Rockarchive.com proudly presents a unique exhibition by the UK's leading music photographers to honour Manchester's music heritage. From the rise of punk, Factory Records, The Hacienda, the Madchester years and beyond, this exhibition is a retrospective of Manchester's huge influence and continuing importance on the rock music scene. Free – please drop in Image ©: Jill Furmanovsky/rockarchive.com
R. McBerny is a collaborative exhibition organised by Andrew Hunt and Veit Laurent Kurz that explores how contemporary painting, performance and writing might produce overtly emotional and demonstrative forms of discourse between communities of artists and writers in Berlin, New York and Manchester. Free - please drop in
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; […]
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 […]
SORRY, THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT Welcome to our first Drag Queen Bingo Night at Central Library. We are proud to present the fabulous Angel Delight for a practically perfect evening of comedy, fun and frolics. Angel will be your gorgeous host for the evening, that will also feature Mary Poppins as you've never […]
What’s it like to be sixteen years old now? In this exhibition, leading contemporary photographers join forces to present multimedia project, Sixteen, exploring the dreams, hopes and fears of sixteen-year olds across the UK. Photographer Craig Easton conceived this ambitious project following his engagement with sixteen-year olds at the time of the Scottish Referendum. It was the first, and as […]
A chance to meet the artists behind the exhibition and explore their world...A day of workshops, a Q&A and more to celebrate the continuation of See My Dunya: See My World, an exhibition spotlighting the Somali community in Manchester. Through photography, film, music and sculpture; See My Dunya brings to focus the rarely celebrated faces, […]
In preparation for World Book Day on the 7 March, let us help you get your character ideas flowing and costumes started! Come along for inspiration and assistance in designing, cutting and stitching felt masks, headdresses and logos to bring your Gruffalos and Gangsta Grannies to life. Costume Factory sessions will also take place at […]
As part of our celebration of LGBT History Month, join us for a special In Conversation with Christine Burns, hosted by Carl Austin-Behan. Trans people have been on a long journey for recognition and respect. Former campaigner Christine Burns has a lifetime’s experience of that journey and uses it to enable untold stories to be […]
Just after Valentines 2019, RAD invite you to Central Library for more of an anti-valentines film, a film that isn’t a love story, but a cult film about love and its highs and lows: 500 Days of Summer! Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (10 Things I Hate About You) and Zooey Deschanel (New Girl), this comedy goes […]
The Gaming and Apps industries are BIG business. Nearly 2.2 billion people play games worldwide, and the global market for video games was worth $138 billion dollars in 2018, set to rise to $180 billion in 2021. Nearly half of that will come from Mobile revenues. Our panel of industry experts will discuss what it […]
Is there a poem that has been a friend to you? You’re invited to book an individual slot to come and explore a poem that has been a friend to you, in conversation with The Poetry Exchange team. The conversation will take place in a warm and relaxed environment, over a cup of tea, with two members of […]
Celebrate UNESCO International Mother Language Day with free games, crafts and activities for all. Come along and listen to multilingual storytelling, watch performances of dance and music and even learn how to play the African drums! Multilingual Manchester will be hosting an exhibition exploring the city’s language diversity. Plus, don’t miss the chance to record […]
A public discussion to celebrate UNESCO International Mother Language Day with: Esme Ward (Director, Manchester Museum) Lemn Sissay MBE (Author and Chancellor of the University of Manchester) Councillor Luthfur Rahman (Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure, Manchester City Council) Presented in partnership between Manchester City Council, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester […]
Author reading and book signing. With special guest Geneviève L. Walsh. “Whichever way I take I meet myself returning.” A poetic journey from the mills and moors of the industrial north to the meals and mosques of the Byzantine middle-east and back again. I Meet Myself Returning is about finding your feet in our ever-convoluted […]
Step back in time and take a walk down Manchester's high street passing by some of the city's iconic shop windows. From department stores to grocers and from toy shops to fashion boutiques, this exhibition will transport you back to a time when the only way to shop was on the high street. Professor Jon […]
A fantastic multimedia exhibition dedicated to Manchester's most unique artist. Containing the cream of the Frank Sidebottom/Chris Sievey archive, as featured in the new documentary Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story. Expect art, video, audio and bobbins puppets. Fun for the whole family. You know it is, it really is. Photo credit: Dave Arnold Free […]
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.
