Collections Encounter: Experimentations of the Counter-Culture

Polly Checkland Harding

Visit now

Collections Encounter: Experimentations of the Counter-Culture

15 September 2016

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Mr Watkins, courtesy Jeff Nuttall estate.
Book now

The artistic and social revolution of the 1960s and the innovative (and often eccentric) figures behind it are brought to light in this Collections Encounter in The John Rylands Library’s Historic Reading Room. It’s a chance to see cutting-edge works up close – works that were part of an explosive counter-culture that saw artists in fierce reaction to the mainstream.

These were the people responsible for reinventing poetry, music and photography; learn more about Dom Sylvester Houédard, the Benedictine monk and concrete poet who was part of a constellation of artists including Allen Ginsberg and Ian Hamilton Finlay, as well as electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire (the woman responsible for the now legendary recording of Ron Grainer’s Doctor Who theme) and, of course, Jeff Nuttall, one of the North’s great unsung anti-heroes whose prolific and pioneering work spanned art, music, poetry and film.

This Collections Encounter is part of the programme accompanying The John Rylands Library’s Off Beat: Jeff Nuttall and the International Underground exhibition. Please note: due to adult content this event is not suitable for under 16’s.

Where to go near Collections Encounter: Experimentations of the Counter-Culture

City Centre
Restaurant
Gusto

Gusto Manchester is a lavish Italian restaurant just off Deansgate, with 1920s décor and an extensive menu.

Manchester
Restaurant
KAJI

Tokyo meets Manchester in a series of awe-inspiring dishes and drinks at KAJI.

City Centre
Restaurant
Stow

The small plates at Stow are more impressive than most fine dining dishes, minus the fussiness. Powerful, fire-based cooking on Bridge Street.

City Centre
Restaurant
Six By Nico Deansgate

This famously affordable six-course fine dining restaurant has a new Mad Hatter menu – and it’s up there with the best.

What's on: Exhibitions

Culture Guides

A pair of white angel wings displayed against a dark, black background. The lower parts of the wings are stained with vivid red, resembling blood splatter.
Theatre

This month’s theatre highlights span dystopian classics, political thrillers and bold new opera.

Music

From underground festivals showcasing emerging talent to global icons unveiling new work, here are our latest live music highlights.

Food and Drink in the North

Spring is coming, at some point. As for now, it’s cold and grim so take our advice and shelter in a nice warm restaurant, pub or bar.

Exhibitions

From monumental to minutiae, this month’s exhibitions trace power, care and community across galleries big and small.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.