This collaborative exhibition celebrates one of Manchester’s great adopted sons on his 200th birthday. The archives of The Henry Watson Music Library in Central Library, The Hallé Concerts Society, The Royal Northern College of Music and Forsyth Brothers Limited, have been thoroughly explored and displayed in order to tell the story of Hallé's life and […]
Through photography, film, music and sculpture; See My Dunya: See My World brings to focus the seldom seen faces, the un-heard stories and dreams that make up the Somali-British experience. An invitation into the Somali-Mancunian experiences, it hosts the images, testimonies, sounds and swag of the many individuals that make up this seldomly centred yet hyper-visible community; […]
For the first RAD Screenings event of 2019 they'll be helping you get over the January blues by turning the volume up and bringing their fave cinematic, feline themed rock band to the big screen: Josie and the Pussycats! This cult classic opens on a totally fictional world where, for years the record industry has […]
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT Reflecting on the 70th anniversary of the closure of Manchester’s original tramway network in January 1949, the North West Film Archive opens up its collection of footage of tramways from around the region from the 1890s to the 1950s. Curated and presented by a member of the archive’s staff this […]
It’s a children’s take over today! Manchester school children have chosen a Victorian and Time Travelling theme for the activities and content for our popular January family spectacular. Pop in and join us for free family fun. We’re sure you’re going to love it! Free - please drop in
Anne Lister of Shibden Hall, Halifax (1791-1840) was a landowner, scholar and diarist. Her 4-million word journals, partly written in her private code, recorded her lesbian affairs with other women. BBC1’s drama series, Gentleman Jack (spring 2019), opens in 1832. Jill Liddington asks: how could Anne Lister do all she did in 1832?
Making and sharing music is easier than ever thanks to digital technology. But can you make money? Join us and hear from a panel of musicians and music technology experts: Afrodeutsche: the British born Ghanain/Russian/German composer, producer and DJ based in Manchester. Her productions cross a wide range of styles including classical solo piano, techno, […]
Mad Theatre Company and the Delaney (Community) Theatre Group invite you on a funny and poignant journey through the north west’s rich cultural history to the time of the suffragettes and the First World War. This event at Manchester Central Library will feature selected scenes from Moston-based MaD Theatre Company’s original play, It’s the wrong […]
On this day of reflection we will be screening the UK Premier of the film, Who Will Write Our History, which tells the story of historian Emanuel Ringelblum who defied his captors to ensure the Oyneg Shabes archive would survive the war. Performances by young people throughout the afternoon and family activity sessions based around […]
It is the age of total surveillance. Everything you say or do is scrutinised and recorded. Even your innermost thoughts are probed. You cannot be too careful; there are enemies everywhere. This unique immersive performance will plunge you into an authoritarian world where you will learn to identify traitors and expose their thought crimes. This […]
WORD CENTRAL a semaphore-exploding mind-flow open mic poetry & spoken word hosted by Tony Curry With special guest poet Ciarán Hodgers Ciarán is a multi-award-winning spoken word poet from Drogheda, currently touring his debut collection Cosmocartography. He is the Sean Dunne National Young Writer 2010, an International Pangaea Poetry Slam Champion 2015 and the Word […]
Come and welcome in the Year of the Pig at Central Library! Beginning with a Lion Dance at the front of the Library to let the new year in, there will be music and dance performances, and a demonstration of the Chinese Tea Ceremony. Plus we have lots of crafts and activities for you to […]
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.
