What's on

Marketing the Manchester Ship Canal 1919-1939

Archives+ Ground Floor

This new exhibition showcases a range of original publicity material and print adverts created as marketing for the Port of Manchester. This saw a revolution in publicity with modern ideas […]

When the Dust Settles – Exhibition

Archives+ Ground Floor

There are currently thousands of refugees in the UK waiting for decisions on their family reunion applications. Forced migration and the traumatic consequences of separation, as well as of the […]

Robert John Watson: The Sky Above Her

First Floor Exhibition Hall

Exhibiting work spanning 20 years, Robert Watson (one of the country’s leading documentary and contemporary photographic artists) returns to Central Library. This free exhibition features images of Manchester Pride and […]

Behind The Scenes Tours at Manchester Central Library

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 […]

£12.50

Let’s Read Music 2 – Music Theory

Henry Watson Music Library

Would you like to understand the structure and meaning behind a musical composition and boost your music performance? Do yo want to boost your music performance? Get to know music […]

Thurston Moore in Conversation

Performance Space

‘This is history—scuffed, slightly bent, plenty noisy, and indispensable.’ – Colson Whitehead One of the founding members of alternative rock band Sonic Youth, Thurston Moore’s memoir Sonic Life is fuelled by his […]

£14

Doon Mackichan in Conversation

Performance Space

British actor, comedian and writer Doon Mackichan joins us to launch her memoir, My Lady Parts: A Life Fighting Stereotypes. Through the roles she’s played on TV, in the theatre and […]

£12

Delia Derbyshire Day

23 November 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who and its hugely influential theme tune, realised by electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire. Join us for an afternoon of activity […]

Naomi Alderman in Conversation

Performance Space

The future is coming. The Future is here. When Martha Einkorn fled her father’s isolated compound in Oregon, she never expected to find herself working for a powerful social media mogul hell-bent […]

£12