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

Makefest At Home, online, 25–29 May 2020, free entry - Visit now

Makefest At Home challenges the inventors of the future to gather household items to top up their toolboxes in preparation for a week of making.

The Encounter at HOME Manchester, Manchester and online, Until 25 May 2020, free entry - Visit now

Although we can’t wait to be sat back in the audience at HOME, we’re thrilled that we get another chance to experience this powerful binaural experience online. Don’t forget your headphones.

Bill Brandt / Henry Moore, online, Until 31 August 2020 - Book now

The Hepworth Wakefield is currently closed due to the ongoing situation with Coronavirus, however, its major exhibition bringing together over 200 works by Bill Brandt and Henry Moore can still be enjoyed online!

Grimmfest TV, online, Until 31 August 2020, free entry - Visit now

Grimmfest TV is a new online channel from the people behind Grimmfest, Manchester’s horror and fantasy film festival. Each week at least two new films will be added to the channel, and all films will remain available to view for free, until lockdown is over.

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.

Psappha - Lockdown Series of YouTube Premieres, online, 25 May 2020, free entry - Find Out More

Contemporary classical ensemble Psappha continue their series of YouTube Premieres with John Adams’ seminal Shaker Loops.

Wake Up Together, online, Until 31 August 2020, free entry - Visit now

Travel back in time and explore a VR-edition of Open Eye Gallery’s hugely popular 2018-19 exhibition, ‘Wake Up Together’, featuring work by Ren Hang and Robin Hammond; two artists who both champion the rights of every person to love who they want and respectfully live as they wish.

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.

Be Inspired - Online, online, Until 6 September 2020, free entry - Visit now

Be Inspired with Manchester Art Gallery is a collection of activities gathered by their team to help inspire your creativity at home.

Love Letters Straight From Your Heart, online, 27 May 2020, free entry - Find Out More

Presented by Fuel, Love Letters Straight From Your Heart is a new digital version of Uninvited Guests’ 2007 “audience-written” smash-hit. The show is ‘visiting’ 15 venues across the UK and arrives at Contact this month. Tickets have already sold out, but a waiting list is available.

Science Learning at Home, online, Until 30 June 2020, free entry - Visit now

Science Learning at Home with Jodrell Bank is a perfect way to keep children (and their adults) busy while learning from home.

Express Yourself: the 10-week challenge, online, Until 6 July 2020, free entry - Visit now

Express Yourself 10-week Challenge celebrates the spirit of Manchester libraries through a series of weekly online creative challenges.

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.

No Such Thing – the distance edition, online, Until 17 June 2020, free entry - Visit now

Hosted by Quarantine, a Manchester-based award-winning theatre and performance company, No Such Thing – The Distance Edition is an online version of their monthly get-together.

Art Bites Online, online, Until 17 June 2020, free entry - Visit now

Art Bites Online is a new, virtual edition of Manchester Art Gallery’s popular lunchtime discussion session. Join in online from home.

Old Bank Online, online, Until 31 May 2020, free entry - Visit now

The latest things to do from The Old Bank Residency as their twelve-month occupation of a disused bank by creatives moves online to help inspire us all. New things to do added each week.

Online with Company Chameleon , online, Until 31 May 2020, free entry - Visit now

Company Chameleon announce a programme of online events running throughout April and May. The Wonder of Dance, from their home to ours.

Rock Against Racism, online, Until 30 May 2020, free entry - Visit now

Syd Shelton: Rock Against Racism had only been open for days at Gallery Oldham before the venue closed due to the ongoing situation with Coronavirus. Thanks to the hard work of the team at Gallery Oldham and the collaboration of Syd Shelton, the exhibition can now be enjoyed online.

Manchester Camerata - Mini Music Makers, online, Until 28 May 2020, free entry - Visit now

Mini Music Makers is a new series of online videos from Manchester Camerata designed for kids aged 5-7, but can be enjoyed by all the family, and include fun games, music-making, craft and singalongs.

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.

Online Talent Development Surgeries, online, Until 31 July 2020, free entry - Visit now

HOME are also still there for Talent Development Surgeries, now online of course, you can book in for a 30min Zoom chat with one of their team.

Little Reads from Manchester Literature Festival, online, Until 27 May 2020, free entry - Visit now

Manchester Literature Festival is bringing the Little Reads storytime to Facebook every Wednesday morning. A perfect way to help children aged 2-6 develop their language skills from home.

Imperial War Museum: Adventures in History, online, Until 24 June 2020, free entry - Visit now

A brand-new digital programme from the Imperial War Museum that brings history into the homes of families across the world.

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.

Manchester Histories Festival 2020 at Manchester Central Library, Manchester, 4–7 September 2020, free entry - Find Out More

Until Manchester Histories Festival returns in the autumn, you can read the Peterloo Anthology, which showcases the talent of young people involved in the Radical Read project. They have also made two short videos highlighting the Peterloo 2019 programme and From the Crowd.

Muso Baby Virtual!, online, Until 26 May 2020, free entry - Visit now

Join Manchester Museum online for emotional support and suggestions for family well-being activities followed by music and songs. Perfect for ages 0-5.

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.

Storybarn Live!, online, Until 29 May 2020, free entry - Visit now

Join The Storybarn online for classic stories, family favourites and nursery rhymes through storytelling and sing-a-longs.

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 2020 at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, 23–26 July 2020, 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.