On Sunday 7 June 2020, protestors marching to support the Black Lives Matter movement in Bristol tore down the statue of slave trader Edward Colston and threw it in the city’s harbour. This dramatic action thrust the city onto the global stage and put it at the forefront of an ongoing and bitter culture war. […]
This panel presentation and discussion will look at the history of migration, and how environmental refugees have always been there but have been increasing drastically over recent decades. Manchester’s history of activism on migration will be at the fore-front of this event, looking at how this activism may need to further evolve in the future. […]
A powerful drama performance about a young person piecing together their grandfather’s arrival in the UK from Bangladesh in the ’70s, when due to the colonial legacies of conflict and poverty he left a country with little climate impact to work in a UK industry with high climate impact. This climate impact would be damaging […]
A short, illustrated behind the scenes talk by professional cartoonist Polyp, revealing what goes into creating one of his climate cartoons, followed by a hands on workshop session helping aspiring artists create their very own climate cartoon! Free – booking required
Are you passionate about issues facing the world today? As part of Festival of Libraries week, we invite you to explore Activism past, present and future, as captured in Manchester’s Archives, and to share your own experiences. An artist will be on hand to help you get creative and add your views to our Wall […]
As part of the Festival of Libraries, join poet Lemn Sissay OBE for an exciting talk for young people on how libraries have inspired him in his life. Lemn says: “A library is the loudest place on the high street, because books are bursting with very loud ideas! Yet it is where you can go […]
Foundation Art and Design Students from The Manchester College have brought the Art School’s ethos of research to the iconic circular reading room with a series of stunning works. Each exhibited board is an insight in to personal research and subject matter, produced in traditional messy art school rooms where students become inspired and have […]
This Festival of Libraries event celebrates pioneering women throughout Manchester’s history. Come and join us for family-friendly activities, including badge-making, memorial walks, and an archive-handling workshop. There will be short talks on influential women, including Louise Da-Cocodia and Ellen Wilkinson. Kate Green MP will give the Margaret Ashton Memorial Lecture on ‘Women and Politics', and […]
Join in a range of family-friendly activities celebrating the joy of books and stories celebrating diversity. Relax in the story tent with our storyteller sharing stories with characters and authors/illustrators of colour. Listen to music from a range of cultures and spend some time getting creative with a selection of craft activities for families. Free – […]
A Breast Cancer Awareness Exhibition Tour Patient advocacy group METUPUK, is hosting a pop-up exhibition throughout the venue to highlight the need to improve care and research around secondary (metastatic) breast cancer. The exhibition aims to highlight the seriousness of Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) the biggest killer of women under the age of 50 here […]
Join the Archives+ team as we honour the outstanding contribution of the nation's armed forces at a special celebration for all the family. Pop along to our stall just outside Central Library Free – drop in – please consider making a donation if you can either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes […]
Joining Rob Parker this month is Lesley Kara, Sunday Times Top Ten author of ‘The Rumour’, Stephanie Sowden, Manchester based debut author of ‘After Everything You Did’ and Russ Thomas, Sunday Times bestselling author of the DS Adam Tyler series. Lesley Kara’s debut ‘The Rumour’ was a Sunday Times bestseller and has been published in 18 […]
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.
