Empire Windrush is best remembered today for bringing one of the first large groups of post-war West Indian immigrants to the United Kingdom in 1948. To celebrate the 70th anniversary we exhibit and share material from collections in the AIU Race Relations Resource Centre and Manchester City Council Archives. Free - please drop in
Pick up a map, it’s time to get lost on a quest around Central Library! A long, long, time ago, the government commissioned intrepid explorer, Philias Finder, to start The Ministry of Lost & Found – a secret department tasked with protecting the most curious and precious objects ever lost or found. To celebrate the […]
CALL OUT FOR YOUNG DANCE ARTISTS - CHAMELEON YOUTH IS RECRUITING! Be part of a dance company that is inspiring and different to the mainstream. Chameleon Youth, Manchester’s youth dance company, is calling out for new members for 2018/19. If you’re age 11 to 21, this is an incredible opportunity to be part of a dance […]
An enchanting display of books for children from Central Library's special collections. Ranging from a 17th Century Latin Dictionary to favourite characters such as Babar, The Snowman and Latin versions of Peter the Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh.
The Summer Reading Challenge is back so come and be a Mischief Maker with Manchester Libraries! Join at any library to get your free pack of goodies and collect rewards for reading along the way. Read six or more library books of your choice and enter our grand prize draw. The Challenge is accompanied by an array summer-long fun […]
Prompted by poor economic conditions, unemployment, and a change in societal attitudes, the 1970s-1990s saw a wave of workers’ co-operatives set up. This exhibition showcases some of the findings of the HLF funded ‘Working Together’ project and includes insights into the importance of the movement, through case studies and personal recollections of those involved. Free […]
We're buzzing to have teamed up with Bee in the City this summer. Come into Central Library and start ticking off the super-size and little bees in your trail map. Join the family Bee a Reader Challenge from Read Manchester and pick up an entry form for our bee themed writing competition for 7-16 year olds. […]
Word Central open mic and spoken word hosted by Tony Curry. Featuring guest poet Alex Slater! Alex Slater's fast paced poetry is laced with humour and charm, from the political to the absurd. He is the co-runner of SPEAK, a spoken word night in Manchester's Northern Quarter driven to bringing poetry to the masses. A multi-slam-finalist, […]
From the no. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How to Stop Time, a personal and vital look at how to feel happy, human and whole in the 21st century. The world is messing with our minds. – How can we stay sane on a planet that makes us mad? […]
Charles Goodyear turned natural rubber into a product that revolutionised industries around the world – but his journey was far from easy. Through theatre, art, humour, and song, Lioness Theatre present the dark true tale of how a bankrupt button-maker became one of the most important inventors of all time – and the terrible price […]
Seen a performance you really liked in libraries that you could nominate for Manchester's inaugral culture awards? You can now nominate people, groups and organisations who made culture buzz in Manchester during April 2017 to April 2018. The top three nominees in each category will be invited to a prestigious dinner in November, where the winners […]
The Northern Carnival Against the Nazis - a rally and concert held on 15th July 1978 in Moss Side, Manchester - was a defining moment in establishing anti-racism in the city and beyond. The 15,000 people who marched across town and the 40,000 people who danced in Alexandra Park that day didn’t just make racism […]
From dedicated performance spaces to stairwells, screens, nooks and domes, Central Library might directly inspire your next event or intervention. Contact us to arrange a tour.
