Hidden’ is an ongoing series of photographic tableaux by internationally acclaimed Artist and a Founder of ‘Rock Against Racism’, Red Saunders The Hidden Project shines photographic light on great moments in the long struggle of working people for democracy and social justice. The aim of the project, through reimagining those events, is to reproduce important […]
‘You can change the law but you can’t change people and how they treat each other.’ American author Colson Whitehead won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Underground Railroad. We’re thrilled to welcome him with Manchester Literature Festival to discuss his stunning new novel The Nickel Boys. In Jim Crow era Florida, teenager Elwood Curtis is […]
Hosted by Melanie Rees with special guest poet copland smith. copland smith, a mathematician and ecologist, is a poet (three times being amongst the runners-up in The National Poetry Competition), fiction writer, songwriter, playwright, translator, essayist, naturalist and photographer. Born and adopted in Liverpool, brought up in Wallasey and North Wales, he now lives in […]
Dr Nina Adamova presents 'Treasures of Manchester Central Library: two Nuremberg Chronicles (1493) and their early modern readers’. The talk will explore the most famous early-printed world chronicle – the Nuremberg Chronicle by Hartmann Schedel (1493). The presentation will focus on how the Nuremberg Chronicle was read and perceived in Europe in the age of […]
On the anniversary of Peterloo, we want to transport you to the world of ‘Libertalia’ a place where all are free and equal, a ‘way of being’ the people of Peterloo wanted so much for Manchester. ‘Libertalia’ was a city founded by Madagascan pirates in the 17th century. Here the pirates acted as “vigilant guardians of […]
Spy Kids, the last feature Robert Rodriguez ever shot on film, tells the tale of Carmen and Juni Cortez who must save their parents from danger upon discovering they are secretly ex-spies. The 2001 film, which features stars such as Antonio Banderas, Alan Cumming and Danny Trejo, grossed more than triple its budget at the […]
MAG (Mines Advisory Group), a Manchester-based landmine clearance charity, is celebrating 30 years of life-saving work across the globe. The Walk Without Fear exhibition tells the stories of people affected by landmines in Angola, and MAG's campaign for a world without landmines by 2025.
A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONED THE MINISTRY OF LOST & FOUND — A SECRET DEPARTMENT TASKED WITH PROTECTING THE MOST CURIOUS AND PRECIOUS OBJECTS EVER LOST OR FOUND. Calling all secret agents, the Ministry has been thrown into chaos and Frankie Found needs your help to find Leo Lost. Frankie has called everyone she knows, and Leo still […]
THIS IS A LIVE SCREENING FROM THE BRITISH LIBRARY Writers consider walls in literature and in our lives With David Hare and Ben Okri. Chaired by Samira Ahmed. David Hare is a playwright and film-maker. He has written over thirty plays which include Plenty, Racing Demon and Skylight. His many screenplays include The Hours, The […]
SORRY, THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT. You are invited to a poptastic afternoon celebrating Older People's Day and everything 1960’s.. Featuring the fabulous Poppy Holiday! Downtown These Boots are made for Walking My Boy Lollipop Stupid Cupid Jimmy Mack and many more... So get your beehives perfected, platforms polished and get ready to shimmy, […]
Let our expert Speed Mentors help you turn your new food business into a tasty success The UK’s food and drinks sector is going from strength to strength with developments in street food and markets, pop-up catering, hospitality and myriad innovative new product launches all contributing to our growing reputation as a nation of foodies. […]
Hosted by Paul Neads with special guest poet Gerry Potter. October’s guest Gerry Potter is a poet, playwright, director, actor, and both creator and destroyer of the infamous gingham diva, Chloe Poems. A favourite son of Manchester and his home town Liverpool, he trained at Everyman Youth Theatre and National Museums Liverpool lists him amongst […]
Manchester Literature Festival presents... ‘The status quo might revere men as a class, but it destroys them as individuals.’ In Boys Will Be Boys, Australian feminist Clementine Ford’s furious and funny new book, she considers why toxic masculinity isn’t just bad […]
In preparation for the Dashehra Diwali celebration on 12 October, we will be holding lantern making workshops for those wishing to be a part of the lantern parade on the evening of 12 October. There are three sessions to choose from - Saturday 5 October 11am–1.30pm Saturday 5 October 2 - 4pm Saturday 12 October […]
Manchester Literature Festival presents... Bloody Brilliant Women, Channel 4 journalist Cathy Newman’s fascinating history of British women, asks two important questions: what were the sources of female power in the 20th century?, and what have women used this power to achieve? […]
Manchester Literature Festival presents... It really is a man’s world. In her latest book Invisible Women, writer and feminist campaigner Caroline Criado Perez (Do It Like a Woman) considers how the perspective we have of the world has been recorded and […]
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.
