Culture Guides
Destination Guides
In the midst of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a bold new exhibition of work by six artists from both countries and the UK examines the theme of power. From a grassroots initiative to counter the deliberate blurring of Israeli territory through restricted aerial photography, to the territorial parallels between gardening and mapping; Visual Rights at Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool examines factors affecting life either side of the Green Line, whilst raising broader questions around freedom and control in the 21st-century.
Maintaining a link with the Middle East, a new body of large-scale paintings by artist Richard Bartle explores the modern-day city of Istanbul through the prism of a series of 14th-century miniature illustrations by the Persian painter and storyteller Siyah Kalem (Black Pen). Currently on display at Millennium Gallery in Sheffield, Nomadic Tales offers an enigmatic reframing of one of the world’s most ancient and richly storied cities.
Back in Manchester, the only UK stop of a major touring retrospective dedicated to the American feminist artist Suzanne Lacy is about to open across both the Whitworth and the city art gallery. We Are Here will cover the last five decades of Lacy’s career, during which she has addressed key social issues such as rape, violence, racism, immigration, labour rights, aging, and incarceration, often through large-scale highly choreographed public actions.
The theme of art and activism continues at Gallery Oldham, where a set of striking black-and-white photographs by Syd Shelton document the raw energy, optimism and excitement of Rock Against Racism (1976-1982) – a nationwide movement which used music to bring people together at a time when racism and fascism were on the rise in Britain. Meanwhile, over in Halifax artist Alice Irwin has transformed The Piece Hall’s vast courtyard into a playground-like space, as part of her new sculptural commission and accompanying exhibition reflecting on the value and importance of play. Make sure to check out the programme of artist-led workshops and activities accompanying Irwin’s work.
Here are our picks
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1. Visual Rights at Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool
Restricted Zone: Temple Mount. Hagit Keysar, Barak Brinker, Animation by Moshe Zilbernagel Visual Rights at Open Eye Gallery, Waterfront, Until 22 March 2020, free entry - Visit now
What does power look like? Six artists from Palestine, Israel, and the UK offer their own answers in ‘Visual Rights’ at Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool.
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2. Richard Bartle: Nomadic Tales at Millennium Gallery, Sheffield
© Richard Bartle Richard Bartle: Nomadic Tales at Millennium Gallery, City Centre, Until 13 April 2020, free entry - Visit now
Richard Bartle: Nomadic Tales at Millennium Gallery in Sheffield explores the modern-day city of Istanbul, viewed through a series of 14th-century miniature illustrations.
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3. Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here at Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth
Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here is also on show at the Whitworth. It was co-organised by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), San Francisco. Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here at Manchester Art Gallery, Chinatown, 27 March–23 August 2020, free entry - Find Out More
Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here marks the only UK stop of a major touring retrospective dedicated to the American feminist artist.
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4. Syd Shelton: Rock Against Racism at Gallery Oldham
Specials Fans. Potternewton Park, Leeds, 1981. Courtesy of the artist and Autograph, London Rock Against Racism at Gallery Oldham, Manchester, 14 March–30 May 2020, free entry - Find Out More
Gallery Oldham presents a nationally touring exhibition of photographs by Yorkshire-born Syd Shelton capturing the legendary Rock Against Racism movement.
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5. People Play by Alice Irwin at The Piece Hall in Halifax
People Play by Alice Irwin at The Piece Hall, 28 February–1 June 2020, free entry - Find Out More
Alice Irwin’s giant sculptures at The Piece Hall embody a spirit of play, early innocence and imagination. Yet, People Play also has a more serious side.
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6. Joana Vasconcelos at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Joana Vasconcelos, Pop Gallo, 2016. Courtesy Lui's Vasconcelo / Unidade Infinita Projectos and YSP Joana Vasconcelos at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 7 March 2020–3 January 2021, free entry - Find Out More
Yorkshire Sculpture Park presents the monumental work of celebrated Portuguese sculptor Joana Vasconcelos.
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7. Yelena Popova: The Scholar Stones Project at The Holden Gallery
Yelena Popova, Keepsafe (detail), 2019 Yelena Popova, The Scholar Stones Project at The Holden Gallery, Manchester, 7 February–27 March 2020, free entry - Find Out More
After growing up in the closed city of Ozyorsk – the birthplace of the Soviet nuclear weapons programme – Yelena Popova’s work reflects a fascination with nuclear history.
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8. Utopias at the Whitworth
Gilbert & George, Race Hate (2011) Utopias at The Whitworth, Manchester, 31 January–31 October 2020, free entry - Find Out More
How have visions of utopia and the visual culture that helped form it impacted upon the Brexit debate? A new exhibition at the Whitworth explores.
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9. Ho Tzu Nyen: The Critical Dictionary of Southeast Asia Volume 10: N for Nameless at CFCCA
Ho Tzu Nyen, The Critical Dictionary of South-East Asia: The Nameless film still (2014). Image courtesy of the artist. Ho Tzu Nyen: The Critical Dictionary of Southeast Asia Volume 10: N for Nameless at Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, Manchester, 24 January–12 April 2020, free entry - Find Out More
CFCCA presents Singapore artist Ho Tzu Nyen’s alternative ‘A to Z’ account of Southeast Asia, focusing on the region’s neglected histories.
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10. People’s History Museum 10th Birthday
Illustration by Danielle Rhoda for People's History Museum People's History Museum 10th Birthday at People’s History Museum, City Centre, Until 15 February 2020, free entry - Visit now
People’s History Museum – Manchester’s national museum of democracy – celebrates its 10th birthday with a special weekend of events.
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11. Theaster Gates: Amalgam at Tate Liverpool
Still from the film Dance of Malaga, 2019. © Theaster Gates and courtesy of the artist. Photo: Chris Strong Theaster Gates: Amalgam at Tate Liverpool, Waterfront, Until 4 May 2020, from £8.5 - Book now
Marking his UK debut, Theaster Gates responds to the little-known history of Malaga – a small island off the north east state of Maine, USA.
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12. Vivian Suter at Tate Liverpool
Vivian Suter, Nisyros (Vivian’s bed) 2016–17 © Courtesy of the artist and Karma International, Zurich and Los Angeles; Gladstone Gallery, New York and Brussels; House of Gaga, Mexico City; and Proyectos Ultravioleta, Guatemala City Vivian Suter at Tate Liverpool, Waterfront, Until 16 March 2020, free entry - Visit now
Drenched in the rich beauty of the Guatemalan rainforest, Tate Liverpool presents the first UK solo exhibition of work by the Swiss-Argentinian artist, Vivian Suter.
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13. Thumbs Up at Castlefield Gallery
Frances Disley, Tripleflex, 2019, Performed at Bluecoat as part of LEAP Dance festival, Image_ George Ellis Thumbs Up at Castlefield Gallery, Castlefield, 24 January–28 March 2020, free entry - Find Out More
Castlefield Gallery’s upcoming exhibition explores how the conditions of the gallery space affect our encounter with art. It certainly gets a thumbs up from us!
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14. Edward Allington : Things Unsaid at the Henry Moore Institute
Edward Allington, Things Unsaid, 1990, pen, ink and emulsion on ledger paper. Courtesy Leeds Museums & Galleries (Leeds Art Gallery) Edward Allington: Things Unsaid at The Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, Leeds, Until 23 February 2020, free entry - Visit now
An artist who believed that we often know more than can be spoken, Edward Allington’s restaging at the Henry Moore Institute offers a poetic response to the complexity of the world.
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15. MACFEST 2020 – across Manchester
MACFEST 2020 at British Muslim Heritage Centre, Manchester, Until 26 January 2020, free entry - Visit now
Manchester’s award-winning Muslim Arts and Culture Festival returns for a second edition, featuring over 50 cultural events across 16 days.
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16. Judy Chicago at BALTIC, Gateshead
Judy Chicago Purple Poem for Miami, 2019 Fireworks performance © Judy Chicago/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Photo © Donald Woodman/ARS, New York -
17. Alexis Teplin: It’s My Pleasure to Participate at Bluecoat
Arch (The Politics of Fragmentation), 20th Sydney Biennale, The Future is Already Here, It’s Just Not Evenly Distributed, -
18. you feel me_ at FACT, Liverpool
Anna Bunting-Branch, Warm Worlds and Otherwise. Installation view at Wysing Arts Centre, 2019 (c) Wilf Speller -
19. A Healthy Profit at Quarry Bank
Paul Harris A Healthy Profit Exhibition at Quarry Bank, Cheshire, Until 19 April 2020, free entry - Visit now
A Healthy Profit at Quarry Bank offers an important look at one chapter in the continuing story of capitalism’s impact on the human body.
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20. Rewriting The Future at Site Gallery, Sheffield
Image: ATOM SPIRIT 2017, Ursula Mayer. Three channel video, 16 mm on HD 20 min. Courtesy the artist. Rewriting The Future at Site Gallery in Sheffield, City Centre, Until 26 January 2020, free entry - Visit now
Rewriting The Future at Site Gallery shines a light on the speculative futures being put forward by women, trans and queer people, and people of colour.
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21. Joy Labinjo: Our histories cling to us at BALTIC, Gateshead
Joy Labinjo , Bride - to - be, 2019. Courtesy the artist and Tiwani Contemporary -
22. Elizabeth Price: A Long Memory at the Whitworth
AT THE HOUSE OF MR X, 2007, HD video. Courtesy of/copyright the artist Elizabeth Price at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 1 March 2020, free entry - Visit now
‘Elizabeth Price at the Whitworth’ brings together new and acclaimed works – including drawings, sculpture, and video – by the Turner prize-winning artist.
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23. Manchester Open Exhibition 2020 at HOME
HOME Manchester Open Exhibition 2020 at HOME Manchester, Manchester, Until 15 March 2020 - Book now
Featuring over 500 artists from across Greater Manchester, the inaugural edition of the Manchester Open Exhibition at HOME should be a highly eclectic and exciting affair.
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24. Yemen: Inside a Crisis at Imperial War Museum North
© Giles Clarke for UN/OCHA, 2017 Yemen: Inside a Crisis - IWM North at Imperial War Museum North (IWM North), Manchester, Until 26 January 2020, free entry - Visit now
Curated with support from award-winning journalist Iona Craig, Yemen: Inside a Crisis at IMW North offers a powerful look at one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
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25. The Sun at the Science and Industry Museum
Science Museum Group The Sun at Science and Industry Museum, Castlefield, Until 29 March 2020, from £6 - Book now
The Science and Industry Museum’s blockbuster summer exhibition, The Sun, sets out to bring us as close to the star as many of us are likely to ever come.
More in Exhibitions
Liverpool Biennial Northern England Tour
Whether Liverpool Biennial 2018 passed you by or you diligently ticked-off every last one of its multiple offerings (if so; bravo), the Liverpool Biennial Northern England Tour seems unlikely to disappoint.
The Reno at the Whitworth
Award-winning playwright Linda Brogan and a group of local residents who used to attend the Reno nightclub in the 1970s and 80s prepare to occupy the Whitworth for one year. Located in Moss Side, the Reno was known as a space for young mixed-race Mancunians. This living exhibition will tell the story of the club through art and archive materials.
A-Z of Salford’s Collections at Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Discover how Victorian gentlemen protected their moustaches from tea, which monarch’s pair of stockings reside in Salford, get up close to incredible art and more.
In A League Of Their Own at Castleford Museum
Rugby League is born and bred in West Yorkshire. From its beginnings in Huddersfield in 1895 to the Super League superstars of today, celebrate over 120 years of blood, sweat and tears.
Disrupt? Peterloo and Protest at People’s History Museum
Marking the 200-year-anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre, ‘Disrupt? Peterloo and Protest’ at People’s History Museum takes visitors on a journey through the past, present and future of protest in this country.
Poulsen Arc Dream Radio at Storyhouse in Chester
What does it mean to be transported into another person’s memories? Step into a new digital art commission at Storyhouse in Chester to find out.
Louise Giovanelli at Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery prepares to present a series of new paintings by artist Louise Giovanelli, alongside rarely-seen early Renaissance panel paintings.
Holly Hendry / Taus Makhacheva at The Tetley
As part of the Liverpool Biennial touring programme, The Tetley is hosting works by artists Holly Hendry and Taus Makhacheva.
Maddi Nicholson: a place lived at Hardman Square in Spinningfields
‘a place lived’ by Maddi Nicholson is a new public artwork that delves into the near-forgotten history of Manchester’s thriving financial district.
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