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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
This exhibition explores the work of three relatively unknown twentieth century German photographers, Hans Saebens, Hans Retzlaff and Erich Retzlaff. Their work during the 1930s and 1940s was produced as part of a widely circulated visual framing of German peasants and their ‘Heimat’ or homeland. Free - please drop in
Word Central returns on Thursday 4th April with the brilliant guest poet Rose Fleeshman! Actress, writer and poet Rosie Fleeshman writes witty,thought-provoking, brutally honest poetry. A multi poetry slam-winner and Great Northern Slam Champion, she is also the co-runner of SPEAK, a diverse spoken word night in the heart of Manchester. Rosie's debut play Narcissist […]
Come and meet Dani Dyer signing What Would Dani Do? at Manchester Central Library on Saturday 6th April from 3pm. ABOUT THE BOOK: Dani Dyer stole the nation’s heart with her genuine warmth and honest personality when she won Love Island this summer. She proves that you don't need to succumb to peer pressure, be […]
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A LIVE SCREENING OF AN EVENT AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY How do you tell the story of a recipe? A recipe is so much more than a set of instructions; it is a story, an experience waiting to happen. We explore the role of voice, narrative and storytelling in cookery books […]
RAD, Manchester's home of retro, awesome cult movies, are back with one final cult American comedy to cap their season of shorts at Central Library, celebrating the 20th anniversary of 10 Things I Hate About You. In an updated version of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, this film follows new kid, Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), […]
This new, contemporary multi-media exhibition celebrates 100 years of the city’s neighbourhood markets. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, One Manchester, who own and manage more than 12,000 homes in central, south and east Manchester, engaged with local customers to curate an exhibition inspired by the social, trade and civic heritage of Gorton, Moss Side […]
Come and help us celebrate Sir Charles Hallé’s 200th birthday. Robert Beale, Hallé’s biographer, will be talking about the man and the influences that formed him. As part of the birthday celebration we will be hearing one of Hallé’s piano compositions, Scherzo, Op. 4, played by Efstathios Chomatsas, who is currently studying for the Postgraduate […]
For our latest Saturday Spectacular family event we welcome the Game Changers project which has taken place in all 10 Greater Manchester local authorities over the past few months. There will be lots to see and lots to do, including crafts with a Women's Suffrage theme. Young people across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester […]
Join us for this interactive role playing family event exploring what happened in the lead up to the protest. Make banners, sing ballads, and choose a side. There will be a role for everyone taking part! Suitable for all ages No need to book - just drop in
We celebrate 200 years since the birth of Anglo-German pianist and conductor Charles Hallé, founder of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester. Join us for a film screening, family crafts, afternoon tea and much more. Suitable for all ages No need to book - just drop in
WORD CENTRAL a semaphore-exploding mind-flow open mic poetry & spoken word hosted by Tony Curry With special guest poet John Darwin. John Darwin thought he was a poet from birth but was kicked into action by his Dad's terminal illness and a desire to do something more than shifting papers and supping pints. He was […]
Join the Friends of Polish Veterans Association (SPPW) Manchester to celebrate Polish Heritage Day. There will be a special screening of the Polish history film, The Last Witness, plus Q&A with the film director, Piotr Szkopiak. Polish food will be available to sample, plus craft activities, Polish family history research and a selection of books […]
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.
