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5 events,
Architecture for the People Manchester City Architect’s Department, 1902-2003 For 101 years, the City Architect’s Department in the Town Hall served the citizens and met diverse civic needs by designing hundreds of different municipal buildings. They ranged from grand airport terminals to the small public lavatories, from the high profile like the new Free Trade […] 
Manchester Town Hall closed in January 2018 and work then began on a labour of love: a once-in-a-lifetime chance to repair, protect and update this architectural masterpiece for future generations. The Great Hall is the Town Hall’s centrepiece. It includes a huge variety of conservation and restoration projects and is a great example of the work we’re doing throughout […] 
A creative and humorous response to grief, memories and the stuff we accumulate, hoard and hate to let go, from Manchester comedy legend, Lipservice Theatre Company. Sue Ryding is one half of legendary comedy duo LipService. In 2022 her comedy partner Maggie Fox died and Sue was left with a shipping container full of stage props, […] 
Manchester Central Library and The Fed’s My Voice Project are proud to announce the launch of the My Voice Travelling Exhibition - a powerful public showcase of Holocaust Survivor life stories that have shaped Greater Manchester. The exhibition forms a key part of the Sanctuary Through Story: Inspiring Unity After Hate initiative and brings to life the extraordinary testimonies of […] 
Drop by the Reading and Ground Floor Oculus area to see this compelling exhibition composed of artwork by young Ukrainian artists from the city of Lviv. This unique collection explores the impacts of the ongoing conflict, as well as the hopes and dreams of those living through it. Participants were supported by the Sunflower Dreams Project, […] |
7 events,
Come along to Talk English Circles at Manchester Central Library to practise speaking English and meet other people. Learn English, build skills and step into ESOL with this programme funded by Economic Activity Trailblazer and Manchester Adult Education. Open to all levels. Every Tuesday, 12.30-2.30pm Free – just drop in. Please make a donation to […]
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Long before today’s sober-curious conversations, Bookstagram posts, and bestselling quit-lit titles, people were already using words, stories, and literature to challenge drinking culture. This talk explores the original temperance movement, which emerged as a powerful social force in the Northwest before sweeping across Britain and beyond. Drawing on historical examples, it looks at how early temperance […] |
6 events,
Join our free weekly boardgames sessions! Try new games, rediscover old favourites and make new friends. Open to all ages and abilities. Boardgames provided - just bring yourself. Free, no need to book – just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless […] |
7 events,
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Join us for French Storytime to listen to stories in French and English, learn new words and make new friends!. Suitable for children aged 4-7 Free - please drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online
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Join South Korean queer writer Kim Bong-gon for a talk and Q&A exploring themes of intimacy, invisibility and queer life through contemporary Korean literature. Kim Bong-gon emerged at a moment when previously marginalised voices were reshaping South Korean literature. In 2016, the same year Han Kang’s The Vegetarian and Cho Nam-joo’s Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 […] |
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6 events,
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Manchester Town Hall closed in 2018 for major restoration to repair and upgrade the building to modern standards. The work includes conservation of many original heritage features. The Heritage Lectures in Central Library shine a light on some of this fascinating work and the next one – on Tuesday 3 February – will focus on […] |
8 events,
For three weeks in February, Manchester Libraries will be hosting state-of-the-art VR headsets and a feast of FREE digital experiences. Get ready for brand new immersive experiences with David Attenborough, and Laika – The First Dog In Space. Plus, Wallace & Gromit, The Berlin Blitz, Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Lark Ascending’, meditation experiences, and more. Manchester Libraries are one of nine library services in England to […]
Join our free weekly boardgames sessions! Try new games, rediscover old favourites and make new friends. Open to all ages and abilities. Boardgames provided - just bring yourself. Free, no need to book – just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless […]
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Bringing the best from all over! Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country - the big names are all coming to Manchester! Go behind the scenes! Showcasing blockbuster bestsellers, emerging talent and industry insiders, Crime Central will share the real story of what goes on in the […] |
7 events,
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Nothing remained unchanged but the clouds by Alan J. Ward is an artist book in the fullest sense: a work conceived, shaped, and authored through artistic practice. Developed through sustained collaboration with the community of Grandpré in the French Ardennes, the book traces stories held within German WWI postcards and transforms them into a living archive […] |
8 events,
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A free event, suitable for budding listeners of poetry or those keen to try out some of their own poetry. Listen to a selection of Manchester Writers from a 2025 publication Bards across the Pond with USA and UK writers in February If you would like to read a poem, book your seat via the links below […]
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Join us for a theatrical–narrative journey through art, memory and home. In this workshop, children and young people will explore the world of Cypriot artist George Pol. Georgiou. Guided by the artworks, children explore everyday elements that appear in Georgiou’s paintings — chairs, houses, horses — and transform them into symbols of feelings, stories and […] |
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6 events,
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Join us for a film screening and discussion exploring Manchester's urban history and development from the 1940s to today. Organised in collaboration with The Modernist and the current exhibition at Central Library, Architecture for the people: the works of Manchester City Architect’s Department (1902-2003), this Manchester Urban Film Series screening and discussion will revisit Manchester's urban […] |
7 events,
Join our free weekly boardgames sessions! Try new games, rediscover old favourites and make new friends. Open to all ages and abilities. Boardgames provided - just bring yourself. Free, no need to book – just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless […] |
6 events,
For the first time, this exhibition tells the story of how seven personalities transformed Manchester into a global centre of Shakespearean theatre in the Victorian era and reveals present day evidence of the city’s innovative engagement with the works of Shakespeare. Free - please drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live […] |
8 events,
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Join us and the Meet Your Muslim Neighbours team for a special one-day community led event and exhibition about Islamic culture and Muslim people, at Central Library on Saturday 14 February, 11am-4pm. Filled with free activities for all ages, including henna painting, interactive word hunts, Arabic tea and coffee, costume dressing, arts and crafts, and more, there's […]
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Chinese New Year is one of the biggest events of the year at Central Library and the venue will be celebrating the Year of the Horse in epic fashion. Families, children, schools, and community members are warmly invited to join us for performances, hands-on cultural activities, and fun learning experiences provided by Bowen Education, Chinese […] |
7 events,
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Chinese New Year is one of the biggest events of the year at Central Library and the venue will be celebrating the Year of the Horse in epic fashion. Families, children, schools, and community members are warmly invited to join us for performances, hands-on cultural activities, and fun learning experiences provided by Bowen Education, Chinese […] |
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8 events,
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Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. Doors open 5.40pm and free entry. Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Zena Barrie. Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 3rd February via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. N.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is […] |
10 events,
Love Lego? Pick your favourite bricks and build your own creations – from castles to spaceships and everything in between! Come and let your imagination run wild in the world of Lego, with Bricklands. Suitable for all ages. Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/ Free, no need to book […] 
Brought to you by Manchester Literature Festival, Little Reads is a fun and interactive workshop using drama, dance, songs, play, and craft to explore children’s picture books. Most suitable for children aged 2–6, but all family members are welcome. Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/ Free – just drop […]
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Calling all budding crafters! Join this relaxed crochet session and get creative with yarn. All materials are provided – just bring yourself! Most suitable for children 10+. Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/ Free – Booking required - Reserve your place here or click on 'Book Now' below Please […]
Join our free weekly boardgames sessions! Try new games, rediscover old favourites and make new friends. Open to all ages and abilities. Boardgames provided - just bring yourself. Free, no need to book – just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless […] |
9 events,
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Join a hands-on craft session all about music. Ever made a harmonica from lolly sticks and toothpicks? Come and give it a try! Most suitable for ages 4+. Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/ Free entry - just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live […]
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Join us for a symposium celebrating 40 years of LipService Theatre with retrospective footage, silly props and cake. LipService was part of the Manchester Fringe Forum, a consortium of 1980’s artists, whose work reached all four corners of the globe. We will have a panel of original members and explore why there was such an explosion […] |
8 events,
Brought to you by Manchester Literature Festival, Little Reads is a fun and interactive workshop using drama, dance, songs, play, and craft to explore children’s picture books. Most suitable for children aged 2–6, but all family members are welcome. Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/ Free – just drop […]
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Celebrate the languages and cultures of Manchester’s local communities. Enjoy live performances, and try your hand at traditional crafts. Suitable for all ages, everyone is welcome. ] Part of Super Duper Family Festival. Discover the full programme at https://www.visitmanchester.com/super-duper-family-festival/ Free - just drop in. Please consider making a donation to support our cultural programme if […] |
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6 events,
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Bring a book. Get cosy and read alongside other book fans. Take some time for yourself and escape into a story. Join our Cosy Reading Club at Manchester Central Library, our new silent reading group, offering a relaxed, shared space to read in peace and quiet in the company of others. This is no ordinary […] |
6 events,
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'Solid Bond In Your Heart: A People’s History of The Jam' is a new book by acclaimed author and journalist Malcolm Wyatt. Published in 2025 by Manchester-based Spenwood Books, it tells the tale of one the most iconic and inspirational bands of all time: The Jam. Exploding on to the British music scene with their […] |
7 events,
Join our free weekly boardgames sessions! Try new games, rediscover old favourites and make new friends. Open to all ages and abilities. Boardgames provided - just bring yourself. Free, no need to book – just drop in Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless […]
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Voiced, the UK’s first creative festival for endangered languages, presents an unmissable evening of Queer poetry and performance. Presenting Polari, a hidden language of Queer experience, which will come to life in performance with Jez Dolan. Rosie Garland performs poems from Polari Prize-shortlisted What Girls do in the Dark and her recently published This Is How I Fight, an Observer Poetry […] |
6 events,
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What do George V, Gypsy Rose Lee and Bernard Bresslaw have in common? Which musician was once thrown out of the Language and Literature Library? What would you find now in the space where Patrick Stewart and Helen Mirren – amongst many others – played their first roles? All these questions – and many more […] |
7 events,
Join our fun and interactive storytelling session in Polish! We will listen to stories in Polish and English. Suitable for children aged 4–7. Free – drop in. Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library
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PLEASE NOTE - THIS MONTH'S STORYTIME HAS BEEN CANCELLED. THE NEXT SPANISH STORYTIME IS 14 MARCH Hola! Come and join María at the Spanish Story Time monthly sessions, where you can listen to a story in Spanish and learn phrases and vocabulary, whilst having fun. We end each session making a simple craft related to […] |
5 events,
"Building China: People’s Infrastructure" invites audiences to encounter China from the kitchen table and the street corner rather than the skyline. Bringing together photographs and prints from the 1950s to the 1980s with field images from the early 2000s and contemporary works, the exhibition traces urban change through the ordinary spaces where life unfolds. Across […] |
25 Jun 2026
Music Q&A: ‘It’s Time the Tale Were Told – A People’s History of the Smiths’
Pay What You Can
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.
