Unearthing Passion and Protest Exhibition at Manchester Central Library

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
Unearthing passion and protest at Manchester Central Library
(c)Winters Surman

Unearthing passion and protest at Manchester Central Library at Manchester Central Library, Manchester 6 July — 29 September 2019 Entrance is free

Manchester Central Library sits across the road from where, 200 years ago, the Peterloo Massacre took place. The effects from the events surrounding that day however, were felt much further afield than in just the heart of the city. From the 6th July the National Trust will be bringing a collection of research, by MMU academics and volunteers from both Dunham Massey and Quarry Bank , detailing the roles played by the two heritage sites in the Peterloo Massacre. Cabinets outside the reading room will be filled with new insights and Perterloo’s alternative narrative as told through the properties that are still around today. The exhibition brings a small piece of these two long standing beacons of heritage to the centre of Manchester, uniting the sites in the area where Peterloo took place.

You’ll have the chance to meet the artist family and explore themes from their commissioned artwork.

Two additional cabinets will also be displayed inside the reading room from the 6th July where you can see the artistic process involved in creating two newly commissioned films being shown at Quarry Bank and Dunham Massey. The films have been created by commissioned artist family Grace Surman and Gary Winters alongside their two young children Hope and Merrick. Included in the display will be their costumes from the films, stills from the videos and information on how they created the videos in response to Peterloo connections at the two National Trust places. Creative responses to political history are a great way to understand the stories behind events and can spark those all important conversations of change.

Alongside this exhibition there will be four ‘Unearthing Passion and Protest’ workshops on the 6th of July. You’ll have the chance to meet the family and explore the themes from their commissioned artworks through drumming and making to marching. The free sessions are being held at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm on 6 July with pre-booking advised.

Unearthing Passion and Protest at Central Library is part of the National Trust’s UK wide programme called People’s Landscapes. The programme consists of a series of events and exhibitions exploring the role that National Trust properties have played in shaping our Political Landscape as we know it now.

This project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and with additional support from Art Fund, is part of the National Trust’s People’s Landscapes programme. Turner-Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller is the artistic advisor on a programme of events and exhibitions across the country, working with artists to tell the stories of some very different places.

Unearthing passion and protest at Manchester Central Library at Manchester Central Library, Manchester 6 July — 29 September 2019 Entrance is free

Where to go near Unearthing Passion and Protest Exhibition at Manchester Central Library

St Peters Square Manchester
City Centre
St Peter’s Square

St Peter’s Square is a public space in Manchester – home to the city’s iconic library, town hall, Pankhurst statue, art gallery and famous Midland Hotel.

Manchester Art Gallery. Photo by Andrew Brooks
City Centre
Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery

The Charles Barry-designed, Grade I-listed Manchester Art Gallery is one of the city’s leading galleries and is back open for visitors once more.

Chinatown
Hotel
The Alan

This high-end city-centre restaurant has an excellent afternoon tea option that more than matches up to the superb main menu.

Chinatown
Restaurant
1847

1847 Manchester is an excellent vegetarian restaurant in the centre of town.

Salut Wines
Chinatown
Bar or Pub
Salut Wines

Salut wines pride themselves in offering “wider horizons beyond the safe choices.” With 42 wines by the glass and a regularly changing selection of bottles in their Enomatic wine preservation machines (or  “wine jukebox,” as they’re colloquially known), this is one of be best bars in Manchester for exploring new vintages.

City Centre
Event venue
3Space Manchester

The building consists of five floors of 10,000sqft in an L shape configuration – three of which are open-plan and the other two floors are divided into studio size spaces.

Manchester
Restaurant
Friska

Latest branch of Friska, the independent healthy fast food chain.

Manchester
Restaurant
Don Giovanni

Traditional Italian restaurant, serving everything from pizza to steak. All this in a large modern venue with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Manchester Art Gallery Cafe

Summery bakes, seasonal salads and fresh light meals at Manchester Art Gallery’s in-house café, courtesy of highly-regarded Head Chef Matthew Taylor.

City Centre
Tourist Attraction
Manchester Town Hall

Re-opening in 2024, Manchester Town Hall is a monument to Victorian Manchester’s ambition, and one of the city’s most-loved landmarks.

City Centre
Tourist Attraction
Albert Square

A public square in the heart of Manchester which plays hosts to festivals and major events. Home to the Albert Memorial and statues of Bishop James Fraser, John Bright, Oliver Heywood and William Ewart Gladstone.

What's on: Activity

Until
ActivityManchester
DJ Gym at Hatch

Learn some DJ and production skills with DJ Gym Manchester, based in the culturally infused surrounds of Hatch.

from £269
life drawing
Until
ActivityManchester
Life Drawing Manchester

Whether you have never put pencil to paper or have been honing your artistic skills for years, Bee Creative studio runs life drawing sessions for people of all abilities.

from £10
Until
ActivityLiverpool
Old Dock Tours, Liverpool

The Old Dock tour is a treat for younger and older visitors alike, fans of Liverpool’s maritime past, and anybody curious about local history.

£8.50 with concessions
Until
ActivityManchester
Sí Manchester Daily Tour

Sí Manchester’s daily tour is a brilliant way to get an overview of the city with tours running in both English and Spanish.

free entry

Culture Guides

Teenage Dads
Music in Manchester and the North

Fresh concert seasons, forward-thinking festivals and a revolving door of amazing gigs. Things are looking bright as spring comes into view.