Darn that Picasso – Conversations and Craftivism

Susie Stubbs

Follow a yarn trail to the Working Class Movement Library and re-stitch the famous shapes of Picasso’s “Guernica” in banner form.

The Working Class Movement Library is one of those special places: hidden, intimate and telling a powerful story, that of the campaigning activities of ordinary men and women. This weekend, the library is joined by activist artists from Brighton who re-make Picasso’s sombre anti-war masterpiece, Guernica, by gently sewing the image into a huge banner. Pop in any time during the afternoon to contribute a bit of stitching (no previous sewing skills necessary), take part in conversation, or just to have a brew and enjoy experiencing the power of collaborative creativity. To help you get there, tour guide Suzanne Hindle of Manchester Guided Tours leads a walk from the People’s History Museum up the Crescent to Salford’s Working Class Movement Library, weaving tales of local creativity and activism along the way. She follows a bespoke trail knitted especially for the day by the King’s Arms Knitters, designed to help you find your way to Salford Crescent and back again. Working Class Movement Library, 51 Crescent, M5 4WX, 2pm-5pm, Saturday 12 October, free. Walking tour: meet outside People’s History Museum, Leftbank, Spinningfields, M3 3ER, 1pm, Saturday 12 October, free (no need to book).

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Spotlight on

Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield

Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.