The histories and lived experiences of deafness are rich and complex. Extraordinary technological advances have been made in the exploration of hearing, alongside a better appreciation of the social and psychological impact of sensory perception on learning. The materials displayed offer an insight into the varied historical and contemporary approaches in deaf education and audiology, from […]
The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust and Big People Music present 3 days of history, 3 days of futurity on the 1st, 28th and 30th October. Come and experience black culture, what it means, and why unifying a social movement forward is crucial to how we define a legacy. We encourage you to be open […]
Two players enter a virtual world and compete for the ultimate prize: happiness. Made especially for public spaces and influenced by video games; First Person is a quirky fusion of fast paced promenade theatre and physical performance. Grab your headphones, predict your winner and cheer them on. Part of the Big Imaginations Festival. 30 min […]
Join us for this hybrid talk / performance, led by academic and artist Stav Meishar. Stav will discuss the lives of Jewish circus artists during Nazi regime, their legacies and their fates, as well as the process of transforming real stories into her stage work. The talk will be woven with excerpts from Stav’s theater-circus […]
Looking for inspiration for a Halloween outfit? Why not drop in to our Media Lounge and have a go a creating those important witches hats, wands and more? We will assist by using sewing machines for the finishing touches. Free - family drop in
The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust and Big People Music present 3 days of history, 3 days of futurity on the 1st, 28th and 30th October. Come and experience black culture, what it means, and why unifying a social movement forward is crucial to how we define a legacy. We encourage you to be open […]
Come and balance objects, yourself and other people with the Circus House group. Skills covered include spinning plates, tight-wire and acro-balance. 2 sessions at 1.30-2.30 and 3-4 pm, plus free craft activities. Suitable for 4-12 year olds Free drop in but places are limited
Founded in Manchester by former foster carer and straight ally Cath Hall in 1989, akt (formerly The Albert Kennedy Trust) now works to support LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness across the UK. This portrait exhibition celebrates faces from throughout its lifetime, including patrons, ex-service users, mentors, carers and Cath herself. Free – please drop-in
Come and join us in a unique and special ancient Mexican celebration Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). In Mexican culture it is believed that during this time of the year your lost loved ones come back to visit. Family and friends gather together to honour their relatives and friends by cooking their favourite […]
Join us for our family fun day all about how children think about the social world. There will be fun activities to discover how children reason and co-operate with their friends and family! Take part in FREE story time sessions with puppets. music and crafts. Suitable for children aged 0-8 and their adults
Join us for our family fun day all about how children think about the social world. There will be fun activities to discover how children reason and co-operate with their friends and family! Take part in FREE story time sessions with puppets. music and crafts. Suitable for children aged 0-8 and their adults
Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word hosted by Tony Curry. Wednesday 6th November at Manchester Central Library, St. Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD. 6pm - 8pm - Free Entry. We have two special guest poets in November, Emma Purshouse and Steve Pottinger, members of the Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists collective in Wolverhampton. Emma’s debut collection […]
This exhibition showcases the Our Town Hall project on the major refurbishment to Manchester Town Hall, taking place until 2024. During this time, a series of creative projects that connect the people of the city with the Town Hall will run - engaging new networks of artists, organisations, communities and international partners to work together. […]
Founded by Nik Nagarkar of the internationally critically acclaimed grime and dubstep collective Virus Syndicate. EY3 Media was birthed as a record company to go on to become one of the leading 360 creative and digital agencies in the UK.Nik will talk us through the unusual journey from the underground music industry into the blue […]
Hurrah. The next Retro Silent Disco is on Friday 8th November. The day the Christmas Markets open in Manchester! Spend the early evening soaking up the festive atmosphere in Albert Square, then dance the night away in the fabulous Central Library. Don't worry, we won't be overdoing the Christmas songs that early in November. We're […]
Join us for a free event exploring how language is more than just what we hear. Seeing the face of someone talking helps us understand what they are saying. Signed languages, such as British Sign Language (BSL), use hand and body movements to ‘say’ anything that can be expressed in spoken language. Take part in […]
Are you a resident in the city centre? If you have a M1, M2 or M3 postcode, come along to our new monthly meet-up in the Media Lounge. Be the envy of your friends by creating bags using mixed media. Pop along and meet your neighbours, chatting is encouraged and little ones can come along […]
Are you a resident in the city centre? If you have a M1, M2 or M3 postcode, come along to our new monthly meet-up in the Media Lounge. Be the envy of your friends by creating bags using mixed media. Pop along and meet your neighbours, chatting is encouraged and little ones can come along […]
As a graphic designer, Malcolm Garrett’s work for bands such as Buzzcocks and Duran Duran established him as one of the most influential figures of the 80s. He was one of the first graphic designers to recognise the potential of digital media and he has been at the forefront of exploring its frontiers ever since. […]
The Big J vs The Big C: Issues, Experiences and Poems in the Battle Against Breast Cancer With special guest poet Laura Taylor. Poet, author and activist Janine Booth was part of the ranting poetry movement of the ‘80s, performing as ‘The Big J’. In late 2016, she discovered a strange indentation in her right […]
Celebrate 5 years of UK's biggest animation festival as they showcase the winners of past years editions in two specially curated screenings. Introduced by the festival team, these two shows give you the chance to see something different! 10-11am - Programme 1 (cert. 18); 11.30am-12.30pm - Programme 2 (cert. 15) Free - please drop in
Celebrate 5 years of UK's biggest animation festival as they showcase the winners of past years editions in two specially curated screenings. Introduced by the festival team, these two shows give you the chance to see something different! 10-11am - Programme 1 (cert. 18); 11.30am-12.30pm - Programme 2 (cert. 15) Free - please drop in
Accordion/Viola/Electronics duo debuting brand new material from their upcoming album to be released in 2020. Widely regarded as two of the best players, innovators and performers in traditional folk amongst a precociously gifted generation, their finely-crafted arrangements wield a rare potency. Now, having toured with with some of the biggest and brightest acts in the […]
A Photographic Journey through Hulme in the 1980's - 90's, and how I survived and thrived by Richard Davis A talk and book signing by photographer Richard Davis.... 'I arrived in Hulme in 1988, having left behind Birmingham so I could study Photography at Manchester Polytechnic. For the next five years Hulme was Home and […]
Children’s storyteller Robin Simpson will be performing the exciting, curious and fascinating stories behind objects in Manchester Jewish Museum’s story selector machine. Come along and help him decide the direction the stories go and see the objects behind the stories. Suitable for families Free - please drop in
SORRY, DUE TO HIGH DEMAND ALL PERFORMANCES HAVE NOW SOLD OUT AN IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCE INSPIRED BY ORWELL'S CLASSIC The Ministry of Truth is recruiting... Enter the dramatic world of Manchester Central Library after hours and embark on an immersive journey inspired by George Orwell's dystopian novel. This new immersive theatre production takes the audience inside […]
Do you want to learn how to code? Come along to our new series of coding workshops for all. Families, adults, grandparents, in fact anyone aged 8 years and above is welcome to join us in learning how to code these cute and friendly robots. Free - please drop-in
Visit Central Library and help us to create our own cabinet of wonder. In these sessions we will showcase material which you may not normally have the chance to see. Help us search for hidden gems from our collections to add to our wonderful new treasure. Free - please drop in
Grab a sandwich and head to the Performance Space for a relaxing lunchtime listening to clips from Central Library's sound archives. Unlocking Our Sound Heritage is a new audio preservation project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Tapes the project has recently digitised include classical music, radio drama, life stories, folk music, celebrity interviews […]
A variety of different types of prostheses were used by the Greeks and Romans to replace various missing body parts. In this talk, we shall consider the following questions: How common – or uncommon – were prostheses in classical antiquity? Who made them? How and why did they make them? Who used them? How and […]
Junior Jam - our jam-packed music sessions for 4-8 year olds! With an exciting theme each month - from Space Travel to Loop the Loop - help your little ones develop their musical skills in a fun, friendly and accessible way. Sessions are free and take place at the Children’s Library at Manchester Central Library. […]
Junior Jam - our jam-packed music sessions for 4-8 year olds! With an exciting theme each month - from Space Travel to Loop the Loop - help your little ones develop their musical skills in a fun, friendly and accessible way. Sessions are free and take place at the Children’s Library at Manchester Central Library. […]
Manchester Literature Festival presents... Queens of Tartan Noir, Val McDermid and Denise Mina, join us to discuss their brilliant new novels. In How the Dead Speak, Val brings Dr Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan together again when the remains of a killer, who’s supposedly alive and in prison, are found on a construction site. […]
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.
