People’s Infrastructure: Everyday Life in Changing China
2026-05-05 18:00 - 19:00 UTC | 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

Heartstone: KFOR AND KOSOVO +25 Event
2026-06-12 15:00 - 16:30 | Performance Space
On June 12th, the photo-documentary exhibition, ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’, is at the centre of an extraordinary event being staged at Manchester Central Library as part of Manchester’s Festival of Libraries.

Produced by internationally acclaimed photographer, Nick Sidle, covering the period 2000-1, in the aftermath of the 1999 Kosova war, the exhibition tells an uplifting visual story of the resilience of ordinary people recovering from a period of horrific ethnic cleansing and the role of the KFOR peacekeepers in bringing the stability and security from which peace followed. Many in the Greater Manchester region supported at the time with funds, blankets, toys and other items.
This event will bring together online for the first time some of the civilians pictured in the images, who have been located 25 years later in Kosova, and others who were part of this period in the North West and other parts of the UK. In Kosova, the event is taking shape from the National Library of Kosova opened by Kosova’s Minister for Culture, Saranda Bogujevci, herself a survivor of the Podujeva Massacre and one of those evacuated to Manchester in 1999.
Admission is free and there is no booking required, but please come early to be secure of a place at this event.
Header Photo by ©Nick Sidle.

Music Q&A: ‘It's Time the Tale Were Told - A People's History of the Smiths'
2026-06-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
‘It’s Time The Tale Were Told – A People’s History of The Smiths’ is the story of one of the UK’s most influential indie bands and Manchester’s greatest musical exports.
Featuring the words of over 500 fans of the band, this joyous new book has been collated by author and journalist Iain Key, plus publisher Richard Houghton (Spenwood Books) will be coming to Central Library to tell us about it. From memories of their earliest club shows through to the last ever gig at London’s Brixton Academy, this is a portrait of The Smiths as painted by the fans.
With personal photographs, memorabilia, anecdotes and first-hand accounts of more than 100 gigs, readers will get a front row view of the indie music legends. Based on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr, The Smiths’ 1985 album Meat Is Murder topped the UK album charts and their other three studio albums reached No 2. The band broke up in 1987 and turned down all invitations to reunite.
Iain Key is a recognisable face on the Manchester Music Scene from many years in the late ’80s and ’90s.A journalist for the tastemaker music site Louder Than War, Iain has written over 500 pieces including music, book and gig reviews. Iain has also produced weekly music shows for the last 4 years for Louder Than War Radio, focussing on both new music and interviews with new and established acts. Iain has also edited People’s Histories of The Clash and Billy Bragg for Spenwood Books.
Iain will be speaking to the publisher of Spenwood Books, Richard Houghton, Expect an intimate, in-person talk, Q&A and book signing with the author.

Tickets are ‘pay-what-you can’ – available via Eventbrite here or clicking the ‘Book Now’ button below, simply ‘pay-what-you can’.
All donations go to Manchester Libraries.
