Library Live

BSL Storytime
2024-12-21 11:00 - 13:00 UTC | Children’s Library
Join us and Manchester Deaf Centre’s Children and Young People’s Service for this session, which helps deaf children and young people to nurture friendships, skills and confidence for a bright future ahead! You will also have the chance to learn some signs during the session.
Free – Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Chapters in Change
2025-01-13 08:00 - 2025-03-29 17:00 | Ground Floor (Oculus Area)
The images in this display, in the oculus area on the Ground Floor, are from TiPP projects working in partnership with regional Youth Justice Services. They capture movements of creativity by some of society’s most underserved communities.
This project fosters collaboration between professional artists and young people, promoting connections between young people and the environment. They capture moments of reflection, vibrancy, creativity and growth and offer moments of reflection and calm.
TiPP delivers inclusive, creative arts sessions for some of society’s most underserved communities, supporting personal development and growth through participation. Their work seeks to foster human connection and demonstrate that everyone has something valuable to say.
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

An Evening with Alan Hollinghurst & Andrew McMillan
2025-01-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Performance Space
‘Did I have a grievance? Most of us, without looking far, could find something that had harmed us, and oppressed us, and unfairly held us back. I tried not to dwell on it, thought it healthier not to, though I’d lived my short life so far in a chaos of privilege and prejudice.’
One of the finest writers of our age, Alan Hollinghurst launches his first novel in seven years. Our Evenings is a dark, compelling and wickedly funny account of Dave Win’s life from his time as a scholarship pupil at a local boarding school, through his early loves, his life in London and on the road with an experimental theatre company, to a late-life affair which transforms his sixties. A portrait of modern England, the novel is an acutely observed tale of race and class, theatre and sexuality, love and the cruel shock of violence.
Alan is the award-winning author of seven novels including The Swimming Pool Library, winner of the Somerset Maugham Award, The Folding Star, winner of the James Tait Memorial Prize, and The Line of Beauty, winner of the Booker Prize. Hosted by poet and novelist Andrew McMillan (physical, playtime, Pity). Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and sponsored by The Midland Manchester. Supported by Library Live.
Image credit: Robert Taylor
PLEASE NOTE: This event was due to take place on Monday 7 October 2024 but was rescheduled due to illness
Tickets: ‘Book Now’ below, phone 0161 876 2015 or visit the MLF website

Central Library: Ten Years of Success
2025-01-20 08:00 - 2025-03-01 17:00 | Wolfson Reading Room
In 2024, Manchester Central Library celebrated ten years since its major transformation, and 90 years since its grand opening by King George V on 17 July 1934. This display in the Wolfson Reading Room celebrates it’s many achievements and successes over those ten years.
As the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Manchester’s libraries, and one of the most loved and iconic venues in the city, Central Library boasts services and facilities that are appreciated by over 2million people annually. Central Library is an inclusive and dynamic space that appeals to families, children and young people, as well as aspiring entrepreneurs, culture vultures, archivists, students, musicians and traditional library visitors. Since its relaunch in 2014, we have continued to innovate and develop new ways of providing a high-quality, modern and vibrant library offer for residents and visitors to the city.
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

Poppycock
2025-01-22 08:00 - 17:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
Poppycock, featuring Una Baines, perform their album ‘Magic Mothers’ (one of Louder Than War’s Top 100 albums of 2024), alongside artwork by Pascal le Gras and Suzanne Smith.
Band on stage at 6pm.
Free – please drop in

Word Central with Guest Poet Griot Gabriel!
2025-01-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word.
Tuesday 28th January, 6.00pm – 7.45pm, at Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD.
Doors open 5.40pm and free entry.
Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Griot Gabriel.
Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 14th January via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk.
N.B. 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.
January’s special guest Griot Gabriel is a poet from Manchester whose upbringing is rooted in Black urban culture and Nigerian heritage. His poetry explores masculinity, political discourse, identity, faith and spirituality, and inner-city experiences and challenges in context to historical and current social issues. Griot is founder of The Poetry Place, and in 2022 wrote and performed for Warner Bro’s. In 2023 he was commissioned to work with CHANEL, exhibiting at the Metiers D’Art Show, and performed at the Glastonbury and Manchester International Festivals. In 2024 he represented Manchester and came second in UNESCO’s International City of Literature Slamovision.
Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries
Free – drop in

Chinese New Year Celebration - Saturday
2025-02-01 13:00 - 16:00 | Ground Floor
Celebrate the Year of the Snake as Bowen Education join us for arts & crafts, face painting, a selfie booth, and a Hanfu Show featuring traditional Chinese clothing.
This event is a celebration of cultural fusion, bringing together Eastern and Western traditions to create an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in Chinese culture or enjoy the talents of local performers, there’s something for everyone!
Suitable for families.
Free – drop in. Advance booking optional: Chinese New Year Celebration at Manchester Central Library Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Reasons to Rebel: Looking Back at the 1980s - EVENT CANCELLED
2025-02-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Sheila Rowbotham will discuss her book, ‘Reasons to Rebel’. In this memoir she recounts her experiences of putting feminist thinking into practice in her job at the left-wing Greater London Council (GLC).
Rose Hunter is a member of the North Staffs Miners Wives Action Group. She will speak about women’s role in the 1984-5 Miners Strike and their grassroots activity locally and nationally.
Claire Miller from UNISON will speak about the Manchester Mental Health workers who are currently taking strike action.
The meeting has been organised by the Mary Quaile Club and is sponsored by the GFTU and Burnley UNITE.
Free – advance booking via maryquaileclub@gmail.com

Chinese New Year Celebration - Sunday Funday
2025-02-02 11:00 - 16:00 | Ground Floor
Celebrate the Year of the Snake as Bowen Education join us on this special Sunday opening with with dance and music performances, arts and crafts, face painting (£2), and much more.
This event is a celebration of cultural fusion, bringing together Eastern and Western traditions to create an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in Chinese culture or enjoy the talents of local performers, there’s something for everyone!
Suitable for families.
Free event – drop in (note – face painting £2)
Advance booking optional: Chinese New Year Celebration at Manchester Central Library Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Lights, Camera, Pride! LGBTQ+ History Month Film Night
2025-02-03 17:45 - 19:30 | Performance Space
To celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month we’re hosting a film night where you get to decide the film we watch. The LGBTQIA+ Staff Network will be turning the Central Library Performance Space into the plaza for one night only, complete with popcorn!
Monday 3rd February 2025
Doors open at 5pm. Film starts at 5:45pm on the dot.
We’ve shortlisted four films which celebrate our history, culture and queerness. This is an opportunity to come together as a community, meet colleagues and new friends in real life, and have some fun.

But which film would you like to see? You can vote for your favourite here...

You can find out more details about the films and watch the trailers below.

But I’m a Cheerleader

Megan (Natasha Lyonne) considers herself a typical American girl. She excels in school and cheerleading, and she has a handsome football-playing boyfriend, even though she isn’t that crazy about him. So she’s stunned when her parents decide she’s gay and send her to True Directions, a boot camp meant to alter her sexual orientation. While there, Megan meets a rebellious and unashamed teen lesbian, Graham (Clea DuVall). Though Megan still feels confused, she starts to have feelings for Graham.

Disclosure
This documentary follows an in-depth look at Hollywood’s depiction of transgender people and the impact of their stories on transgender lives and American culture. Disclosure provides a direct conversation between transgender people and Hollywood by showcasing both sides of the conversation with direct examples in film history.

Dating Amber
Set in 1990s Ireland, Eddie (O’Shea) is desperate to hide that he is actually gay, whereas everyone suspects that Amber (Petticrew) is, and she does little to convince people that she isn’t. They decide to team up and pretend to be a couple to throw people off of the scent.
At first, everything goes to plan, and even school bully Kev (O’Reilly) stops harassing the pair, but neither can hide their true nature for long, especially when they stumble across a gay nightclub whilst walking the town one night.

A Secret Love
A former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, Terry Donahue, and her partner, Pat Henschel, met in Canada in 1947. They later moved to Chicago and ran a successful interior decorating business until the late 1980s. They kept their lesbian relationship a secret from their families for almost seven decades.

Our wonderful libraries team have also curated a selection of Queer books for you to browse in the cosy reading corner. We’ll also have a suggestion box for you to recommend other LGBTQ+ books you would like the library service to stock.
Free – reserve a place by clicking on the ‘Book Now’ button below or here on eventbrite

International Film Screening Night
2025-02-17 17:30 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Welcome to the Manchester Central Library International Film Society!

We’re thrilled to have you join us for the very first edition of our film club. Our inaugural screening will take place on Monday, 17th February in the Central Library’s performance space, and we can’t wait to introduce you to the wonders of world cinema.
Monday 17th February. Central Library. St Peter’s Square. Manchester.
• Doors open: 17:15
• Introduction to the film: 17:30
• Film starts: 17:45 (sharp!)
• Entry: Pay what you can
• Popcorn: FREE!
• Drinks: Grab a coffee, tea, or soft drink from the fully stocked café!
At the Film Society, we aim to bring you the very best of global cinema—everything from hidden gems to beloved classics—enriching our collective film knowledge and experience. To make it even more exciting, each month you’ll have the chance to vote on 5 fantastic films, and the one with the most votes will be screened. Voting is democratic and fun: you’ll choose the film, and we’ll reveal the winner on the day. (Or, if you’re eager, feel free to email us before the event to find out early!)
Free event – Discover this month’s fantastic films, vote for your favourite and book tickets here!

Nova Scotian Folk Music Seminar
2025-02-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
Join us for a free seminar on Nova Scotian folk music, folklore and song collecting. Includes talk, discussion, screening, plus free tea and biscuits!
Free – please drop in

Illuminating our heritage – Afternoon Lecture
2025-02-20 13:00 - 14:15 | Performance Space
AFTERNOON LECTURE
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 of its original 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, mosaic flooring, clock, stained-glass windows, organ, furniture, the Albert Memorial and Albert Square. Now it’s time to turn our attention to some of the highly ornate original lighting.
Join us in Central Library for a chance to hear from Lauren Crossley of Arup. The lecture is free to attend but please book your place.
Illuminating our heritage – restoring Waterhouse’s lighting design
Illuminating the interiors of the Town Hall would have been a real challenge for Waterhouse, but he designed some fabulously ornate lanterns, lamps and lights – all in line with his overall vision and attention to detail. In this lecture we’ll hear about the intensive restoration of the original chandeliers and other light fittings throughout the building.
The task to bring them in line with modern technology – while preserving their heritage significance – has been achieved with a high degree of creativity and many respectful nods to the craftsmen that originally made them.
Lauren Crossley from Arup will present this lecture, in which she’ll also talk about her research on the historical installations and interventions over the decades.
Thursday 20 February 2025, The Performance Space, Central Library
Afternoon Lecture: 12.30pm arrival for a 1pm start (ends 2.15pm)
The lecture is free but you’ll need to book your ticket below.

Illuminating our heritage – Evening Lecture
2025-02-20 17:30 - 18:45
EVENING LECTURE
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 of its original 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, mosaic flooring, clock, stained-glass windows, organ, furniture, the Albert Memorial and Albert Square. Now it’s time to turn our attention to some of the highly ornate original lighting.
Join us in Central Library for a chance to hear from Lauren Crossley of Arup. The lecture is free to attend but please book your place.
Illuminating our heritage – restoring Waterhouse’s lighting design
Illuminating the interiors of the Town Hall would have been a real challenge for Waterhouse, but he designed some fabulously ornate lanterns, lamps and lights – all in line with his overall vision and attention to detail. In this lecture we’ll hear about the intensive restoration of the original chandeliers and other light fittings throughout the building.
The task to bring them in line with modern technology – while preserving their heritage significance – has been achieved with a high degree of creativity and many respectful nods to the craftsmen that originally made them.
Lauren Crossley from Arup will present this lecture, in which she’ll also talk about her research on the historical installations and interventions over the decades.
Thursday 20 February 2025, The Performance Space, Central Library
Evening Lecture: 5.00pm arrival for a 5.30pm start (ends 6.45pm)
The lecture is free but you’ll need to book your ticket below.

International Mother Language Day
2025-02-21 13:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Join us to celebrate the diverse language and culture of our city and local communities through traditional performances and crafts. Everyone welcome.
Free – just drop in – please consider making a donation to support our cultural programme if you can, either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Geologise Theatre: Chrissie and the Skiddle Witch
2025-02-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Performance Space
Join us and Geologise Theatre for their unique blend of storytelling, songs, and science, in this uplifting show about a family trying to adapt to a changing world.
Thirteen-year-old Chrissie is a budding climate change campaigner, but her family just don’t get it! When a huge storm hits her seaside town of Skiddle, Chrissie reluctantly gets roped into helping a strange old lady. To Chrissie’s surprise, she finds an unlikely ally with a big secret.
“A feel-good musical” **** British Theatre Guide.
“A delightful production that we strongly recommend” **** Starburst Magazine
“Lively all-age friendly songs” **** Broadway World
Suitable for ages 8+
Free – booking advised below (a limited number of tickets may be available on the door but can’t be guaranteed)
Note – you will receive an automated email confirmation for booked tickets – check your spam / junk folder if not in your inbox

Tony Lloyd Exhibition
2025-02-24 08:00 - 2025-06-30 17:00 | Lower Ground Floor Exhibition Space
An insightful exhibition in memory of Sir Tony Lloyd (1950-2024) – a popular politician who represented three different constituencies in the Greater Manchester area for a total of 36 years across five decades. He served as the country’s first Police and Crime Commissioner before becoming the first Mayor of Greater Manchester, returning to Parliament in 2017 as the member for Rochdale. Proudly supported by the Communication Workers Union, Clayton Hall Living History Museum and Manchester City Council.
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

Creative Archive Workshop Series: Rivers, Industrial Heritage, Regeneration
2025-02-24 13:30 - 15:00
‘So from the river we acquire an idea of human community. That is one of its most salutary features, so deeply imbued that we scarcely notice it.’ (Ackroyd, 2007: 11)
Ackroyd P (2007) Thames: Sacred River. London: Vintage.
Fiona Brehony invites us to explore relationships to waterways using creative writing and re-sounding exercises using visual, audio and text-based archive materials. The force and vibrancy of a river (as physical river and time-capsule containing heritage) is a great opportunity to use embodied approaches to understand the scale of a river. We will playfully engage in possibilities of being and being with the river; connecting personal objects used to serve tangible daily experiences, with seemingly intangible objects such as a river.
Fiona is incorporating archive materials into her own research to explore ecological and socio-material histories of the River Irk in Manchester, UK. She is working both independently with materials to create audio and visual representations and engaging local people in creative workshops with archive materials. Fiona is interested in exploring Cultural Memory of places, which refers to the collective practices that societies use to build and uphold their relationship to the past and present.
This workshop series is an opportunity to playfully consider our personal relationships to waterways, what we can learn from the ‘liquid history’ they contain, and the ways they connect us to places and people.
Bio:
Fiona is a Manchester based research-practitioner, working within spaces between Geography, documentary film, sound art and performance.
Since October 2023, Fiona has been working on a PhD research project that engages in possibilities of rivers as Cultural Heritage, with a particular focus on river engagement in areas of regeneration.
Fiona’s art practice explores the relationship between history, memory and visual and written narrative. She employs a research-based approach, working across a range of media. Previous artworks have utilised specialist expertise, involving collaboration with scientists and composers, to create lyrical and inquisitive connections between people and their environment. Fiona’s work takes the form of creative documentary and audio-visual installations that are exhibited in galleries and museums.
Free – Just drop in.
Please consider making a donation to support our Library Live programme here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Word Central with Mike Garry!
2025-02-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word.
Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Mike Garry.
Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 11th February via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk.
N.B. 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.
February’s special guest Mike Garry is a poet, librarian, and Doctor of Education. He’s been writing poems from the age of 5 and reading them from the age of 35. He’s toured the world with John Cooper Clarke for 15 years, and worked with the likes of New Order, Philip Glass, Orbital and Joe Duddell. Mike’s performances are unforgettable. His voice is a musical instrument and his words are strings oscillating. He has worked with The Cassia String Quartet for 10 years and released their first album last year.
“A Genius” – Peter Saville
Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries.
Doors open 5.40pm and free entry.
Free – just drop in

Crime Central
2025-02-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Crime Central is the monthly crime and thriller fiction event at Manchester Central Library.
NEXT EVENT: Wednesday 26th February

An hour chat with special guests Susy Aspley, Nick Quantrill and Eve Smith – followed by a Q & A and book signing!

Bringing the best from all over!
Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country – the big names are all coming to Manchester!
Go behind the scenes!
Showcasing blockbuster bestsellers, emerging talent and industry insiders, Crime Central will share the real story of what goes on in the crime world.
Meet your favourite authors!
With giveaways, audience interaction, book signings, the chance to ask questions and more – while bringing a crime fiction buzz back to this great northern city.
Book your tickets below

aAh! Magazine X Lights Up Exhibition
2025-03-03 08:00 - 2025-03-29 17:00 | Wolfson Reading Room
In 2024, Manchester was crowned the first ever European Capital of Cycling, recognising the city’s commitment to making cycling safer and more accessible for all. As part of International Women’s Day, the aAh! Magazine X Lights Up Exhibition celebrates the achievements of women in cycling and explores themes of women’s empowerment, inclusivity, representation and visibility on our roads and beyond.
Following the success of the Lights Up night time bike ride in November, which saw 180 women take to the streets to raise awareness about issues in cycling, this exhibition continues the conversation about empowerment, representation, safety, and visibility – both on the road and in public spaces.
Presented by aAh! Magazine, Manchester Metropolitan University’s arts and culture student magazine, the exhibition features work from student writers, journalists, designers, illustrators, and photographers. Through storytelling and visual art, it reflects on cycling as a tool for freedom, independence, and self-expression, amplifying the voices of women reclaiming urban spaces and finding community.
The Lights Up campaign, organised in partnership with Bee Pedal Ready, Station South, Manchester Metropolitan University, We Are Cycling UK, MCRActive, TfGM, and Starling Bikes, raises awareness of women’s safety while cycling, particularly as winter approaches and fewer women take to the roads.
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

IMLD 25: The Rising Sun documentary film screening
2025-03-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
“We had dreams, goals, prospects, and we were working towards them…Everything was perfect! And now…”
No family, no home, no language…
The Rising Sun is a documentary about a happy life that was destroyed by Russia, leaving darkness, uncertainty and fear ahead. This is the heart breaking story of a young woman who, with her young son and a great tragedy of her own, found herself in the UK because of the war in Ukraine.
The Rising Sun won Best Documentary at the Manchester Film Festival Awards in 2024.
In Ukrainian with English subtitles. Running Time: 72 minutes.
Strictly suitable for ages 16+
This event is part of International Mother Language Day 2025, organised by Manchester City of Literature.
All proceeds go to SUNFLOWER MANCHESTER a Manchester charity supporting those affected by war in Ukraine.
Book tickets here or using the ‘Book Now’ button below. Pay what you can.

Celebrating the Manchester Corinthians
2025-03-05 17:30 - 19:00 | Performance Space
The pioneering Manchester Corinthians women’s football team was established during 1948-49. They toured the globe promoting the sport, Manchester and female endeavour at a time when women’s football was banned by the Football Association.
Experiencing tours to Portugal, Germany, South America, North Africa, Italy, France and Spain during the 1950s to 1970s, the Corinthians also played a significant role in overturning the FA ban, establishing the Women’s FA and creating regular competition domestically and internationally.
Gary James will be discussing their history, talking of the challenges they faced and the club’s achievements during a 40+ year existence. In 2019 Gary established a campaign to erect permanent tributes to the players and his authorised history of the club was published in January 2025. He has been attending and researching women’s football since the 1980s.
Gary has captured the stories of women who played for the Corinthians throughout its history, including three women in their 90s who were there at the start in 1948-49. A couple of the Corinthians are anticipated to be present at the talk.
Copies of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History will be available on the day at a discounted price of £20 (RRP £25)
Free – Booking required below
Note – you will receive an automated email confirmation for booked tickets – check your spam / junk folder if not in your inbox

Women's Community Festival 2025
2025-03-08 11:00 - 14:00 | Performance Space
International Women’s Day (IWD) is returning to Manchester as a celebration of women’s empowerment, equality and contributions to the city at Manchester Central Library on Saturday 8 March.
Led and inspired by an already significant history of pioneering women, IWD 2025 is a chance for women across all generations and dedicated allies to come together in advancing women’s rights in Manchester and around the world.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Accelerate Action’, which calls on supporters of gender equality to act against systemic barriers women from all backgrounds face in their personal and professional environments.
In recent years, Manchester City Council has marked IWD with a dedicated ‘Walk for Women’ event. This year, however, the Council has joined forces with a diverse range of women-led community organisations to co-design a different approach.
Funding was made available for community organisations to host IWD events across the city through the annual IWD grants programme. A celebratory community-led programme of workshops, performances and discussions has also been planned for the day itself at Manchester Central Library based around the acronym HER: Heal Encourage, Revive.
The events for IWD 2025 are:
Heal – Performance Space
·  Flourish Together; Mindfulness Activity for relaxation and meditation, 11am-1pm
·  Equal Education Chances; letter writing and positive affirmations session, 11:20am-12:15pm
Encouraged – Performance Space 2 and 3
·    Community Thriving Together; sharing personal stories and overcoming challenges, 11am-11:50am
·   Trailblazers; Creating bookmarks and stitching
·   Young Identity with Shirley May; poetry performance by Young Identity members, 11:55am-12:15pm
·   Flourish Together; a 30-minute fireside chat chaired by Nickala Torkington about women changemakers, 12:20pm-12:50pm.
Revived – Performance Space 2 and 3
·     Bollyfit; an exercise class inspired by multicultural dance, 1pm-1:30pm
·     Councillor Ermina Bell will give a closing speech about the event, 1:35pm-1:45pm
·      DJ set to inspire and uplift
Glass Room/Sensory Space
·     Flourish Together; Bookable pop-up spa for treatments for 20 mins including Indian Head Massage in a clothed and seated setting, 11am-2pm
The events on the day will be accompanied by partner stalls of specialist community organisations including Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH), Manchester Rape Crisis, Fikawele African and Caribbean Mental Health, Walksafe  and Ahmed Iqbal Ullah (AIU) RACE Centre who will be on hand to raise awareness and promote their services.
Councillor Erinma Bell, Lead Member for Women, said: “Manchester has long been a city that has championed and supported women in the fight for gender equality.
“It’s fantastic to see the range of creativity and innovation in the events this year for International Women’s Day with the aim of accelerating further action for women to thrive personally and professionally. “I would encourage women from all backgrounds and generations to get involved, because there is something for everyone and to advocate for more allies join in on the celebrations and inform our priorities for advancing women’s equality this year.”
For more information or to book your place visit Women’s Community Festival.

IMLD 25: How to Make a Tank Disappear - Screening
2025-03-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, in one Ukrainian village, a story took place that spread around the world. Even the Polish president tweeted about it. Local Roma people stole a Russian tank. One fine day, one high-tech combat vehicle became less without a single shot. There was a tank, and it swam away. Later a lot of things that shoot, explode, and kill disappeared additionally- mortars, cannons, rockets etc. In that cases not only the Romani but also other people inhabiting Ukraine have tried. In the video performance we will tell you how it happened and why Romani was not punished at all.
The video-performance was created by Kherson Theatre Lab within British Council’s Creative Producers Program in 2024-2025.
Film running Time: 30 minutes, followed by an audience Q&A with the film author, Mykola Homanyuk, Associate Professor at Kherson State University
In English with Ukrainian subtitles – no age restriction
Book tickets here or using the ‘Book Now’ button below (please pay what you can)
This event is part of International Mother Language Day 2025 from Manchester City of Literature.

Emma Barnett
2025-03-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
‘I am writing this because I think another woman will need to read it.’
Broadcaster, author and journalist, Emma Barnett joins us to discuss her honest, relatable and funny new book Maternity Service. Written in real time after the birth of her second child, Emma draws parallels between lockdown and maternity leave before exploring the challenges faced by women when their lives are turned upside down. Emma’s perspective is invaluable for anyone with a rose-tinted view of what this period of a woman’s life entails and particularly for anyone about to embark on their own period of maternity service. It is a story filled with love too – tough love and the gooey kind.
Manchester-born and raised, Emma is an award-winning broadcaster and journalist. Named Interviewer of the Year at the British Journalism awards and Speech Broadcaster of the Year by the Radio Academy, she is a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today programme. Previously, she was the chief host of BBC’s Woman’s Hour, the longest running women’s programme in the world and also a Newsnight presenter on BBC Two. And before that, BBC Radio 5 Live’s mid-morning weekday programme coming straight out of Salford – five minutes from the hospital where she was born. Emma writes a bi-weekly newspaper column for the I paper and a newsletter on Substack called Trying.
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and chaired by Kate Feld, writer and host of the Feminist Book Club. Supported by Library Live.
Tickets: Book here or click on the green ‘Book Now’ button below, or phone the box office on 0161 876 2015

Bill Leader Celebration
2025-03-19 14:00 - 19:30 | Henry Watson Music Library
Bill Leader Celebration, with readings, live music and discussion panels. Guests confirmed include 2024 winner of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards (‘Best Singer’ category) Rioghnach Connelly, Oldham ballad singer Jennifer Reid, UK/South African folk duo Nastee Chapel, Liverpudlian shanty singer Andy Kenna and topical songsmith Stanley Accrington. Further names are yet to be announced. Bill, 95, will join by a Zoom set-up.
Bill Leader is the prolific sound engineer and producer, was the person who first recorded Bert Jansch, the Watersons, Shirley Collins, Anne Briggs, Mike Harding, Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty (the latter pair as The Humblebums), the Oldham Tinkers, Nic Jones, Dick Gaughan, Christy Moore, Martin Simpson, The Young Tradition, the Incredible String Band, etc.
Whilst at Central Library, you may also like to visit ‘Sounding the Century’, an exhibition which runs till the end of March, which gathers the paper ephemera – flyers, magazines, catalogues, programmes, posters, original artwork, broadsheets, contracts, cuttings etc. – accumulated by Bill over his lifetime.
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

Mystery International Film Screening
2025-03-24 17:30 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Welcome to the second edition of Manchester Central Library’s International Film Club’s Mystery Screening series.
Event Details:
• Doors open: 17:15
• Introduction to the film: 17:30
• Film starts: 17:40
• Entry: Pay what you can (recommended donation of £3)
• Popcorn: FREE!
• Drinks: Grab a coffee, tea, or soft drink from the fully stocked café!
At the Film Society, we aim to bring you the very best of global cinema— hoping to shine a light on underseen gems from around the world —enriching our collective film knowledge and experience. To make it even more exciting, each month you’ll have the chance to vote on 5 fantastic films, and the one with the most votes will be screened with the winner being revealed at the start of the event.
YOU CAN VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE FILM HERE.
To help you choose, there’s more information about this month’s contenders here:

Murina 2021, Croatia
Platformed by Martin Scorsese, this debut feature from Croatian filmmaker Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović, is the story of a young girls struggle for self-determination against the wills of her controlling father. Set against the gorgeous but brutal and rugged scenery of the Adriatic Coast, the film sees Julija search for agency after her family dynamic is turned upside down by the arrival of an old family friend, Javier, whom Julija thinks could offer the chance at an escape from her circumstance. A complex film filled with jealousy, rebellion and troubling desires all in support of the often-painful journey of young adulthood – beautifully photographed against a sea that is just as troubling, painful and absolutely gorgeous.

Interview 1971, India
A formally fascinating Bengali film set against the hustle and bustle of the evolving landscape of early 70s Calcutta. Mrinal Sen’s film focuses on the difficulties of economic betterment in a culture still affected by the lingering ghost of colonial hangover as his quest to prepare for a job interview by getting a suit to wear is met by comically unyielding hardship. Using the raw techniques capitulated in Italy and France, Sen blends fiction and documentary to create a critique of a society with ideals firmly routed in the past yet focused on the future. Engaging, provoking and inspiring.

Yeelen 1987, Mali
From a legend of the Bambara people director Souleymane Cisse crafts a film that would be the Winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival. Father and son go head-
to-head in a mythical chase across the 13th Century Mali Empire. Magic and destiny pulse through this fantastic film as do beautiful images and rugged landscapes as life and death, destiny and determination, and dark and light are explored in this one-of-a-kind filmic experience. The films storytelling is compelling and original, creating a modern myth of the old world inspired by folklore and history in equal sway. You’ve seen films about folklore and magic before but never like this and never this departed from the usual Hollywood presentation of such ideas.

Walking the Streets of Moscow 1964, USSR
Valodya, a young Siberian writer embarks on a trip to Moscow where he immediately bonds with the charismatic Kolya. Simple joys of a now forgotten era abound in this beloved Soviet comedy that is emblematic of the cultural shift that occurred during the period known as the Khrushchev thaw, with societal and cultural restrictions loosening and becoming freer. Focusing on the city with its many wide boulevards and intimate alleys and all the various quirky characters that are encountered along the way. Creating a picture of a Soviet people that are lively and joyous and from a diverse array of backgrounds. It also looks inwards at youth and the fleeting moments that define a lifetime to create a piece that elicits a nostalgic quality even if we were not there to experience it firsthand.

Peking Opera Blues 1986, Hong Kong
A witty ensemble action comedy that explores gender roles and challenges traditional norms against the backdrop of early 20th century China and the rich history of the Peking opera directed by one of the most dynamic filmmakers in Hong Kong’s storied film history. A jewel thief, a revolutionary and the daughter of an opera house owner collide in a quest for stolen jewels in this rollercoaster action adventure that is a total blast from beginning to end. Showcasing the lush costumes, makeup and traditions of the Peking Opera while also telling a high-intensity, female-focused adventure make this a must watch for people looking to explore Hong Kong cinema.

Word Central with guest poet Lateral G!
2025-03-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word.
Tuesday 25th March, 6.00pm – 7.45pm
Doors open 5.40pm and free entry.
Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Lateral G.
Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 11th March via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk.
N.B. 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.
Political, quirky and authentic, our special guest Lateral G tells stories of life from her downwardly mobile perspective, with wry observations on society, ageing, and the general impossibility of living well in a capitalist system. It’s an engaging combination of serious stuff, with an amusing performance. A nomadic traveller, she lives on the road and has recently returned from a solo winter in southern Europe for a spring and summer of poetry events, festivals and slams all over the North and as far south as the Midlands. You can keep up with her at lateralg.co.uk.
Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries.

Black British Book Festival Manchester
2025-03-29 10:00 - 16:00
The Black British Book Festival is set to return to Manchester Central Library next year following a successful event at Manchester Central Library in September 2023.
The festival will bring the incredible energy, culture and celebration of Black British literature to the city on Saturday 29th March 2025.
It is another incredible opportunity to connect with inspiring Black British authors, storytellers, and book lovers right here in Manchester. It is open to all and free to attend. It will be a day to celebrate Black voices and stories through workshops, the chance to participate in panels and buy books and more.
Founded by Selina Brown in 2021, the Black British Book Festival is Europe’s largest celebration of Black Literature and has taken place in London each Autumn. This year’s London event featured talks from Grammy Award® winning rapper Eve Jihan Cooper; Diane Abbott discussed her experiences in a panel titled “A Woman Like Me,” while journalist and presenter Charlene White led an insightful session.
The Festival prides itself on having events in different parts of the country with the Manchester Central Library event the latest to be announced.
Appearing at the event in Manchester will be DJ Paulette, Kehinde Andrews, Joseph Coelho, Kimberley Whittam, Kit De Wall, Cebo Campbell and many more!
Councillor John Hacking Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said:
“We are delighted that during Black History Month we can announce the return of the Black British Book Festival to Manchester. We are proud of our year-round diverse cultural programme, and the work Read Manchester has done to ensure our residents can see themselves in the books held in libraries.
“We are so pleased the Festival is returning to Central Library in March next year. Last year’s event in Manchester was inspirational and I’m sure the upcoming event will be too.”
FREE TICKETS CAN BE BOOKED HERE OR AT THE LINK BELOW!!
