July

MIF19 – Manchester International Festival

Manchester International Festival 2019 is here and it’s fair to say that we’re more than a little excited by the calibre of this year’s programme, which may indeed prove to be the festival’s strongest yet.

Everything I Have Is Yours at Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Everything I Have Is Yours at Salford Museum and Art Gallery is a major new moving image and sound artwork exploring the first decade of the UK charts.

MIF19: Kemang Wa Lehulere at Manchester Central Library

South African artist Kemang Wa Lehulere will be joining MIF for a festival-long residency at Manchester Central Library, exploring the city and its libraries.

MIF19: Ibrahim Mahama at the Whitworth

Considered one of the most ‘internationally visible’ artists working out of Africa today, for MIF 2019 Ibrahim Mahama presents an assemblage of lost objects that reflect upon the history of his home country’s long struggle for independence.

Buxton International Festival 2019

With a jam-packed programme of quality cultural events set in a stunning location, Buxton International Festival 2019 looks set to be the best yet.

Depot Art Studios at The Old Bank

The current members of Depot Art Studios prepare to exhibit their work together for the first time, taking on the space of the Old Bank Residency.

Cinthia Baseler: There is a Crack in Everything at The Old Bank

There is a Crack in Everything by Cinthia Baseler at The Old Bank draws upon the ideas of philosopher Marshal McLuhan to investigate photography’s ability to self-reference as a medium

RESOLVE Collective: The Garage at S1 Artspace

Interdisciplinary design collective RESOLVE will transform the gallery at S1 Artspace into a ‘living archive’ that reveals and records our emotional responses to the city.

Twelfth Night at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

Don’t miss Shakespeare’s most outrageous romantic comedy Twelfth Night when it comes to Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre this summer.

MIF19: David Lynch at HOME

Manchester International Festival announce a host of musicians for this summer’s highly anticipated event at HOME. Brace yourself for dark mysteries and wilder dreams as Manchester International Festival invite cult artist and filmmaker David Lynch to take over for a season of cinema, art and music.

MIF19: Atmospheric Memory at Science and Industry Museum

Could the air that surrounds us be used to access the voices of the past? For MIF 2019, Mexican-Canadian electronic artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer sets out to investigate a captivating theory posited by the great 19th century English polymath Charles Babbage.

Grace Ndiritu: The Ark: Centre For Interdisciplinary Experimentation at Bluecoat

Grace Ndiritu’s new exhibition at Bluecoat is based on research created before, during and after her ambitious research/live art project – The Ark: Centre For Interdisciplinary Experimentation – which took the form of an experimental scientific and spiritual community formed at Les Laboratories Aubervillers in Paris in 2017.

Shezad Dawood: Leviathan at Bluecoat

Shezad Dawood’s epic film series Leviathan comes to Bluecoat this summer as part of a season examining society and migration.

Rise Up! Children & Young People’s Gallery at Bluecoat

Children and young people across the world are taking action to protect their futures and the environment they inhabit. Bluecoat invitse you to join them and stand up for climate justice, through a series of artist-led workshops across the summer. Occupy the first floor gallery, organise amongst friends and explore how art can respond to what is happening to our planet.

Unearthing Passion and Protest Exhibition at Manchester Central Library

Join Grace Surman and Gary Winters alongside their two young children Hope and Merrick at Central Library as they explore the themes of their newly commissioned films based at Dunham Massey and Quarry Bank.

Heritage Days Out at Quarry Bank

Nestled in a picturesque valley just a short drive from Manchester, visit Quarry Bank this summer and discover one of the UK’s greatest industrial heritage sites.

Summer Gardens at Quarry Bank

Whether you’re a keen gardener or just want to escape the buzz of the city, the summer gardens at Quarry Bank are bursting with colour this time of year.

MIF19: Tuesday at Saint Augustine’s Church

A family-friendly odyssey on the uniqueness of human experience by Belgium theatre royalty Studio ORKA

MIF19: The Nico Project at The Stoller Hall

Inspired by the 1968 album The Marble Index, Maxine Peake and Sarah Frankcom join forces to celebrate one of pop culture’s most enigmatic figures.

Mill Trail: Become a Factory Inspector at Quarry Bank

Head back to the nineteenth century for super adventuring at Quarry Bank. Become a factory inspector in this new trail by children’s author Philip Ardagh.

Daily Tours: Nature, power, conservation & cotton at Quarry Bank

With an impressive programme of daily tours all about nature, power, conservation and cotton – learn something new at Quarry Bank this summer.

MIF19: Laurie Anderson – To the Moon at Royal Exchange Theatre

Part of Manchester International Festival 2019, To the Moon features both a VR experience and an immersive installation by major artists Laurie Anderson.

Ruskin, Turner and The Storm Cloud at Abbot Hall Art Gallery

This summer, Abbot Hall Art Gallery in Cumbria marks the 200-year-anniversary of the great Victorian art critic and watercolourist, John Ruskin’s birth, with an exhibition dedicated to the turbulent skies above.

Manifest Arts Festival 2019, across Greater Manchester

Manifest Arts Festival returns to the North West this summer for its third edition.

REAL WORK at FACT, Liverpool

REAL WORK at FACT in Liverpool is a major exhibition about precarious and unrecognised forms of work from around the world.

A Strange Weave of Time and Space at Site Gallery, Sheffield

Site Gallery in Sheffield presents A Strange Weave of Time and Space – an exhibition and research project exploring notions of aura and authenticity in the post-digital context.

The John Ruskin Prize 2019: Agent of Change at Holden Gallery

41 artists and designers, working across a broad range of disciplines, have been selected from over 1260 entries for The John Ruskin Prize 2019.

Ruth Ewan & Oscar Murillo at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

A new exhibition by artists Ruth Ewan and Oscar Murillo (2019 Turner Prize nominee) at YSP invites audiences to step back into the world of learning and reflect upon the importance of creativity within education.

Annie Pootoogook at Touchstones Rochdale

Presented as part of the Liverpool Biennial touring programme, this selection of drawings by Annie Pootoogook at Touchstones Rochdale challenges conventional expectations of Inuit art.

Glorious Phantoms at Quarry Bank

During the summer Quarry Bank will be screening two newly commissioned films based around the themes of rights and social change. Unearthing Passion and Protest is part of the National Trust’s People’s Landscapes programme.

Glorious Phantoms at Dunham Massey

Over the summer Dunham Massey will be showing two newly commissioned films as part of the Peterloo bicentenary celebrations. The work will be responding to ideas around rights, responsibilities and social change.

Richard Wincer: Shelter at Touchstones Rochdale

Todmorden-based artist Richard Wincer prepares to present ‘Shelter’ – an ambitious new sculptural installation at Touchstones Rochdale.

Nowruz/New Day at Touchstones Rochdale

Nowruz/New Day, Touchstones Rochdale’s new exhibition, poses a range of critical questions around how the Middle East is presented through the media.

Buffer Zones at Paradise Works

Buffer Zones at Paradise Works brings together the works of 13 artists in a physical commentary on the geo-political, social economic and cultural impacts of borders.

The Borrowers at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

In a new adaptation by Bryony Lavery, The Borrowers is brought to the magical Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre this summer.

Distractions

More than 80 international artists, musicians, policy makers, politicians and tech pioneers discuss the future of entertainment as part of Distractions. Andy Burnham talks to us about the future of entertainment in Greater Manchester.

Doodle Den: Playful Protests at People’s History Museum

Many people have found creative, peaceful ways to protest. Take time out in the Doodle Den and explore what creative disobedience means through scribbling, sketching and silliness.

The Doodle Den is a relaxed space where visitors of all ages can take time out, pick up a pencil and explore ideas through drawing.

Family Friendly activity / suitable for all ages /No booking required, drop in activity /Pay what you feel at the event

Natural Manchester Tour with Johnathan Schofield and MIF19

Discover the flora and fauna hidden in Manchester’s city centre with Johnathan Schofield this July. Natural Manchester is one of the many walks found in the MIF19 programme.

REFRACT:19 at Waterside Arts

Back with an even bigger bang – Trafford’s flagship arts festival returns to Waterside for ten-days of experiential performance and cultural delight.

Sound and Vision: Pop Stars on Film at HOME

From the relatively early days of cinema, figures from the world of popular music have been cast in acting roles. HOME’s new season is a greatest hits selection.

Supersonic Festival, Birmingham

Supersonic is an internationally-renowned experimental music and arts festival held in the holy land for heavy music: Birmingham.

Bluedot 2019 at Jodrell Bank

Entering its fourth year in 2019, bluedot celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landings with a special weekend of music, science, arts, technology, culture, food and film beneath the iconic Lovell Telescope.

MIF19: Animals of Manchester at The Whitworth

Little and large beasts alike should make tracks for this wild celebration for Manchester International Festival’s final weekend.

Summer Holidays at Quarry Bank

Avoid those cries of boredom. For fun during the summer holidays, head to Quarry Bank for a jam-packed day-out inspired by the great outdoors.

The Sun at the Science and Industry Museum

Museum of Science and Industry’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.

Summer Season of Fun at the Science and Industry Museum

Head to the Science and Industry Museum this summer for daily family shows, fun activities and events, whatever the weather.

Enjoy surprising science with our experiment packed Science Showdown and experience the sights and sounds of the Textiles Mills at a historic working machinery demonstration.

Power UP at the Science and Industry Museum

Stretch those competitive muscles and explore 40 years of video game challenges and design from Pacman to the latest in virtual reality.

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.

The Harder They Come (15) + Introduction at HOME

The Harder They Come features reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff as Ivan, a renegade songwriter from the boondocks of Jamaica who comes to the big city looking for dreams and only finds reality.

Frisky & Mannish: PopLab (Preview) at Waterside

Catch the BBC Radio 1 regulars and stars of BBC2, BBC3 & ITV, Frisky & Mannish on their tour of their new show, PopLab.

Make Yourself at Home: Family Studio Space at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Pop into the family friendly creative space at YSP Learning. Make, draw, construct, play, imagine and have fun in the Garden Studio. Explore ideas inspired by current exhibitions at YSP and be your own artist.

Family Summer YSI Sculpture Walk at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Explore the extraordinary sculptures of Yorkshire Sculpture International artists brought to Yorkshire. Draw, think and make outside and consider how sculpture changes the space around us. Create family memories this summer on a stroll through Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s beautiful landscape.

Flower Crown Workshop at Oh Me Oh My

OH ME OH MY are excited to be working with Charlie’s Flower Boutique to host a set of exclusive workshops as part of the Summer Garden Afternoon Tea Secret Sessions.

Catching Comets at Waterside

Catching Comets, by award-winning Ransack Theatre, asks how we’re supposed to be big and strong when we are nothing like the heroes we grew up with on our screens.

Desperately Seeking Susan at HOME

Madonna burst onto the big screen in her first major role as Susan, the free-spirited New Yorker who lights up the life of timid, repressed upper-middle-class New Jersey housewife Roberta (Rosanna Arquette).

Summer holidays at Nostell

Whether little explorers looking for adventures or minimakers ready to get creative, we’ve lots to do this summer holiday. Get wild outdoors on Mondays and Tuesdays, with messy play and fun in the gardens, practice your cycling skills on Wednesdays and craft a masterpiece inspired by Thomas Chippendale in a Dovetail, Biscuit, Splat workshop on Thursdays and Fridays. Normal admission charges apply.

Guided Tour of Nether Alderley Mill

This summer, uncover Nether Alderley’s best kept secret. Hidden beneath the distinctive, long sloping roof of this medieval building is a fully restored working corn mill. Join a guided tour of Nether Alderley Mill to watch the mill come to life and see the heritage machinery in action. Watch as the waterwheels turn, powering the huge millstones that grind the flour. You can also discover more about the life of a miller, and learn how flour is made – uncovering the whole process from waterwheel to wholemeal. This year, for the first time since 1939, visitors can now also buy a bag of Nether Alderley Mill’s very own stoneground wholemeal flour produced right there in the mill by the heritage machinery.

Beach Body Ready at Waterside

The time has come. It’s the season of cutting carbs and hitting it hard at the gym – The Roaring Girls are getting Beach Body Ready. Are you?

Mini Museum Explorers at Wakefield Museum

Head to Wakefield Museum for drop in Egyptian themed fun for the under 5s every Tuesday

Outdoor Sculpture Building: Come Rain, Come Shine at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Immerse yourself in an imaginative world of sculpture making. Work and play together to build sculptures inspired by artists in the Park. Stack, balance, join and arrange. Always outdoors, Come Rain, Come Shine is about playful making in the fresh air.

Professor Elemental + Gypsies of Bohemia at Waterside

A co-headline show with Professor Elemental and Gypsies of Bohemia, performed as part of Waterside’s REFRACT:19 Festival.

Pamela DeMenthe: Sticky Digits at Waterside

For one night only Pamela DeMenthe invites fans to learn the secrets of her success and enjoy a sneak preview of her hotly anticipated novel, Sticky Digits.

PN Review Summer Launch at Castlefield Gallery

The summer launch of Manchester-based poetry and criticism magazine PN Review, 46 this year, features readings from issue contributors John Wilkinson, Lisa Kelly, Joe Carrick-Varty, Jennifer Edgecombe, Stav Poleg and Andy Croft.

Power UP Late at the Science and Industry Museum

With hundreds of consoles and games from the past 40 years, get your game face on at one of the adult-only Power UP sessions.

Kendal Calling Festival 2019

So good that 2019’s edition sold out before the line-up was announced, snap up your tickets for 2018 fast.

Rewriting The North at The Portico Library

Supported by The Portico Library and Centre for Place Writing, the second event in the Rewriting The North reading series explores the relationship between writing and place and celebrates how the writers Fiona Mozley and Andrew Michael Hurley are reimagining the North of England.

Karima Francis + Annabel Allum at Waterside

A co-headline show with Karima Francis and Annabel Allum plus support.

ANNABEL ALLUM
Loaded with pulsating hooks and enigmatic tenacious vocals, Annabel Allum oozes charisma and showcases an adept ability to marry folk-style storytelling with snarling fuzzy indie.

KARIMA FRANCIS
Karima has toured the UK and Europe extensively with her captivating performances – She has graced the major stages supporting such artists as Paul Simon/ The Stereophonics / Jack Savoretti / Patti Smith and Amy Winehouse.

Please note this gig is a standing event in the Robert Bolt Theatre.

There is a Light That Never Goes Out at the Royal Exchange

Just in time for the bicentenary of Peterloo, Kandinsky shine a light on our city’s political identity and the legacy of Luddism in the modern world.

Grimmfest/ The Blair Witch Project 20th Anniversary Screening at Stockport Plaza

Grimmfest present Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez’s The Blair Witch Project from a 35mm print as their latest screening at the ever-marvellous Stockport Plaza.

Aliyah Hussain: Always Mysteries of the Tongue at HOME

For her exhibition, Always Mysteries of the Tongue, Aliyah Hussain presents a new series of ceramics, drawing, collage and print that explores the complexities of communication and miscommunication.

Festa Italiana

Festa Italiana Manchester is the country’s biggest festival designed to celebrate Italian food, drink and culture. Transforming Manchester city centre’s Cathedral Gardens into Little Italy once again from the 26th to 28th July.

Our Kids Social: Silent DisGlo at Waterside

Huzzah! Our Kids Social is back at Waterside for the Refract:19 Festival and this time they are getting UV Glo-tastic.

Grace Petrie at Waterside

Join acclaimed contemporary folk singer Grace Petrie for an intimate gig at Refract:19. A unique take on life, love and politics.

Vegan Supper Club at the Vegetarian Society Cookery School

For those eager to expand their Vegan culinary repertoire the Vegetarian Society Cookery School’s new Vegan Supper Club is a must. With easy to follow instructions from expert tutors you can create sumptuous vegan meals which are then enjoyed as a group.

Henry V at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

Shakespeare’s history play, Henry V explores England’s relationship with its European neighbours. A timely open-air performance in Grosvenor Park.

The Small World of Sammy Lee (12) + Introduction & DJ Set at HOME

The vibrant, down and dirty Soho of the 1960s lives on in British classic The Small World of Sammy Lee, featuring Bowie-inspiring actor and singer Anthony Newley as a strip-club compère.

Botanical Candle Melt Workshop at LEAF

Join Willow and Blossom for the ultimate relaxing workshop where you’ll be making vegan soy candles and petal melts.

Hairspray at HOME

Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad aerosols her hair, rehearses the hippest dance steps and dreams of appearing on the “Corny Collins TV Show” while her huge mother Edna (played by Divine – his last performance) irons endlessly.

FaxFiction at Waterside

In this special commission as part of Refract festival, FaxFiction sees six writers perform six brand-new specially commissioned short stories incorporating old technologies, from Dictaphones to floppy discs.

Captive at Waterside

Presented by the ever brilliant Motionhouse, four dancers will perform this exciting fusion of dance, acrobatics and aerial work inside a large cage.

Joy Orbison at Soup Kitchen

Joy Orbison is bringing his much-celebrated brand of garage-house to Manchester’s favourite basement, where he’ll perform alongside Lyster and Rahim.

Call Super at The White Hotel

Feverishly creative and meticulous in every aspect of his work, Call Super has carved out a unique position in the electronic music landscape. Here’s why you need to see him at The White Hotel.

Performance + Q&A at HOME

Influenced by the writing of Borges, Performance a kaleidoscopic and eye-popping look at identity and transformation.

School Holiday Drama Workshops

Your kids can try something new this summer with a three day drama course, they’ll learn how to make theatre and improv their acting skills as well as have a lot of fun.

King Creole at HOME

Set in New Orleans, Elvis Presley plays 19-year-old Danny Fisher, who is struggling to graduate from high school when he accidentally stumbles into a singing career.

And Breathe… at Manchester Art Gallery

Exploring the relationship between art and mindfulness And Breathe… is an exhibition of artworks from Manchester Art Gallery’s collection that explores the relationship between art, positive mental health and wellbeing.

Nordic Craft and Design at Manchester Art Gallery

Showcasing furniture, fashion, lighting, ceramics, glass, metalwork and jewellery, Nordic Craft and Design at Manchester Art Gallery highlights the superb quality and creativity inherent in design from the region and features pieces from 1930 to the present day.

First Time at Waterside

Recipient of the Making Waves bursary, you’ve got another chance to see this sell-out show before it takes the world (and Edinburgh Fringe) by storm.

Whitworth Art Gallery Daily Tour

Take a closer look at some of the Whitworth Art Gallery’s collection while gaining a better understanding of the context in which the pieces were created. The free tours run daily from 2 pm.

Serena Korda: The Bell Tree at Speke Hall

The Bell Tree by award winning contemporary artist Serena Korda responds to England’s alternative history of fairy-tale folklore, the ancient forest at Speke Hall and the legacy of hidden rebellion that surrounds the historic Tudor home.

Manchester Art Gallery Highlights Tour

Take a tour around select artworks from Manchester Art Gallery’s collection. Lead by different guides every day, each tour is personal to their taste. Tours start at 2 pm from Thursday to Sunday.

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.

Rocket Returns to the Science and Industry Museum

Make tracks for Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum. A one-in-a-lifetime chance to see Stephenson’s Rocket return to the site of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway for the first time in over 180 years.

Documentary Challenge at IWM North

Make and feature in your own mini-documentary at IWM North.

Daily Manchester Walking Tours

Free Manchester Tours offer a friendly introduction to the city. Setting off every day at 11am without fail.

Celebrating Women in Global Cinema at HOME

In 2019 HOME host a year-long programme of films and special events highlighting and celebrating women in film from across the world.

From specially curated retrospectives, seasons and special events, to takeovers of annual favourites, this branded series of screenings and events will explore and challenge the place and space of female filmmakers from a variety of cultural, social and political perspectives.

HOME 2019 Season

With a continuing drive towards bold global programming, HOME Manchester welcomes friends, old and new, for an exhilarating new season.

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.

Striking Gold Piano Series at The Stoller Hall

This year-long celebration of outstanding pianists marks Chetham’s School of Music’s golden jubilee year.

A World Inside a Book: Gruffalo, Dragons and Other Creatures at Z-arts

The UK’s first immersive exhibition of the much-loved tales of Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler. Expect enchanting forests, miniature towns and watery worlds.

Things to do in the Lakes this Summer

Not only one of Britain’s most picturesque national parks, the Lake District is also brimming with culture. Here’s what not miss this summer.

Zig Zag Atelier Bebop at Common Bar

Expect big things and colourful shapes at ZIG ZAG, a new exhibition by Atelier Bebop at Common Bar in the Northern Quarter.

Dovetail, Biscuit, Splat at Nostell

From designing the highest quality furniture, to sourcing the latest fashions in wallpaper, textiles and fittings, Thomas Chippendale created a world of interiors for Nostell. Roll up your sleeves and discover the designer in you with creative family activities every school holiday

Serena Korda: Under the Rose at Speke Hall

Following on from her enchanting installation ‘The Bell Tree’, Serena Korda launches a second sound work, ‘Under the Rose’ at Liverpool’s Speke Hall.

Developing History at the Hardmans’ House

As one of Liverpool’s lesser known gems prepares to reopen its doors for 2019, we look forward to encountering a rare series of photographs only recently discovered by chance in the cluttered darkroom of the Hardmans’ former, perfectly-preserved home.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh: making the Glasgow Style at Walker Art Gallery

Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool present one of the blockbuster exhibitions of 2019, dedicated to the life and work of the Glaswegian artist, architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh – father of the UK’s part in the international Art Nouveau movement.

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.

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.

The Lost Words at Lyme

Robert McFarlane and Jackie Morris’ spell book is brought to life in a special new artist trail which brings to life the language of the natural world.

Tours of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and The Pankhurst Centre

Visit the homes of two influential Mancunian women in one day. Volunteer led tours of Elizabeth Gaskell and Emmeline Pankhurst’s former homes are an ideal way to learn the stories of these two influential figures.

Taste of The Monastery at Gorton Monastery

Discover this Victorian neo-Gothic gem just outside the city centre in Gorton. Taste the Monastery is a guided tour followed by lunch in the Victorian Pantry.

Ancient Textiles from the Andes at the Whitworth

Explore a beautiful selection of ancient textiles from the Andes, presented alongside pieces from the Whitworth’s collection.

Thukral and Tagra: Bread, Circuses & TBD at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

In Bread, Circuses & TBD at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Thukral and Tagra invite families, friends, and strangers to wrestle with the issues faced by farmers in India through their immaculately conceived installation Bread, Circuses & TBD, which inaugurates The Weston Gallery.

Kimsooja: To Breathe at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Following on from Chiharu Shiota’s monumental web installation, South Korean artist Kimsooja prepares to fill Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s 18th century chapel with iridescent light. Prepare to step into a deeply meditative space, underpinned by eastern notions of the Void.

Guided Tours at Ordsall Hall

With Medieval paintwork and a fascinating history, Ordsall Hall gives us a glimpse into how society has changed over the centuries. Explore Salford’s oldest building every Sunday from 2pm with a guided tour of the House and Gardens.

Victoria Baths Guided Tour

Visit the stunning Victoria baths now that the building has reopened for Summer. Get to know the stories of bathers and activists whose continuing work could one day lead to the baths reopening as a working swimming pool.

Rights of the Child at Quarry Bank

Discover how children’s rights have changed over time in a brand new exhibition at Quarry Bank, Rights of the Child.

Explore & Draw stations at The Hepworth Wakefield

The Explore and Draw stations are open daily and are free to use.

Look out for Explore & Draw stations in The Hepworth Wakefield’s galleries. Borrow looking tools, handling objects and drawing materials to explore the galleries and create artworks.

The gallery have up to three stations in the galleries for you to use and explore. Each station links to their temporary exhibitions or collection displays and contains activities, objects and books related to the artworks. Enjoy drawing in the galleries, look in new ways at the artworks, feel objects and materials connected to exhibitions, or sit and read together.

Family Fun at Pontefract Museum

Lively activity sessions that everyone can take part in.

Castle Crafts at Pontefract Castle

Get creative together and explore and learn about the history of Pontefract Castle through play or crafts. A different activity each month.

Summer 2019 at Little Moreton Hall

With its beautifully charming and quirky style, Little Moreton Hall offers an iconic Tudor manor house, moat, manicured knot garden and plenty of fun activities for everyone.

Grub Food Fair at Mayfield

GRUB’s Food Fair returns to Mayfield Depot, with a bigger site and a huge array of top-class local food traders.

Nordic by Nature at Weston Park Museum

Nordic by Nature: modern design and prints, a new British Museum touring exhibition opening at Weston Park Museum, will explore how nature and landscape is at the heart of Finnish, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian art and design.

Concerts in the Bandstand at Pontefract Castle

Get your toes tapping with Pontefract Castle’s series of concerts featuring local brass and wind ensembles.

Now Showing Club at Old Bank Residency, Manchester

Now Showing Club is Manchester’s first dedicated documentary cinema and will be showcasing 50 films from Dogwoof’s back catalogue in 2019.

National Football Museum Guided Tours

Discover ‘the beautiful game’ with a guided tour of the National Football museum. You’ll learn about the sports origins as well as getting up close to a collection filled with infamous cups, shirts and artefacts.

Jazz at the Deli llama

Every Thursday join some of Manchester’s freshest players, for Jazz at the Deli Llama, a cosy deli on a corner in Salford that comes alive with vibes.

He Xiangyu at CFCCA

CFCCA presents an exhibition of installations, paintings, sculpture and film from He Xiangyu’s Lemon Project, which includes the premiere of new film Sylvain.

Yemen: Inside a Crisis at Imperial War Museum North

Curated with support from award-winning journalist Iona Craig, Yemen: Inside a Crisis at Imperial War Museum North offers a powerful look at one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

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.

Child Labour: Hidden Stories of Cumbria at Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry

Providing a rare insight into the history of child labour in Cumbria, this eye-opening exhibition at Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry is not to be missed.

Li Yuan Chia: Unique Photographs at the Whitworth

The Whitworth presents a quiet, yet arrestingly beautiful series of hand-coloured photographs taken by China’s first conceptual artist, Li Yuan Chia, nearing the end of his life.

Pearl Alcock at the Whitworth

Part of the Windrush generation, artist Pearl Alcock’s series of ‘visions’ and ‘moods’ realised as drawings and paintings go on display at the Whitworth.

Kapow! Original Comic Book Art at Cooper Gallery Barnsley

Award-winning DC Comics artist Dean Ormston and internationally renowned pin-up artist Fiona Stephenson are curating this unique and colourful comic book art exhibition.

Free Jazz at Band on the Wall

Contemporary jazz from some of the most exciting up and coming ensembles in the north.

NQ Jazz at the Whiskey Jar

With international artists as well as those making waves in the UK, NQ Jazz at the Whiskey Jar brings virtuosic musicianship and big names to the cosy whiskey jar basement.

Monday night Jam at Matt and Phreds

Matt and Phreds, Manchester’s favourite Jazz establishment, opens its stage to all every Monday with jams lead by familiar names from a cross section of jazz traditions.

The Other Side of the Hall at Little Moreton Hall

It’s not just the Tudors who lived at Little Moreton. Find out more about the modern inhabitants, their work and what it was like to live here. This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Get Your Body Tudor Ready at Little Moreton Hall

Throughout the year discover Tudor attitudes to health and food, with a different activity to try each month from making butter in a churn to creating a Tudor pinch pot to keep your remedies in. Explore the way in which the Tudors looked after their health and wellbeing, and get your body Tudor ready! This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Adult Skateboard Lessons at Projekts MCR

Open skateboarding session for adults, all abilities are welcome. Discover the creativity of this urban sport.

Fraternity Jazz Jam at the Thirsty Scholar

Join a host of regular Jazz players from the Manchester scene as they share their love of music with anyone willing to get involved.

404: Resistance in the Digital Age at CFCCA

404: Resistance in the Digital Age is a new installation by RAGE Collective at Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art that explores changes in modes of civic resitance over the last 30 years.

Pears & Apples – The Botanical Illustrations of Elisabeth Dowle at Cannon Hall Museum Park & Gardens

Cannon Hall’s historic pear collection and a new exhibition of work by renowned botanical artist Elisabeth Dowle makes for a perfect – and prescient – pairing.

The Hidden Tableaux’s Peterloo Massacre 1819 at Manchester Central Library

Part of Peterloo 2019, The Hidden Peterloo Massacre Tableaux is the latest work by renowned artist and co-founder of Rock Against Racism, Red Saunders.

LOOK Photo Biennial — Chapter One: Transplant

LOOK Photo Biennial 2019 – a major programme of photography-based exhibitions taking place across Liverpool, the Wirral and Shanghai – opens this June.

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.

Peterloo 2019

Manchester Histories prepares to launch a major programme of over 150 events to commemorate the 200-year anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre. All of the essential Peterloo events in one place.

Chance and Control: Art in the Age of Computers at The Old Library in Chester

Chance and Control: Art in the Age of Computers is a major touring exhibition that draws on the V&A’s rich international collection of computer-generated art.

Sol Calero at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool presents a new commission by Venezuelan-born, Berlin-based artist Sol Calero, whose brightly coloured, large-scale immersive installations offer a sharply satirical critique of the surreal set of stereotypes and clichés attached to different cultures.

Beyond Faith: Muslim Women Artists Today at the Whitworth

Beyond Faith: Muslim Women Artists Today at the Whitworth brings together the artworks and stories of artists Robina Akhter, Shabana Baig, Fatimah Fagihassan, Dr Aida Foroutan and Usarae Gul as they explore themes of identity, faith, cultures, otherness and belonging.

Keith Haring at Tate Liverpool

Featuring more than 70 artworks, Tate Liverpool presents the first major UK exhibition of work by the legendary New York artist and activist Keith Haring.

Eileen Simpson and Ben White: Open Music Archive at Castlefield Gallery

Castlefield Gallery’s latest exhibition will cast visitors into a time warp of music and sound, featuring an array of copyright-expired archival material from across the last 100 years.

Ella Doran: Sheep to Seat, Fleece to Floor at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Ellen Doran: Sheep to Seat, Fleece to Floor at Yorkshire Sculpture Park follows the journey of wool from the sheep which graze the historic landscape of YSP, from shearing to scouring, spinning to weaving and design to product development.

INDUSTRIALISED, Art in Manufacturing in the Gallery at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

INDUSTRIALISED, Art in Manufacturing in the Gallery at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery will provide a rare, multi-disciplinary view of industry, human contributions to manufacturing and the impacts of factory-making on our landscape.

David Smith: Sculpture 1932–1965 at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Yorkshire Sculpture Park presents a major exhibition of work by the great American artist David Smith (1906–1965) – the first solo exhibition of Smith’s work in the UK since Tate Modern’s 2006 project and the largest ever outside the capital.

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.

Yorkshire Sculpture International at The Hepworth Wakefield

This summer 2019, The Hepworth Wakefield will present its most ambitious exhibition to date as part of Yorkshire Sculpture International (YSI).

Yorkshire Sculpture International 2019

Billed as the UK’s largest dedicated sculpture festival, the inaugural edition of Yorkshire Sculpture International seems rich in promise.

New Found Land | Anna Gonzalez Noguchi at Caustic Coastal

New Found Land is a solo exhibition of new work by Anna Gonzalez Noguchi, running throughout all three of the exhibition spaces at Caustic Coastal in Salford.

The Last Rat Collection at Bunker Gallery

The Last Rat Collection at Bunker Gallery is a larger collection of smaller works by collaborative duo Mike S Redmond & Faye Coral Johnson (MSR FCJ). 

Gathering – Susie MacMurray at Tatton Park

Gathering is a major new site-specific work by artist Susie MacMurray, about to open at Tatton Park.

Expect the Unexpected: A Chance Exhibition at the Lowry

A new exhibition at the Lowry is a reminder to re-connect with the beauty and joy chance poses. To celebrate the unexpected, as well as to expect it.

Gathering at Little Moreton Hall

Over a thousand used tennis balls become the subject of a short film and installation by international artist Hilary Jack in the Long Gallery at Little Moreton Hall.

Auto – Destruct at Cross Lane Projects, Cumbria

Cross Lane Projects summer exhibition, Auto-Destruct, is inspired by the ideas of celebrated artist and activist Gustav Metzger.

This Land is our Land at PAPER Gallery

This Land is Our Land is a group exhibition at PAPER that explores the meaning of place and myth in the act of pilgrimage whilst mirroring the socio-politic absurdity of today.