Library Live

Crime Central
2023-07-27 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-05-25 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | Performance Space
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets for this event are on a “pay what you can” basis.They range from £2 – £8 plus the Eventbrite booking fee.
All tickets allow the same access to the event. This is a just a pricing system to accommodate for individual financial circumstances.
Signed books will be available to purchase after the event.

Word Central
2023-07-25 18:00 - 19:45 | Performance Space
Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Winston Plowes.
Tony Curry was raised in Crawley and has lived and worked in Manchester for three decades, running literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy, Complicit Relations, Moving and The Odyssey, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. His play, The Teddy Bear, was staged at Manchester’s Contact Theatre. His has three poetry collections published by Flapjack Press, The Noble Savage, Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short and We Kid Ourselves.
Winston Plowes lives in Calderdale aboard his floating home, which doubles as lodgings for lost and wayward words. He teaches creative writing, has been Poet in Residence for the Rochdale Canal Festival and The Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, and worked in collaboration with The Arvon Foundation, Glastonbury Festival, UCLAN, Manchester Museum and the BBC. He is also the inventor of the world’s first (and possibly last) Random Poetry Generating Bicycle, the ‘Spoke-n-Word’. His published poetry collections include Misery Begins at Home [Rubberybubberyboy Parchment], Micro Chap-book Extras [Origami Press] and Telephones, Love Hearts & Jellyfish [Electric Press].
Free Entry, everyone welcome.
Book your open mic slot from noon on Tues 11th July via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk
NB Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe
Performance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time.If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list

'Curry Mile - A Changing Neighbourhood' Event
2023-07-20 18:00 - 19:45
Join Michael Baker and Phil Portus, the photographers behind this important social documentary project and discover the facts behind their exhibition images from 2016 to 2023. The talk is followed by a Q&A, and exhibition preview and reception.
Free – please book in advance
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme: A Postcard Heritage
2023-07-19 13:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Postcard collecting is still a popular hobby or a means of finding out more about a locality, but it is probably rare, these days, to receive a postcard through the post. Indeed, we could argue that postcard-news would be old news by time we received it, these days. However, many of us might have noticed postcards amongst house clearances, and they are just as likely to say ‘see you tomorrow’ as ‘wish you were here’. Some of us might remember when postcard postage was less than letter postage. Speaker, Michael Billington, seems to have a hoard postcards, so join us on this Wednesday afterrnon to hear all about them.

Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal, History and Preservation
2023-07-19 10:30 - 17:00 | Performance Space
We are delighted to welcome Paul Hindle to talk to us again. This time Paul’s talk will take us through the history and restoration of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal which, like most canals, fell into disuse some years ago. The building of the canal would have been a great achievement in its time, involved a huge workforce and probably required some ingenious engineering solutions along the way. Any restoration must have been equally difficult and required considerable funds and many manhours. Join us on this Wednesday morning to hear the full story.

Paper Piano Presents: Opening Night
2023-07-13 08:00 - 17:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
This is the first “Paper Piano Presents” event to mark the exhibition in the Henry Watson Music Library. As part of the opening night visitors will have the opportunity to listen to Paper Piano’s back catalogue including rare tracks from The Oreoh!s, The Declining Winter and SPIRIT:level. There will be the chance to purchase limited art works by DJ Goalpost as well as picking up one of his free badges. Mark Hoyle (Dub Sex, Dumb, SPIRIT:level) will also be making an appearance to read some of his poems published by Paper Piano Press.
Free – please drop in
Please support our Library Live Programme, if you can, by donatng via the cash or contactless donation points in the venue or online

Curry Mile – A Changing Neighbourhood
2023-07-10 08:00 - 2023-09-30 17:00 | First Floor Exhibition Hall
A documentary photography project spanning 7 years (2016-2023). Photographers Michael Baker & Phil Portus explore ‘present day’ Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, and challenge perceptions of what ‘Curry Mile’ now represents, as opposed to nostalgia & past recollections. The ethnic make-up of Rusholme has changed significantly over recent years. Barber shops, shisha bars & dessert parlours have sprung up, the traditional restaurants are less dominant, Manchester City FC have relocated, and the pubs have all closed. The result poses the question as to whether the term ‘Curry Mile’ is now a misnomer.
To accompany this exhibition, we are hosting a talk with the photographers on Thursday 20 July at 6pm, which can be booked on eventbrite
Free exhibition – 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

Manchester College Students: Responses
2023-07-10 08:00 - 2023-09-09 17:00 | Wolfson Reading Room
Foundation Art and Design Students from The Manchester College have brought the Art School’s ethos of research to the heart of our iconic Wolfson Reading Room. Each student has developed a personal body of work which has initially been inspired by one of the books from Central Library. The boards exhibited are an insight into personal research and subject matter, produced in traditional messy art school rooms where students become inspired and have tested the possibilities of ideas, research and practical production. These fresh, innovative Art School Creatives will continue their practices in: painting, drawing, film, photography, textile design, animation and site-specific work; progressing on to degree courses in the city and beyond. This exhibition will coincide with MIF (Manchester International Festival) and continues till 2 September.
To see more exciting innovative work and research, follow the Instagram link: #foundationartanddesigntmc
If you would like information about the Foundation Diploma course, please contact: Fiona Donald fdonald@tmc.ac.uk
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

Make Mine Manga: Exploring the Marvellous World of Manga
2023-07-10 08:00 - 2023-08-18 17:00 | Ground Floor
A free exhibition for anyone curious about manga as well as the avid fan. Explore the origins of Manga in Japan, the creative techniques behind the art and discover the wonder of Manga-Anime. The exhibition features artwork from incredible creators from Japan and discover today’s generation of award-winning British talents making manga in their own way as part of a truly global comic language. The exhibition has been specially created by Paul Gravett; the curator of comic exhibitions across the UK including the British Museum and the Barbican Centre and the author of numerous books about comics and their creators, including ‘Manga: 60 Years Of Japanese Comics’.
Free – please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Discovering Manchester: Wildlife & Nature
2023-07-07 08:00 - 2023-10-06 17:00 | First Floor Display Cases
Wildlife is always just a walk away wherever you are in Manchester and the beautiful countryside that surrounds it. This exhibition showcases the creative talents and passions of our Central Library staff members. We hope to inspire you to explore and enjoy the many areas of Manchester’s natural beauty, and to discover and appreciate hidden gems in and around Manchester, whilst considering the impact of conservation and rewilding efforts in the local area.
Free – drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Make Music Day
2023-06-21 10:00 - 19:30 | Henry Watson Music Library
The Henry Watson Music Library will again host a small festival as part of this international annual celebration of music. A variety of artists of many different styles will perform short sets (around 20 minutes) throughout the day, leading to a final full performance and presentation by Manchester International Roots Orchestra. It’s always a really good day of enjoying the joys of music!
Free – just drop in – please consider making a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme if you can, either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Windrush 75: A Celebration
2023-06-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Performance Space
In collaboration with The Jamaica Society and UNISON Manchester Inspire Black Members Forum, Manchester Libraries invite you to join us for a special book reading followed by speakers about their Windrush experiences. Deniz ‘Skip’ Önaç will be reading from his book, The Colour of My Heart: A True Story of Hope, Perseverance and Love.
This is a true story about the profound transformational effect the island and culture of Jamaica had on Deniz, a young, impulsive, white, Englishman, born in the late 1940s in rural Derbyshire. In his own words, Deniz tells the story of how his plans to live, love and learn in London in the early 1970s are suddenly and irrevocably changed.
“An inspirational read. You won’t stop turning the pages!”
“A very heartwarming story that leaves the reader wanting more.”
Q&As with Deniz will follow his reading where audience members can find out more about his time in Jamaica. Deniz will be available for book signing at the end of the evening.
Following the Q&A session, invited speakers Jennifer Rouse-Burgundy, Chair, Leeward Islands Peoples Association and Leslie Bell will talk about their experiences of Windrush.
Light refreshments will be served. Don’t miss out!
Free – no booking required

MIRO - Performance
2023-06-11 14:30 - 15:30 | Henry Watson Music Library
Manchester International Roots Orchestra return, to perform on our Sunday Funday as part of the Festival of Libraries, bringing together musicians, instruments and musical traditions from all parts of the globe, to perform both original and traditional pieces, MIRO is always brilliant and offers a chance to experience something unique.
There will also be a brief talk on the Global Folk Instruments Heritage Project, a collaboration between MIRO, the Henry Watson Music Library and the Royal Northern College Of Music. This project explores and examines musical cultures and instruments from different times and locations and will yield documentaries, performances, educational sessions, written pieces and more over the coming years.
Free – just drop in – please consider making a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme if you can, either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Sunday Funday - Festival of Libraries Celebration
2023-06-11 12:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Join us for an afternoon of fun with the family as we celebrate the Festival of Libraries, showcasing what Central Library has to offer and including our amazing crafts and face painting offers, amongst many other treats.
Free – drop in – please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in the venue or online

Inspired by Libraries: Linda Brogan
2023-06-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Join us for this in conversation event with award winning playwright and artist, Linda Brogan. Linda will be discussing how her pursuit of memories led to the excavation of the Reno Club, renowned in the 1970s for being the best soul and funk club in Manchester and a space for young mixed-race Mancunians who often weren’t welcome elsewhere; an exhibition at The Whitworth; and now a book, 12 Words, published by Bluemoose Books. Authors Carmen, Tia and Catherine were part of the 2016 Reno excavation that took place 30 years after the club was demolished and have written 12 Words alongside Linda, in the process unlocking truths, secrets and confessions.
Please note that these tickets are available on a Pay What You Can basis, either £2/6/10 ticket options are available

Down Memory Lane with Archives+
2023-06-09 13:00 - 16:00
Spend an hour or two looking through some of our memory boxes – or create your own box. Memory boxes cover the areas around Manchester and may bring back memories of where you used to live or play. Have a chat and cuppa with us, share some of your memories of the area you lived, or still live in, and see images from our collections. Suitable for all.
Free – drop in – please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in the venue or online

Writing Workshop with Anjum Malik
2023-06-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Join Manchester UNESCO City of Literature Multilingual City Poet Anjum Malik for a celebration of South Asian culture. Combining rich conversation, classical Indian dance and poetry (plus samosas), the award-winning Anjum Malik shines a spotlight on the vibrant legacy of South Asian communities in Manchester and beyond in an interactive workshop for participants of all ages and backgrounds.
Free – booking required – please also consider making a donation to support our Library Live programme at one of our cash or contactless donation devices in the venue or online

New Drum Kit!
2023-06-07 10:00 - 20:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
We have a new electronic drum kit, which will be available from this day! Our old kits have been popular features of the department and we’ve had lots of enquiries about when to expect a new one. It’s finally here, and bookings can be made at the Henry Watson Music Library desk or over the phone by calling 0161 234 1976, from 7 June. Please note that there are designated hour-long timeslots for this and events might affect availability.

Michael Burns
2023-06-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
Join us for this live performance by an experienced folk musician who draws inspiration from local and family history. Michael Burns’ repertoire incorporates music from a wide timespan and he is interested in music pertaining to social commentary and how it relates to the present day.
Click on the links to hear some of Michael’s music:
‘Mulespinners Cottrells We‘, tells the story of the Stalybridge Town Band and its involvement in Peterloo.
‘Tameside Lads’ tells of a sea rescue back in the 1800s.
‘James Keogh’ is about the role of people from Manchester in the Spanish Civil War.
‘Oh Marie’ is an impressionistic account of an Irish Traveller funeral in Gorton.
‘The Little Count’ is a waltz celebrating the music of a diminutive Polish musician who toured Europe in Georgian times before settling in Durham.
Free – just drop in – please consider making a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme if you can, either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

"You can see me, but I don't exist"
2023-06-03 08:00 - 2023-06-30 17:00 | Wolfson Reading Room
While photographing refugees in France, Belgium, Austria, and Sweden in 2018, Alan Gignoux noticed that a recurring theme among them was the gradual erosion of self, resulting from prolonged periods of living at the fringes of society. Similarly, he heard many of them talk of being invisible both to the immigration bureaucracies and to the wider societies in the countries in which they were seeking asylum.
He was particularly struck by the words of a young Afghan man in his final year at school who was seeking asylum in Sweden: “You can see me, but I don’t exist.” The young man was awaiting a response to his third and final appeal for permission to remain in the country and was expressing frustration at the way in which the asylum process had suspended him for years in a no man’s land of enforced separation from Swedish society. Borrowing its title from the young man’s words, this UK-based project aims to explore the dehumanisation experienced by people seeking refuge. Working with a camera obscura, Gignoux used a long exposure to blur the identity of the refugees whom he photographed while leaving the background in focus. This intentional blurring has a practical purpose as many people seeking refuge live in fear of the authorities and prefer to remain unidentifiable. However, it is simultaneously intended to be a visual metaphor for the corrosive impact of the asylum-seeking process on people.
Gignoux wanted to include the refugees’ voices in the project and so he invited the people whom he photographed, as well as other refugees who wanted to participate, to write a creative response to the blurred portraits.
Their creative writing was developed in workshops led by experienced poets. Working together as a group, or individually, the people addressed the themes that the portraits explore.
Alan Gignoux worked with Everything Human Rights, a community group offering a variety of services with the aim of promoting the wellbeing and integration of migrant ethnic minorities living in Wigan borough. The writing workshop leader was poet Ambrose Musiyiwa.
The free to enter exhibition is a collaboration between Alan Gignoux and Manchester Central Library. Image Copyright: Alan Gignoux.
To mark the launch of this free exhibition, you are invited to attend the opening event in Central Library’s Reading Room on Friday 2 June at 6:30pm. Reserve a place for this here on eventbrite
Free exhibition – just drop in – please consider making a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library. Thank you.
“You can see me, but I don’t exist” was made possible by a National Lottery Grant awarded by Arts Council England

An Evening with bestselling author TJ Klune
2023-05-31 18:30 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Manchester Libraries and Queer Lit Bookshop present An Evening with TJ Klune.
Meet bestselling author TJ Klune for a captivating discussion about his writing process and latest works, followed by a Q&A and book signing.
Join us for a book author event featuring the talented TJ Klune, bestselling author of “The House in the Cerulean Sea,” “Wolfsong,” and many more beloved novels.
During this event, TJ Klune will discuss his writing process, share insights into his creative inspiration, and provide a behind-the-scenes look at his latest works. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Klune’s work or just discovering his writing for the first time, this is a unique opportunity to connect with the author and gain a deeper appreciation for his craft.
In addition to the author talk, attendees will have the chance to participate in a Q&A session with TJ Klune, where they can ask questions about his books, characters, and writing style. The event will also include a book signing, giving fans the opportunity to get their favorite TJ Klune novels signed by the author himself. Books with be available to buy on the night also.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to meet TJ Klune and celebrate his incredible literary achievements. Register today to reserve your spot at this can’t-miss author event!
Doors open at 6pm with the event starting at 6:30pm.

Conserving Manchester Town Hall’s heritage: Restoring the Town Hall Clock. Evening Session
2023-05-30 17:30 - 18:45 | 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 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 and mosaic flooring; now it’s time to turn our attention to the magnificent clock that has kept time above the city since New Year’s Day in 1879.
Having maintained our timepiece for over 25 years, the Cumbria Clock Co have gathered a wealth of history about it. They’ll describe the work they’ve done to date and how they removed the mechanics to their workshops for repair, conservation, and precision monitoring. The repair of the carillon is already underway, and they’ll include some detail about that too.
Join us in Central Library for a chance to hear direct from the Cumbria Clocks team and find out just what it’s like to bring 21st century conservation skills to the Our Town Hall Project. The lecture is free to attend but please book your place.
EVENING SESSION AT 5.30PM

Conserving Manchester Town Hall's heritage: Restoring the Town Hall Clock. Afternoon Session.
2023-05-30 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 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 and mosaic flooring; now it’s time to turn our attention to the magnificent clock that has kept time above the city since New Year’s Day in 1879.
Having maintained our timepiece for over 25 years, the Cumbria Clock Co have gathered a wealth of history about it. They’ll describe the work they’ve done to date and how they removed the mechanics to their workshops for repair, conservation, and precision monitoring. The repair of the carillon is already underway, and they’ll include some detail about that too.
Join us in Central Library for a chance to hear direct from the Cumbria Clocks team and find out just what it’s like to bring 21st century conservation skills to the Our Town Hall Project. The lecture is free to attend but please book your place.
AFTERNOON SESSION AT 1PM

Word Central with special guest Leon the Pig Farmer
2023-05-23 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Leon the Pig Farmer [AKA Jack Horner] is a Manchester-based Yorkshire beat poet. An ex-serviceman who began writing verse to help him deal with a PTSD diagnosis, he has an assertive take on spoken word with fast firing rhythmic verse and a sharp outlook on both his mental health recovery, social observation and political imbalance. Leon has two collections available, Don’t Believe the Hype and Talking Myself Out of Trouble.
Book your open mic slot from noon on Tues 9th May via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk
NB Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe
Performance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time
If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list
You can catch up with our lockdown live streams and special guests’ sets on Word Central’s Facebook page
Word Central Facebook Group | Twitter: @WordCentralMcr | Manc Libraries Blog | Library Live

Local Community History Month-Archives+ Workshop
2023-05-16 11:00 - 13:00 | Ground Floor
Learn how to use local maps, street directories, censuses and various other archives to identify a local person – Free – please drop in
Other Local Community History Month events include:
1921 Census talk by Leslie Turner (free) – Friday 26 May, 11am – Book your place here
Handling session – Rates and Electoral Registers – Friday 26 May, 12 noon – Free – drop in
1939 Register Talk by Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society – Saturday 27 May, 10.30am – Book your place here

Silk Painting Workshop with Aysha Yilmaz
2023-05-13 13:00 - 15:00
MAFCFEST presents a creative session with Aysha on silk painting!
In this workshop, motifs and designs from The Silk Road ( Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkey etc) will be used to produce a Silk Painting.
Aysha will demonstrate how to apply the design to the Silk fabric from a drawing, followed by techniques of filling in with Silk paints.
A briefing will be given by Aysha on how Silk is produced and its origins. She will also touch upon the origins of the motifs used.
The workshop will be in the Performance Space in Central Library.

A Lifetime in Music with producer Mark Cooper & Jill Furmanovsky
2023-05-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
In celebration of her first retrospective at Manchester Central Library, music photographer Jill Furmanovsky is joined by long-term friend and former head of music at the BBC Mark Cooper comparing stories of their life in the music industry.
Mark Cooper began his career as a music journalist in the pages of Record Mirror, Q and Mojo and was BBC Studios’ Head of Music from 1999 to 2019. As the founding producer and presiding spirit of Later.. with Jools Holland, Mark booked and shaped the programme for 26 years without missing a single recording. From Stormzy to Björk, from Smokey Robinson to Norah Jones, from Sir Paul McCartney to Mary J. Blige, from Britpop to trip hop, the programme welcomed musical legends alongside the next generation of superstars including Adele, Ed Sheeran and Amy Winehouse. He also led the BBC’s TV coverage of Glastonbury from 1997 until 2020 and executive produced over 250 BBC music documentaries. His book, Later…with Jools Holland: 30 Years of Music, Magic and Mayhem, is published by HarperCollins.
‘It was Mark who had to explain to Jay-Z why he couldn’t just do his numbers and split, who told Seasick Steve why he had to play ‘Dog House Boogie’ on the Hootenanny and persuaded Johnny Cash that he simply had to come in, even when The Man in Black wasn’t feeling well.’ Words by Richard Williams.
For the last 50 years, Jill Furmanovsky has been photographing music’s greatest icons. Covering live performance to location and studio her subjects have ranged from a pre-teen Michael Jackson to Billie Eilish on the Glastonbury stage. Jill’s retrospective ‘Photographing the Invisible’ at Manchester Central Library until June 24th, displays some of her most famous works and hidden gems from her extensive archive.
Attendees will be able to view the exhibition following the talk before the library closes at 8pm.
Booking Required

Angel Delight's Eurovision Drag Party
2023-05-10 20:00 - 22:00 | Performance Space
The perfect party to make your Eurovision week go with a boom bang a bang!
Join the dream diva, Angel Delight, for an evening of singalongs, card games, bongo bingo, music quizzes and lots of surprises, all with an added Eurovision sparkle!

Doors open at 7.30pm. Bar will be open all evening.

Over 18’s only.

Photographing the Invisible with Jill Furmanovsky & Jon Savage
2023-05-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Join Jill in this special talk with Professor Jon Savage from the British Pop Archive, talking archives, curating Photographing the Invisible and the difficulty of choosing what to leave out.
Professor of Popular Culture at the University of Manchester, Jon Savage is is an award winning author and film writer. His books include England’s Dreaming: Sex Pistols and Punk Rock and This Searing Light: The Oral History of Joy Division. Films include the BAFTA winning The Brian Epstein Story, Teenage and Joy Division.
For the last 50 years, Jill Furmanovsky has been photographing music’s greatest icons. Covering live performance to location and studio her subjects have ranged from a pre-teen Michael Jackson to Billie Eilish on the Glastonbury stage. Jill’s retrospective Photographing the Invisible’, here at Central Library until 24 June, displays some of her most famous works and hidden gems from her extensive archive.
Attendees will be invited to look around the exhibition, on the first floor, following the talk before the library closes at 8pm.
Free – booking required – please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in the venue, or online
