Join us at Central Library for our school holidays arts and craft session! Make wonderful carnivorous plants and giant pompom flowers, and find out all about the Summer Reading Challenge! All materials provided. Suitable for all children. No need to book. Free - just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live […]
Join us for a special family craft session dedicated to South Asian Heritage Month. We’ll provide all the materials and teach you how to make marionettes! All welcome. Free - drop in. Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online
Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. ‘Now We Are Nine’ birthday celebration. Tuesday 29th July, 6.00pm – 7.45pm, at Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD. Doors open 5.40pm and free entry. Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Angela Smith. Book your open […]
Join us for this exciting session brought to you by National Football Museum! Every great game needs rules, but who says we can’t rewrite them? In this workshop, you’re the rule-maker of football. What do your laws of the game look like? Maybe every goal gets a dance-off, everyone wears capes, or kindness on the […]
Calling all little groovers! Show us some moves at this fun and interactive music and dance session. We’ll bring the music, so get ready to hit the dancefloor! Suitable for children up to 4 years old. Free entry - just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one […]
The Wise Owls are waiting! Join us in the Story Garden for a magical hour filled with Owl wisdom! Whether you're curious or just love a good story, the Wise Owls are ready to welcome you with a hoot! Suitable for children aged 4-11. Free entry - just drop in Please make a donation to […]
Are you a reader and gardener in the making? Want to find out how you can get prizes for reading books? Then this session is for you! Decorate your very own terracotta pot, plant some seeds and find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge during this interactive session. All materials provided. Paint and plant! […]
Does Friday afternoon and cinema sound like a good combo to you? Then join us at Manchester Central Library for a free film screening with themed crafts! We may even have popcorn! Suitable for children up to 12 years old. No need to book, drop in from 2pm. Film screenings start at 2pm.
Leo HC is a 20 year old solo musician, creating alternative folk tracks to soothe the soul. Equipped, usually, with an acoustic guitar, his voice and lots of reverb, his music creates an introspective and melancholic atmosphere for all to listen and enjoy. His debut album was released on 8 November 2024. Leo is currently […]
It's lucky seven for Full Volume: The Manchester Libraries Podcast and the latest edition is chock-full of Library-related features, news and interviews from across the city. This month’s episode welcomes legendary Northern music journalist John Robb into the hotseat for our “Big Interview”. A regular talking head on the telly and a member of rock’n’roll […]
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design Students from The Manchester College have been developing a body of creative, exciting work inspired initially by a book from Manchester Central Library. Each exhibited board is an insight into personal research and subject matter, produced in traditional messy art school rooms where students become inspired and have tested […]
ACTING UP! tells the story of 40 years of HIV activism in the region through archives, testimonies and films. The exhibition honours the memories of lives lost and continues the fight for a world free of HIV stigma and discrimination. Visit the exhibition in the ground floor of Central Library from 2 April till 31 […]
2025 marks 50 years of queer hope and joy for LGBT Foundation—and the heart of the celebrations begins in the centre of Manchester. Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and proudly sponsored by Barefoot Wine, the 50 Years of Queer Hope & Joy Exhibition at Manchester Central Library invites the public into a powerful, […]
Explore the history of independent radio in Manchester from the birth of Piccadilly Radio in 1974 through to Key 103’s 1990s heyday. This free exhibition tells the story of the DJs, programme makers and listeners through audio, photography and ephemera. Listen to clips from your favourite DJs, find out what it was like to work […]
A new exhibition explores how punk exploded from the streets of 1970s Britain - raw, loud, and unapologetic. Born of crisis, it raged against capitalism, racism, and conformity. Through music, fashion, protest, and art, punk gave voice to the voiceless, challenged gender roles, and still shapes culture today. Free – just drop in. Please make […]
Join us at Central Library for this exciting session brought to you by National Football Museum! Every great game needs rules, but who says we can’t rewrite them? In this workshop, you’re the rule-maker of football. What do your laws of the game look like? Maybe every goal gets a dance-off, everyone wears capes, or […]
Join us for what promises to be a brilliant Q&A event with internationally bestselling author A.F. Steadman to celebrate the release of Skandar and the Spirit War, the fifth and final book in the blockbuster Skandar series! Join us to hear all about the Skandar series and there will also be a Q&A so you can put your burning questions to […]
Join us at Central Library for a collaborative and fun session led by the National Football Museum! Half & half scarves tell a story of rivalries, friendships, big matches, and personal connections. Now, it’s your turn to create one that represents you! Pick your colours and patterns, choosing a simple design that reflect two sides […]
Calling all budding gardeners (pun unintended) and readers! Get potting at this fun interactive session for the whole family. We’ll provide seeds, soil and pots, just bring yourself! We’ll also help you sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge, so you can win some wonderful prizes. What’s not to like? Free, no need to book. […]
To welcome bees and butterflies, we’ll start by planting beautiful, colourful flowers. But that’s not all—we’re going to get crafty too! Using decorative paper and layers of soft tissue paper, we’ll create a giant blooming flower collage. Each petal we add will remind us how important flowers are for pollination and how we can help […]
Does Friday afternoon and cinema sound like a good combo to you? Then join us at Manchester Central Library for a free film screening with themed crafts! We may even have popcorn! Suitable for children up to 12 years old. No need to book, free to drop in from 2.30pm. Film screening starts at 2.30pm. […]
Not quite ready for the end of the holidays? Join us at Central Library for a special end-of-summer extravaganza brought to you by Z-Arts and Manchester Libraries! *FULL PROGRAMME* Yoga and movement sessions for children Performance Space (Ground Floor) Start times: 12pm, 1pm Storytimes Performance Space (Ground Floor) Start times: 12.30pm, 1.30pm Bessie’s Bees (Storytime) […]
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.
