Connecting Spaces at Manchester Craft & Design Centre

Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor

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Connecting Spaces

12 April-23 August 2025

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

Connecting Spaces at Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Manchester Craft and Design Centre
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Manchester Craft and Design Centre celebrates the local creative community with Connecting Spaces, a new exhibition organised in collaboration with AWOL Studios. AWOL is a creative hub in Ancoats, offering studio spaces to practitioners of all disciplines and, most importantly, an artistic community in the heart of Manchester.

Connecting Spaces is a result of neighbourly collaboration: MCDC asked AWOL artists to respond to the titular theme, with a particular focus on the importance of location, local relationships and the environment. The display features work from 11 selected artists in an array of techniques and styles, from oil painting and collage to stained glass. The artists are: James Bloomfield, Anastasia Borodina, Sharon Campbell, Jason Carr, Gherdai Hassell, Sara Hindhaugh, Sam Owen Hull, Georgia Noble, Akinyemi Oludele, Sandra Robinson and Jude Wainwright.

Art spaces in city centres are always in a precarious position, so their impact cannot be underestimated – without places like MCDC and AWOL, Manchester simply would not be the same. Come along to see the show (some pieces will be available for sale too!) and join in the celebrations of community spirit.

There will be a Celebration Launch event on Saturday 17 May from 5 pm-7 pm at Manchester Craft and Design Centre, where complimentary nibbles and drinks will be available.

Accessibility

  • Audio Described
  • Parent and Baby
  • Relaxed

Where to go near Connecting Spaces at Manchester Craft & Design Centre

The exterior of Manchester Craft & Design Centre.
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Oak Street Café

Oak Street Café at Manchester Craft & Design Centre does fresh, healthy salads, soups, sandwiches, quiches and, best of all, cakes.

Common Bar in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Common Bar

Northern Quarter stalwart Common Bar in Manchester serves excellent pub food, fine cocktails and decent coffee. It’s a firm Creative Tourist team favourite.

Manchester
Restaurant
Home Sweet Home, Manchester

Home Sweet Home in Manchester’s Northern Quarter is a cafe and milk bar that does a mean line in cake, puddings and all things sweet – but its savoury menu isn’t half bad either.

Deadstock General Store
Northern Quarter
Deadstock General Store

This small shop has a well-curated range of stock that focuses on vintage homeware and gifts. From Japanese hemp socks to botanical paperweights and HAWS plant misters, each object is beautiful, practical and well made.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Ziferblat Manchester

Ziferblat is a pay as you stay café in the northern quarter, where everything is free – except the time you spend.

Manchester
Restaurant
Sweet Mandarin

Gordon Ramsay-approved Northern Quarter restaurant run by three sisters, featuring some of the city’s finest Chinese cuisine.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Cane & Grain

Essentially three bars under one roof, Cane & Grain encompasses a rib joint and tap room, hidden speakeasy, and Tiki-themed Liar’s Lounge.

Manchester
Shop
NOTE Thomas Street

The sister store to NOTE’s original Tib Street branch, here you’ll find footware, clothes and brands inspired by the skateboard scene. If it’s a new board you’re after, head to Tib Street.

57 Thomas Street, Manchester. Courtesy 57 Thomas Street
Manchester
Bar or Pub
57 Thomas Street

57 Thomas Street is the third outlet belonging to Manchester’s best-known microbrewery, Marble Beers. Unlike the lavish decoration of the Grade II-listed Marble Arch (which also doubles up as a brewery) or the traditional pub layout of the Marble Beer House in Chorlton, this tiny Thomas Street digs has room for just two things: beer and food.

Fierce Bar
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Fierce Bar

Highly-rated bar based in Manchester’s bustling Northern Quarter, seconds away from Common.

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