Polly Checkland Harding

The cultural countdown to Christmas continues, with the opening of the nineteenth window in our advent calendar. Today: Football, Father Christmas and Quays Culture. Two good things at the National Football Museum....

We preview the National Football Museum’s latest exhibition – an honest and nuanced look at the role of football in World War One. In the wake of Sainsbury’s controversial Christmas advert...

1950s sci-fi spoof Little Shop of Horrors is something of a showstopper at the Royal Exchange – so why does this reviewer have reservations? It’s a funny, dark and brilliantly...

Stuck for gift inspiration? Pop into Manchester Art Gallery’s shop for picks aplenty. There’s no getting away from it – Christmas is just around the corner. If you, like me,...

Our Advent Calendar continues, marking the cultural countdown to Christmas. Today: Memorial art and Media City Some pretty special paintings are currently in residence at Manchester Art Gallery: on tour...

Our own take on the traditional advent calendar continues, with  the fifteenth post in a cultural countdown to Christmas. Today: We love Leeds. There are lots of good things going...

Introducing our Advent Calendar – the thirteenth post in a cultural countdown to Christmas. Today: Warhol and warbling (just kidding!). It’s the weekend! Which means it’s as good a time...

We’re giving a limited edition signed print by Manchester-based artist Mike Chavez-Dawson. If you went to last week’s launch of Castlefield Gallery’s current exhibition, 30 Years from the Future, you’ll...

Introducing our Advent Calendar – the twelfth post in a cultural countdown to Christmas. Today: Music, times two. Islington Mill is celebrating the fruits of its first music residency this...

Introducing our Advent Calendar – the eleventh post in a cultural countdown to Christmas. Today: Light art and a snow show. A brand new light art festival pilots in Piccadilly...

Stuck for gift inspiration? Fred Aldous share their Christmas shopping ideas. A bumper list from Fred Aldous this week – and no wonder. This art shop in Manchester’s Northern Quarter...

Introducing our Advent Calendar – the tenth post in a cultural countdown to Christmas. Today: Vintage music and Indian sweets. There’s something uplifting going on at RNCM this evening. It’s...