What's on

Christmas Tree Traditions

Performance Space

We will be decorating 7 community Christmas trees in a range of traditional styles. Have a go at creating your own Christmas crafts and join our Manchester communities as they share their traditional crafts. Free - but please consider making a donation if you can either online or at one of our cash or contactless […]

Christmas Extravaganza

Performance Space

The whole family is invited to join us for Central Library’s Christmas celebrations! We’ll have choirs singing songs and carols, Christmas crafts for children and hot chocolate and festive treats to warm you up in the cafe. Keep an eye out for the Toy Soldiers who will be popping up during the day. We’ll also […]

Word Central

Performance Space

Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word Presented by Flapjack Press & Manchester Libraries. Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Ben Willems. You can book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 30th November here. NB Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer. Performance slots are allocated on a 'first come first […]

Art of Oesophageal Cancer

First Floor Display Cases

Art of oesophageal cancer is a visual representation of one patient’s experience of going through treatment, surgery and then coming to terms with a new normal. The subject matter touches on wider public health issues and covers the pre-cancer condition Barrett’s oesophagus, as well as the artist’s experience of chemotherapy, surgery and post-operative period in […]

Creative Writing Class

Chief Librarian's Office

Writer Cathy Crabb is running a weekly drop in for anyone who would like to spend a couple of hours strolling through storytelling. With a different exercise per week it could be anything from a screenplay to flash fiction to songwriting - just to give your mind a welcome circuit break and a bit of […]

The Door Opened: 1980s China

Lower Ground Floor Exhibition Space

One can argue that nostalgia is the strongest emotion, a pure mixture of wistfulness and melancholy. Adrian Bradshaw, an English photographer, brings that sense of yearning into full focus in this exhibition presented by the Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester. Featuring a blend of candid and posed photographs which explore China in the […]

Word Central Open Mic Night

Performance Space

Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press present Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Ben Willems. Our special guest for the first Word Central of the year is beat-inspired performance poet Ben Willems. Ben has featured in numerous publications, including Citizen 32, The Recusant, Beatification and Some Roast Poet, as well as appearing in […]

Don’t worry, we will survive!

First Floor Exhibition Hall

Come and reflect on these vibrant abstract and portrait paintings by artist, Sarbjit Johal. Have a dialogue with our past and present in Britain and beyond. Buy a painting and support Saheli Asian Women’s Project.  Prices start from £10. Telephone 07944 565620 for more details.   Free - drop in - please consider making a donation […]

Chinese New Year Celebration

Help us celebrate the Year of the Tiger in Central Library on one of our special Sunday openings. Join in the fun as we offer themed family activities and crafts for everyone to enjoy   Free - drop in event - please consider making a donation if you can either online or at one of […]

Titanic: A Maritime Mistake?

Performance Space

A thrilling new take on the 1912 tragedy, as those tasked to keep the secret safe go on the run from an elite group of political figures. When Lancashire author Alan Veale began research for his latest novel 'The Titanic Document', he built a story around the 1912 disaster. They do say truth is stranger […]

¡No Pasarán! – North West International Brigade Memorial Group

Performance Space

North West International Brigade Memorial Group invite you to join us for ¡No Pasarán!, a day of commemoration of those Greater Manchester men and women who fought against Franco, Hitler and Mussolini in the Spanish Civil War. 11.30- 1PM 85th anniversary commemoration of the battle of Jarama. In February 1937 around 500 men of the […]

David Gaffney ‘Out of the Dark’ Book Launch

Performance Space

A young man has rented a flat at the top of a high rise block in Birmingham where he watches the same video over and over again, an old British film noir called Out Of The Dark. This film holds some important information for him, something which will help him deal with his recent tragic events.  But what is […]