Online things to do in Manchester and the North – Online events

DaDaFest International 2020: Translations, online, Until 13 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

With a vibrant showcase featuring 14 brand-new works by D/deaf and disabled artists, DaDaFest International 2020 goes online for its first-ever digital festival.

Early years Atelier, online, Until 7 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

Specially designed for the under 5s and their grown-ups, The Whitworth have taken their early years sessions online.

Complete Works: Table Top Shakespeare: At Home, online, Until 31 December 2020 - Book now

Forced Entertainment perform the complete works of Shakespeare on a tabletop using familiar household condiments and objects.

Humbug, online, 1–31 December 2020, from £10 - Book now

Packed with interaction, fun and magic, Wrongsemble are inviting families to crack the conundrum and save Christmas. No pressure then…

Ideas Worth Exploring - at home and online, online, Until 31 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

Even though we’re in the midst of a second lockdown, there are still plenty of ideas worth exploring at home and online with the People’s History Museum.

Alliance Française de Manchester, 125 Portland St,, Manchester, M1 4QD - Visit now

Le français, c’est chic! The Alliance Française de Manchester has a large range of online & onsite French courses starting 14 September.

User Not Found: A Video Podcast, online, Until 10 March 2021 - Book now

Exploring digital legacy and online identity, acclaimed theatre-makers Dante or Die are back with a video podcast version of their hugely successful show.

Sheffield Doc/Fest, online, Until 30 November 2020, free entry - Visit now

Having taken place in Sheffield annually in June, this year Sheffield Doc/Fest extends its activities throughout the rest of the year – both in Sheffield and virtually.

What it is to be here: Colonisation and Resistance – Online at The Portico Library, online, Until 27 July 2021, free entry - Visit now

The Portico Library marks 250 years since British explorer James Cook first landed on the shores of what we now call Australia with an online exhibition that explores the history of violence and resistance that followed.

The Gardener Digs in Another Time – Online, online, Until 1 May 2021, free entry - Visit now

The Whitworth in Manchester invites you to step into the garden as subject with an online version of its 2016 exhibition, The Gardener Digs in Another Time.

The Living Planet – Online at FACT, Liverpool, online, Until 31 March 2021, free entry - Visit now

FACT’s year-long programme, The Living Planet, seems even more timely than first imagined – and has been created for people to interact with and enjoy remotely for free online.

Homemakers, online, Until 31 December 2020 - Book now

HOME have invited theatre and live art makers to create new works at home, for an audience who are also at home.

Cinemas are closed right now. We’ll be back front and centre when they reopen but in the meantime, here are top picks of things to stream to the small screen.

STRIP! Football Exhibition Goes Online, online, Until 25 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

The National Football Museum presents a major online exhibition of football shirts. Enjoy in-depth analysis, opinion, and discussion by the exhibition curators and shirt industry insiders into what makes certain shirts so special.

Anthony Burgess on Tape, online, Until 31 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

Anthony Burgess on Tape is an online exhibition from the International Anthony Burgess Foundation comprising of 1,094 cassettes and 87 reel-to-reel tapes from one of Manchester’s greatest and most prolific writers.

Manchester Museum, The University Of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 9PL - Visit now

Manchester Museum has uploaded their digital content onto a new mobile site so that you can explore their collection from your home.  Head t0 their new site for entertainment and education until they reopen.

Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 6JA - Visit now

Contact is offering some inspiration over on their website. For the next seven weeks, seven freelance artists will each suggest seven creative ideas to help you Take Notice – a different idea every day.

Manchester’s libraries are not open, but you can discover all the free digital resources available from them here. There’s also plenty of ideas on their social media channels.

Bluedot Festival 2021 at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, 22–25 July 2021, from £59.75 - Book now

With Bluedot officially postponed until next year (with headliners intact) they have been working on trying to bring the festival experience to your living room. Over the coming weeks, they’ll have a series of takeovers from some of their best-loved artists.

Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 3JL - Visit now

There’s a lot of Manchester Art Gallery’s collection online for you to explore, we’re particularly impressed with their audio guides site, which includes four guided mindfulness sessions.

The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Salford, Manchester, M50 3AZ - Visit now

The Lowry is closed but is looking for new ways to inspire. Their blog offers some ideas of how to keep yourself busy during these unusual times.

The Hepworth Wakefield, Gallery Walk, Wakefield, Yorkshire, WF1 5AW - Visit now

The building is closed but The Hepworth Wakefield Garden will remain open for people to enjoy. The team will continue to provide inspiring creative content online and will be involving artists and our communities in their digital programming.