What's on

In conversation with Sir Richard Leese

Performance Space

This is a live audience event. The booking includes access to post-event networking where drinks will be served. Sir Richard Leese, the Leader of Manchester City Council, is stepping down in December  after 25 years at the helm, overseeing a redevelopment of the city centre after the 1996 IRA bomb, followed by an extensive regeneration […]

£8

Manchester Animation Festival (MAF): Animation Mixtape: 2020 Edition

Performance Space

Manchester Animation Festival (MAF) is the UK’s largest Animation Festival and is dedicated to the celebration of the animated art form. Hosted in the Manchester Central Library and at HOME, the festival is the UK’s biggest animation hub, inviting people from Manchester and beyond to share in all things animated. A hybrid festival for 2021, […]

Manchester Animation Festival (MAF) Animasyros Presents: Contemporary Greek Animated Classics

Performance Space

Manchester Animation Festival (MAF) is the UK’s largest Animation Festival and is dedicated to the celebration of the animated art form. Hosted in the Manchester Central Library and at HOME, the festival is the UK’s biggest animation hub, inviting people from Manchester and beyond to share in all things animated. A hybrid festival for 2021, […]

£6

Dream FM presents: ‘What do you dream of?’

Performance Space

Join us for the in-person premiere of What do you dream of? — a special broadcast & sound work created with the people of Greater Manchester Night falls and metropolis mirrors the cosmos. Destinies connected by light and dust send signals, alone, to one another. The city glitters: On Air. In August 2021, artists Danielle […]

Book Launch: Nail on the Head by Paul Cookson

Performance Space

FLAPJACK PRESS PRESENTS: Nail on the Head A COVID-19 Poetry Diary, Vol. 4 Written daily throughout the UK’s restrictions to combat coronavirus, Nail on the Head takes us from the anniversary of the first lockdown, through the easing of regulations, and up to our grand reopening on so-called ‘Freedom Day’. Humorous, compassionate, and with a […]

Manchester Celebrates International Day of Disabled People

Performance Space

Come and celebrate the day with Manchester City Council and Manchester Met University. Activities include, screening of disability history films, panel discussion of disability past and present, short films from GMCDP Young Creatives, music from the Spotlighters, information stalls and refreshments. Free – please drop in

Christmas Tree Traditions

Performance Space

We will be decorating 7 community Christmas trees in a range of traditional styles. Have a go at creating your own Christmas crafts and join our Manchester communities as they share their traditional crafts. Free - but please consider making a donation if you can either online or at one of our cash or contactless […]

Christmas Extravaganza

Performance Space

The whole family is invited to join us for Central Library’s Christmas celebrations! We’ll have choirs singing songs and carols, Christmas crafts for children and hot chocolate and festive treats to warm you up in the cafe. Keep an eye out for the Toy Soldiers who will be popping up during the day. We’ll also […]

Word Central

Performance Space

Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word Presented by Flapjack Press & Manchester Libraries. Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Ben Willems. You can book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 30th November here. NB Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer. Performance slots are allocated on a 'first come first […]

Art of Oesophageal Cancer

First Floor Display Cases

Art of oesophageal cancer is a visual representation of one patient’s experience of going through treatment, surgery and then coming to terms with a new normal. The subject matter touches on wider public health issues and covers the pre-cancer condition Barrett’s oesophagus, as well as the artist’s experience of chemotherapy, surgery and post-operative period in […]

Creative Writing Class

Chief Librarian's Office

Writer Cathy Crabb is running a weekly drop in for anyone who would like to spend a couple of hours strolling through storytelling. With a different exercise per week it could be anything from a screenplay to flash fiction to songwriting - just to give your mind a welcome circuit break and a bit of […]

The Door Opened: 1980s China

Lower Ground Floor Exhibition Space

One can argue that nostalgia is the strongest emotion, a pure mixture of wistfulness and melancholy. Adrian Bradshaw, an English photographer, brings that sense of yearning into full focus in this exhibition presented by the Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester. Featuring a blend of candid and posed photographs which explore China in the […]