Exhibitions in Manchester and the North

LOVE LIFE: ACT II at Grundy Art Gallery, 17 June–12 August 2017, free entry - Visit now

A radical re-imagining of ‘Punch and Judy’ explores the darker side of the popular Victorian seaside show at Grundy Art Gallery.

Liverpool(e): Mover, Shaker, Architectural Risk-Taker at RIBA North, Waterfront, 17 June–16 September 2017, free entry - Visit now

Liverpool is a city that can be read like no other as a living, breathing encyclopedia of British architecture. But how has its unique skyline been shaped, and how else might it have looked? These are the intriguing questions asked by RIBA North’s inaugural exhibition.

IRIS by Marshmallow Laser Feast | A Week 53 Commission at The Lowry, Manchester, 27 May–16 July 2017, free entry - Visit now

The Lowry’s Lyric Theatre is set to be taken over by a stunning spectacle of lasers, light, sound and colour from leading creative studio Marshmallow Laser Feast. Audiences will experience IRIS – a unique digital art installation created using laser technology.

Cut Cloth: Contemporary Textiles and Feminism Exhibition Launch at The Portico Library, Chinatown, 9 June–5 July 2017, free entry - Visit now

Cut Cloth explores the shifting role of textiles within contemporary feminist art practices; an exhibition, publication and series of workshops, Cut Cloth contemplates the rise in popularity of art textiles and the resulting impact on textile’s value as a specifically feminist mode of expression.

Lindsey Bull and Plastique Fantastique at Castlefield Gallery, Castlefield, 23 June–6 August 2017, free entry - Visit now

Strange and unexplained figures, seances for Tarot card characters… Castlefield Gallery presents: Lindsey Bull and Plastique Fantastique.

Raqib Shaw at The Whitworth, Manchester, 24 June–1 November 2017, free entry - Visit now

Raqib Shaw’s paintings, created by manipulating pools of enamel and metallic industrial paints using a porcupine quill, are as sumptuous as they are subversive. Don’t miss them at the Whitworth.

MIF17: Ceremony at NCP Bridgewater Hall Car Park, Castlefield, 16 July 2017 - Book now

Ceremony marks the return of Manchester’s adopted son and life-long champion of the working classes, Friedrich Engels, to the city with a one-off live film event.

MIF17: Party Skills for the End of the World at Centenary Building, Manchester, 27 June–16 July 2017, from £12.00 - Book now

Manchester International Festival has announced the venue for Party Skills for the End of the World – a creative event during which you can learn the skills necessary to survive and savour life during the collapse for civilisation. An immersive piece from ‘the most innovative theatre company in Britain’ (Guardian).

What’s in Store? at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Manchester, 20 May–19 November 2017, free entry - Visit now

What’s in Store? is a unique showcase of The University of Salford Art Collection; established in 1969, the collection now includes around 700 works by artists including Bridget Riley, David Hockney and Gilbert and George. Many of the works in this exhibition have never been on public display before.

A Weekend of Wonderful Things at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 14–16 July 2017, from £0.00 - Book now

Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Weekend of Wonderful Things is really a one-off showcase of special events and experiences that highlight just how magical a place it can be. Here are our highlights.

Liverpool Biennial 2018, 14 July–28 October 2018, free entry - Find Out More

Taking place in 2018 is the tenth edition of the Liverpool Biennial, an event that has brought newly-commissioned contemporary art to the city and the region since 1998. Discover the dates and theme for next year’s event here.