What's on

Northern Publishers Fair

Performance Space

Ten cracking northern publishers serving up bookish goodness at the Northern Publishers' Fair! Come see what these innovative Northern Publishers have to offer and celebrate the North after, what we will all agree, has been a hard year for independent publishing! Ask our lovely publishers for their recommendations :) Publishers announced in the following weeks […]

Behind Closed Doors

Lower Ground Floor Exhibition Space

Behind Closed Doors is a photographic exhibition featuring life within an Intensive Care Unit at the height of the pandemic. The photo’s were taken by Petro Bekker who volunteered to go back and work in the ICU at the start of the pandemic.  Petro re-joined her colleagues, where she had been a Senior Sister and […]

Thank You Manchester Weekender

As part of the Thank You Manchester Weekender, Central Library will play host to an interactive musical extravaganza.  There will be the opportunity to try your hand at playing one of the many instruments from the library’s collection and listen to the Northern Chamber Orchestra perform.  Don't miss out on the Hip Hop archive exhibition […]

Queering the North

Performance Space

The OUTing the Past International Festival of LGBT+ History (est. Manchester in 2005) has teamed up with the Museum of Free Derry to create the first retrospective showcase of NI Queer Activism. A rare insight into the previously unacknowledged tenacious heroism of queer activism in Northern Ireland before, during and following “The Troubles”. The project […]

Dave Haslam ‘All You Need is Dynamite’ Book Launch

Performance Space

In ‘All You Need Is Dynamite: Acid, the Angry Brigade, and the End of the Sixties’ - the latest in his Art Decades series of small format books - Dave Haslam explores the fading of Sixties dreams of peace and love, and the emergence of urban terrorist groups, particularly the Angry Brigade who carried out […]

Shon Faye: The Transgender Issue

Performance Space

Writer and presenter Shon Faye will be at Manchester Central Library to discuss her new book THE TRANSGENDER ISSUE with Christine Burns MBE. About this event Blackwell's Manchester and Manchester Libraries are delighted to be hosting an evening with writer and presenter Shon Faye to celebrate the launch of her new book THE TRANSGENDER ISSUE: […]

£6.78 – £23.74

Word Central Open Mic Night

Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word Hosted by Tony Curry Presented by Flapjack Press & Manchester Libraries Monday 27th September, 6.00pm with special guest Gus Jonsson Gus is a poet and writer who was brought up on the Isle of Wight. Now living in Littleborough, his two autobiographical volumes of poetry and prose, Vectis Voices and Vectis […]

Were You There? The Story of Manchester Free Trade Hall.

Performance Space

THE FREE TRADE HALL – THE MOST IMPORTANT POPULAR MUSIC VENUE IN GREAT BRITAIN BETWEEN 1951 AND 1996 Richard Lysons, author of 'Were You There? Popular Music At Manchester's Free Trade Hall 1951-1996' will talk to veteran Manchester music writer, Mick Middles about his widely acclaimed book. Manchester's Free Trade Hall was arguably the most […]

Living Library: This is What an Activist

We host a living library event to mark the launch of a new campaign that breaks stereotypes on what an activist looks like and showcase how generations are working together to tackle climate change. The ‘This Is What An Activist’ campaign launch coincides with the International Day of Older Persons and the living library event […]

Drag Queen Bingo

Performance Space

We’re celebrating Older People’s Day in style, with an afternoon of bingo. But this is Manchester. We do things differently here! Join the fabulous Angel Delight for a sparkling afternoon of fun, including stand up bingo, bongo bingo, singalongs and loads more. Please phone 0161 234 1932 to book your FREE tickets. Maximum of six […]

Goalkeeper: Memoir of Peter Street Book Launch

Performance Space

Spondylux Press, Manchester Poetry Library and Manchester Libraries are proud to invite you to the book launch of 'Goalkeeper' The Memoir of poet Peter Street. One 'alone, but not lonely' boy's triumph over adversity, motivated by his dream of becoming a professional footballer and a longing for truth and connection. Street's childhood memoir is a […]