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 […]
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 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 […]
Whilst the array of choice and ways we can watch TV obviously has its benefits, sitting down to watch TV as a family has faded in recent years. Back in Season 2, Pilot Light TV Festival started their throwback Saturday Morning Kids TV events which were a blast! The idea was simply to show up […]
Whilst the array of choice and ways we can watch TV obviously has its benefits, sitting down to watch TV as a family has faded in recent years. Back in Season 2, Pilot Light TV Festival started their throwback Saturday Morning Kids TV events which were a blast! The idea was simply to show up […]
Mindfulness and creativity are combined in this unique workshop. Taking inspiration from nature, the senses, colour, texture and natural objects (rock, shells, driftwood etc), we will learn to free our inner voice and enter the world of creative play. Writing mindfully, we can go wherever our heart takes us, enjoying the journey as much as […]
Strike a pose, let's get to it! The brilliant author Matt Cain will be launching the paperback of his bestselling novel 'The Madonna of Bolton' at Central Library! Join us for a celebratory evening as Matt talks to LGBT arts producer (and Madonna fan) Barry Priest about his latest novel and how his own life […]
Come and get creative with artist Emma Martin as we celebrate the Made in Manchester poem by creating an artwork sculpture. The soon-to-be-launched poem is inspired by all things Manchester and has been written in dozens of community languages. Emma has used this to work with over 2700 children from 9 schools to make some […]
To celebrate the Get Creative Festival, join us for an afternoon of inter-generational family activities. Why not share some of your skills or have a go at creating vintage inspired crafts. Bring all the family for a chance to create something fantastic together. Suitable for all ages Free-please drop in
Visit our art installation which was commissioned to celebrate the multilingual poem ‘Made in Manchester’. Local artist, Emma Martin worked with nine schools to create this artwork, with around 200 pupils creating colourful portraits of classmates onto the multiple-language verses of the Made in Manchester poem. These portraits were cut and reformed into a finished art […]
Browse and buy books from a range of exciting new poets and authors from over 10 publishers including, Carcanet, Comma Press, and Fly on the Wall Press. Meet friendly independent publishers from the north producing cracking books. Free - please drop in
THIS EVENT HAS NOW SOLD OUT Simon Armitage presents a new collection of poems, Sandettie Light Vessel Automatic. Book launch followed by book signing. Celebrated as ‘the most popular and prolific British poet of his generation’ (The Times) and ‘the first poet of serious artistic intent since Philip Larkin to have achieved popularity’ (Sean O’Brien), […]
Join us for a wonderful, unique event showcasing best-selling authors Lindsey Kelk, Paige Toon and Louise Pentland in a discussion of their dazzling new fiction. Lindsey Kelk is an author, journalist and former UK children's book editor and columnist for Marie Claire. Her previous books have sold over one million copies worldwide. Famed for her […]
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.
