will help us move beyond simplified debates to explore practical paths forward.
Audience Participation
This evening isn’t just about listening – it’s about participating in shaping our future. We warmly invite audience members to share their experiences, questions, and ideas as we work together to envision and build a more connected Manchester.
Join us as we explore how our city’s diversity can become its greatest strength.
Practical Information
Tickets are free but booking is essential. To book your ticket, please visit MACFEST’s Eventbrite page below.
Accessibility Information
Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

The Apple Trees and The Bees
2025-06-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
James Ellson presents The Apple Trees and The Bees – symbiotic relationship between apple trees, honeybees and humans
Join us for an engaging discussion about the relationship between apple trees, honeybees and humans. It is thought that fruit trees and honeybees have co-evolved for millions of years. In this talk former detective now crime writer and smallholder James Ellson explores the beneficial relationships between us and these trees and bees.
James Ellson was a police officer for 15 years, finishing as a Detective Inspector at Moss Side in Manchester. He now wears three hats of crime writer, smallholder and speaker. His debut novel The Trail was published in 2020, and his latest book, Base Line, is the fourth in the DCI Castle series. James lives in the Peak District with his wife, and manages their smallholding, which includes bees and an orchard.
Free entry – just 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

Inspired by Libraries with Shaun Keaveny and Guy Garvey
2025-06-05 20:00 - 21:00 | Performance Space
Manchester City of Literature and Manchester Libraries present this special Festival of Libraries event.
Join us at Manchester Central Library for a special one-off event featuring two of the city’s most distinctive and much-loved voices — Guy Garvey, Mercury Prize–winning frontman of Elbow and presenter of BBC 6 Music’s Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour, and Shaun Keaveny, long-time BBC 6 Music broadcaster and now host of The Rock Show on BBC Radio 2 and Community Garden Radio. In this relaxed and thought-provoking conversation, Guy and Shaun will explore themes of community, creativity, working-class identity, music, memory, radio, and the role that places like libraries play in shaping our cultural lives — all delivered with the humour, warmth and honesty they’re known for.
About Shaun Keaveny
Shaun Keaveny is a much-loved broadcaster whose trademark wit, warmth and deep connection with listeners have made him one of the most distinctive voices on UK radio. He became a familiar presence to millions during his many years on BBC Radio 6 Music, and now fronts The Rock Show on BBC Radio 2. He retired from stand-up comedy due to public demand in 2017, and is also an enthusiastic failed musician. As the founder of the beloved Community Garden Radio, he continues to champion great music and meaningful conversation in his own inimitable style.
About Guy Garvey
With a career in music spanning three decades and a host of roles from renowned lyricist, singer, and producer to radio and TV host and soundtrack composer and producer, Guy Garvey has left an indelible mark on the music world. With his ‘best mates’ in elbow for over 25 years, Guy has created ten studio albums that have delivered critical acclaim, gold and platinum albums, UK Number Ones, a Mercury Music Prize, BRIT Award, NME Award, Mojo Award and three Ivor Novello Awards.
Guy remains a key part of the 6 Music line-up with his ‘Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour’ a mainstay of Sunday afternoons on the station since 2007. Guy’s contribution to UK culture was recognised with the award of honorary degree from Manchester Metropolitan University for his work in the arts, where he is also a visiting professor.

Crime Central
2025-06-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
CRIME CENTRAL RETURNS 25 JUNE 2025
With the brilliant Rachel Wolf, H Critchlow and Antony Johnston!
Bringing the best from all over!
Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country – the big names are all coming to Manchester!
Go behind the scenes!
Showcasing blockbuster bestsellers, emerging talent and industry insiders, Crime Central will share the real story of what goes on in the crime world.
Meet your favourite authors!
With giveaways, audience interaction, book signings, the chance to ask questions and more – while bringing a crime fiction buzz back to this great northern city.

Lords and Ladies of Middleton Manor
2025-06-30 17:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Join us for an evening exploring the fascinating Assheton family of Middleton. Meet a medieval Middleton Bowman and discover everyday life through close-up encounters with original historic documents from the Assheton collection. Free event with refreshments.
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

John Robb: 'Live Forever: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Oasis' - Oasis Week Q&A
2025-07-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Henry Watson Music Library
For those in the mood for a Talk Tonight, on 15th July, expect to find esteemed Northern music journalist and frontman of the Membranes / Goldblade JOHN ROBB in-conversation about his brand new book ‘Live Forever: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Oasis’ at Manchester Central Library.
Part of “Oasis Week” at Central Library, John will be appearing in-person for an intimate talk and Q&A with local tour guide and Oasis expert Joe Feeley about the book in the Henry Watson Music Library.
‘Live Forever…’ promises a rollercoaster ride through the Gallagher brothers’ turbulent lives and the music that defined a generation. And John Robb was there every step of the way.
In this, the definitive book on Britain’s biggest band, he peels back the layers of Manchester’s best-known musical export, revealing a tale of ambition, ego, talent and a whole lot of attitude. From the estates of South Manchester to the dizzying heights of global stardom, Live Forever is a rollercoaster ride through the Gallagher brothers’ turbulent lives and the music that defined a generation. But it is also a portrait of Britain around the turn of the millennium and the cultural forces and places that shaped, and were shaped by, two cocksure upstarts from Burnage – from art to fashion, and from football to politics.
Playful, funny and irreverent, and drawing on dozens of interviews and first-hand stories, this book puts Oasis squarely in the pantheon of music royalty as the last great rock ’n’ roll stars.
The Q&A will be chaired by local tour guide Joe Feeley. Alongside his expert tours of Manchester city centre, Joe also leads the legendary Rock And Goal Tour and has recently launched the Wonderwalk Oasis Tour. A musician and guide with real Oasis pedigree, Joe grew up with the Gallaghers, was in school with Liam and Noel, and their families in Ireland also share history. His Wonderwalk tour offers a deep dive into Oasis’s roots and the wider Manchester music scene, and his personal connection to the band means he has insights and stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

Joe and John will be chatting about ‘Live Forever: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Oasis’ and more at Manchester Central Library on Tuesday 15 July.
Copies will be available at the event courtesy of Blackwells, and John will be available for signings after the event.
Tickets are free, but any donations to the library warmly welcomed.
Tickets available from 10AM on Friday 20 June:
John Robb: ‘Live Forever: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Oasis’ Q&A Tickets, Tue, Jul 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite

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“Oasis Week” at Central Library is part of the Manchester City Council ‘MCR Live 25‘ – a summer of music, art, markets, and unforgettable vibes all summer long. It includes:

music-themed markets
pop-up shops
a festival bar
impromptu performances
a fabulous guitar-themed trail
artworks and exhibitions across the city.

For full details, go to visitmanchester.com/mcrlive25.
This event is part of “Oasis Week” at Central Library, kindly supported by Manchester Libraries Trust.
For more information, and to secure your tickets for some of the limited-capacity events of “Oasis Week” at Central Library head to: librarylive.co.uk

Not just any old iron! Afternoon Lecture
2025-09-23 13:00 - 14:15 | Performance Space
Manchester Town Hall has been closed since January 2018 for an extensive restoration programme that will repair and upgrade the building to modern standards. The work will include the conservation of many of its original heritage features.
Our series of Heritage Lectures aims to shine a light on some of the fascinating work that’s been going on behind the scenes. We’ve already heard about the work on our paintings, mosaic flooring, clock, stained-glass windows, organ, furniture, the Albert Memorial, Albert Square and the original lighting.
Join us in Central Library for a chance to hear from Will Jones and Peter Meehan of Heritage Project Contracts. The lecture is free to attend but please book your place.
In this lecture we’ll be learning about the conservation, preservation and restoration of historic ironwork, some of which can be seen around the building: from the dizzying heights of the golden ball that tops our clock tower and cast iron brattishing on our complex series of roofs, to the enormous – and very cumbersome – portcullis gates in the basement.
Tuesday 23 September2025, The Performance Space, Central Library
Session #1 – 12.45pm arrival for a 1pm start (ends 2.15pm)
Session #2 – 5.15pm arrival for a 5.30pm start (ends 6.45pm)
The lecture is free but you’ll need to book your ticket online.

Not just any old iron! Evening Lecture
2025-09-23 17:30 - 18:45 | Performance Space

Blooming in the West – Flowers from China
2025-12-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
In this talk, Dr Fang ZONG will introduce some traditional garden plants of China and their journeys to the West. Their cultural symbolism, presence in art and medical applications will also be discussed. The seasonal plants will be highlighted, for example, bamboo, flowering plum and evergreen pine as the ‘Three Friends of Winter’.
Dr Fang ZONG was a biomedical academic researcher and tutor (PhD in Medical Science from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden), and is now a museum professional, providing research, consultancy, and curation of Chinese culture. She has been working at the Manchester Museum for more than 10 years and was part of the team which established the Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery. She was personally awarded an Exceptional Performance Award by the University of Manchester in 2024.
Book your tickets now.
This event is part of the Manchester Confucius Institute Public Talk Series.
Photo By Zhao Mengjian 趙孟堅 b. 1199 – d. circa 1264 Taipei: National Palace Museum., Public Domain

United in Rebellion: The Story of the Anti-Nazi League
2025-12-13 13:30 - 14:30 | Henry Watson Music Library
Join us for this talk inspired by Geoff Brown’s book, ‘A People’s History of the Anti-Nazi League, 1977-1981’. Discover how the Anti-Nazi League (ANL) emerged from the streets, schools and music scenes of late 1970s Britain to confront racism and the far right.
Free – book tickets here and click ‘Book Now’ below.

The Temperance Movement: What Did #QuitLit Look Like 100 Years Ago?
2026-01-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Long before today’s sober-curious conversations, Bookstagram posts, and bestselling quit-lit titles, people were already using words, stories, and literature to challenge drinking culture.
This talk explores the original temperance movement, which emerged as a powerful social force in the Northwest before sweeping across Britain and beyond. Drawing on historical examples, it looks at how early temperance advocates used novels, pamphlets, tracts, and personal stories to influence public opinion, reshape attitudes to alcohol, and support people in rethinking their relationship with drink.
By revisiting these early forms of “quit lit”, the talk reveals striking parallels between 19th-century temperance literature and today’s modern sober narratives – showing that storytelling has long been a central tool in movements for change.
Whether you’re interested in social history, literature, wellbeing, or the contemporary sober movement, this session offers a fascinating perspective on how the past continues to shape present-day conversations around alcohol.
Chaired – Yvonne Norris (Researcher, PhD, MMU)
Speaker – Dr Annmarie McAllister – expert and a leading scholar on the temperance movement
Alongside a guest panel including leading voices from present-day sober communities from across the Northwest.

Crime Central
2026-02-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Bringing the best from all over!

Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country – the big names are all coming to Manchester!

Go behind the scenes!

Showcasing blockbuster bestsellers, emerging talent and industry insiders, Crime Central will share the real story of what goes on in the crime world.

Meet your favourite authors!

With giveaways, audience interaction, book signings, the chance to ask questions and more – while bringing a crime fiction buzz back to this great northern city.
Tickets are on a ‘pay what you can’ offer.

Knowing Yesterday, Shaping Tomorrow: The Inaugural Lou Kushnick Memorial Lecture with Professor Abdul Alkalimat
2026-03-12 16:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust, in partnership with the University of Manchester, is launching a new annual lecture in honour of our founder, Professor Lou Kushnick. Lou was a tireless advocate for anti‑racist education and a driving force behind both the Education Trust and the RACE Centre. Since his death in early 2025, he has been deeply missed.
This new lecture series celebrates his legacy, beginning with an inaugural talk by Professor Abdul Alkalimat. Professor Alkalimat – internationally respected scholar-activist and a founding figure in Black Studies in the United States – was a friend and colleague of Lou’s.
Professor Alkalimat opens this new lecture series by commemorating Lou’s important work. He will respond to four key questions: Who was Lou Kushnick? Why am I speaking about him? Why was he concerned about racism? And why should we be concerned about racism? His perspective will reflect his African American identity, but will also connect with the trans-Atlantic perspective he shared with Lou.
We welcome friends observing Ramadan and our programme will allow for Maghrib and Iftar.
There is a dedicated prayer space in Manchester Central Library.
Complimentary hot food, tea and coffee will be provided.

Book your free space on eventbrite here or click on ‘Book Now’ below.

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About Professor Abdul Alkalimat

Abdul Alkalimat (born Gerald A. McWorter) is a founder of the field of Black Studies and author of many books and papers about Black liberation. He wrote the first college textbook for the field, Introduction to Afro-American Studies, which has seen seven editions, the last one free and online. A lifelong scholar-activist with a PhD from the University of Chicago, he has lectured, taught, and directed academic programs across the US, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and China. Two of his early contributions were serving as chair of the Chicago chapter of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and co-founding the Organization of Black American Culture (OBAC) in 1967. Raised in Chicago’s Cabrini Rowhouses, he is now professor emeritus of African American Studies and Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
His most recent books are:
* The History of Black Studies, published by Pluto Press 2021
* Dialectics of Liberation: The African Liberation Support Committee, published by Africa World Press 2022
* The Wall of Respect: Public Art and Black Liberation in 1960s Chicago, co-edited with Romi Crawford and Rebecca Zorach and published by Northwestern University Press 2017
* New Philadelphia, written by Gerald A. McWorter and Kate Williams-McWorter for the New Philadelphia (IL) Association and published by Path Press 2018.
Much of his work is freely available at http://www.alkalimat.org.

People as Infrastructure: The Architectural Wisdom of Informality
2026-04-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Join us for Manchester Confucius Institute’s first public talk of the year, launching our anniversary exhibition, Building China: People’s Infrastructure.
Explore the spontaneous and ingenious adaptations found in China’s urban marketplaces, where everyday materials become functional art. This talk delves into the world of informal architectural practices that thrive without formal design processes, reflecting a bottom-up creativity that challenges our conventional views on sustainability and technology in building. We’ll discuss how these grassroots innovations might teach us new ways to think about architecture and urban infrastructure.
After the talk, there will be an opportunity to visit the Manchester Confucius Institute’s 20th anniversary exhibition, Building China: People’s Infrastructure, on the Lower Ground Floor of the Central Library (exhibited from 1 March until 30 May 2026).
Free – booking required via Eventbrite here or via the ‘Book Now’ button below
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About the speaker:
Ziqiu Ren is a spatial filmmaker and architectural researcher. Her research is established at the intersection of urban studies, ethnographic theories, and creative media. She is currently a PhD Candidate in Architecture at the University of Manchester, working on Chinese food marketplaces, supported by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). She is an associated researcher at the Urban Studies Lab.
he Manchester Confucius Institute Public Talk Series
Manchester Confucius Institute public talks are free, informal and informative lectures aimed at anyone with an interest in Chinese culture and language.
Find out more about the Manchester Confucius Institute

People’s Infrastructure: Everyday Life in Changing China
2026-05-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Join us for Manchester Confucius Institute’s second public talk linked to our 20th anniversary exhibition , Building China: People’s Infrastructure
This talk moves from the visual culture of the 1950s and the institutional landscapes of the 1970s to contemporary studies of markets, parks, sidewalks, and sites of urban redevelopment. Across these moments, infrastructure is approached as something maintained through labour, inhabitation, and routine use. Attention shifts between rural and urban settings, historical transformation and present conditions, to show how social life and material systems remain closely intertwined. ‘People’s infrastructure’ offers a lens for understanding continuity and change in China’s recent past and present.
After the talk, there will be an opportunity to visit the Manchester Confucius Institute’s 20th anniversary exhibition, Building China: People’s Infrastructure, on the Lower Ground Floor of the Central Library (exhibited from 1 March until 30 May 2026).
Free – booking required via Eventbrite here or via ‘Book Now’ below
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About the speaker:
Deljana Iossifova is Professor of Architecture and Urban Studies and lead the Urban Studies Lab at the University of Manchester, where she also acts as Academic Director of the Confucius Institute. She was trained as an architect at ETH Zurich and holds a PhD in Public Policy Design from Tokyo Institute of Technology, which she obtained following years of professional practice in East Asia. Her research examines the dynamics between architecture, everyday life, urban transformations, and global environmental change.
The Manchester Confucius Institute Public Talk Series:
Manchester Confucius Institute public talks are free, informal and informative lectures aimed at anyone with an interest in Chinese culture and language.
Find out more about the Manchester Confucius Institute.

A Brush With History - Restoring Our Town Hall's paintings. Afternoon Lecture.
2026-05-12 13:00 - 14:30 | Performance Space
Our Town Hall Project Heritage Lecture Afternoon Session 1pm

A Brush With History – Restoring Our Town Hall’s paintings. Afternoon lecture.
In this Heritage Lecture, we’ll be learning about the conservation work undertaken by Beth Jowett of Elizabeth Jowett Conservation of Paintings, one of several expert conservators who have been taking care of the Town Hall’s collection of paintings.Beth will talk us through the detailed work she’s completed, having undertaken three batches of paintings totalling 16 oil paintings, including their frames too.
The afternoon lecture is free to attend but please book your place.
1pm Tuesday 12 May 2026, The Performance Space, Central Library.

A Brush With History - Restoring Our Town Hall's paintings. Evening Lecture.
2026-05-12 17:30 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Our Town Hall Project Heritage Lecture Evening Session 5.30pm

A Brush With History – Restoring Our Town Hall’s paintings. Evening lecture.
In this Heritage Lecture, we’ll be learning about the conservation work undertaken by Beth Jowett of Elizabeth Jowett Conservation of Paintings, one of several expert conservators who have been taking care of the Town Hall’s collection of paintings.Beth will talk us through the detailed work she’s completed, having undertaken three batches of paintings totalling 16 oil paintings, including their frames too.
The evening lecture is free to attend but please book your place.
5.30pm Tuesday 12 May 2026, The Performance Space, Central Library.

Crime Central
2026-05-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Crime Central is the monthly crime and thriller fiction event at Manchester Central Library.

AUTHORS APPEARING IN MAY ARE ZOE SHARPE, SIMON MICHAEL AND DAVID PENNY!!
Bringing the best from all over!
Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country – the big names are all coming to Manchester!
Go behind the scenes!
Showcasing blockbuster bestsellers, emerging talent and industry insiders, Crime Central will share the real story of what goes on in the crime world.
Meet your favourite authors!
With giveaways, audience interaction, book signings, the chance to ask questions and more – while bringing a crime fiction buzz back to this great northern city.

Behind the Scenes Tour
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Entrance Hall
What do George V, Gypsy Rose Lee and Bernard Bresslaw have in common?
Which musician was once thrown out of the Language and Literature Library?
What would you find now in the space where Patrick Stewart and Helen Mirren – amongst many others – played their first roles?
All these questions – and many more – are answered on a tour of Manchester Central Library which will take you to all the areas not normally accessible to the general public and tell the story of this iconic building. Tours last around 90 minutes and include the chance to see some of our rarest treasures and archives.
Please meet in the main entrance (Shakespeare Hall) of Central Library from 5.45pm. The tour starts at 6pm.
Did you know, you can join our Library Lovers scheme and enjoy a free tour, plus discounts in our shop and cafe, and invites to other events and exhibition launches? Find out more and join online.
Book you place on this tour on eventbrite here or click on ‘Book Now’ below.

Mieczysław Fogg - 1930s Cabaret to Wartime Resistance
2026-05-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Join us for a unique event celebrating Mieczysław Fogg, Poland’s legendary crooner on the 125th anniversary of his birth. Dive into the vibe of 1930s cabaret and discover how his music became a symbol of wartime resistance. With stories from cultural researcher and journalist Juliette Bretan, a visual journey through his inspiring life and melodies from singer songwriter Katy Carr. His unforgettable voice continues to affect contemporary musicians and listeners. Don’t miss out on this Polish Heritage event brought to you by Anna Kucewicz and Eva Szegidewicz.
Free – reserve a place on Eventbrite here or click on ‘Book Now’ below
