Things to do in September

Hive City Legacy at HOME

From the creators of the fabulous Hot Brown Honey and following a sell-out success at London’s Roundhouse, comes the riotous Hive City Legacy.

Roundabout at Albert Park

An intimate and magical pop-up theatre comes to Salford this September: Roundabout promises top-class writing and a unique theatrical experience.

Swim For Restoration at Victoria Baths

Victoria Baths will once again be opening its doors as a swimming pool. Jump into the water of this architectural gem for third time in 26 years.

Red Dust Road at HOME

Growing up in 1970s Scotland as the adopted mixed raced child of a Scottish couple, young Jackie blossomed into an outspoken, talented poet. Then she decided to find her birth parents…

The Good Life Experience 2019 at Hawarden Estate

The Good Life Experience returns for its sixth outing, in the shadows of two castles on the Hawarden Estate in Flintshire.

MIF19: The Wizard of Oz + Introduction at HOME

This screening will be introduced by Dr Kirsty Fairclough, Associate Dean, School of Arts and Media, University of Salford.

Reel Girl Film Club presents: But I’m a Cheerleader at YES, Manchester

Reel Girl Film Club presents a screening of satirical teen romantic comedy But I’m A Cheerleader, at The Pink Room at YES, Manchester.

MIF19: Sunset Boulevard at HOME

This acid-etched portrait of Tinseltown remains one of the darkest movies on movie-making. Broke screenwriter Joe Gillis (Holden) hides out in a seemingly deserted mansion.

MIF19: A Place in the Sun at HOME

Stevens’ second major film after his return to Hollywood, A Place in the Sun is the story of how a hostile environment can pervert an already warped character.

Beryl at Bolton Library Theatre

The true story of one of the world’s greatest unsung sporting heroes will be brought to life in the intimate setting of Bolton’s Library Theatre.

Aphex Twin Curates at Mayfield Depot

Aphex Twin presents his first-ever curated show, which will see Nina Kravitz, Lee Gamble and Aleksi Perälä perform alongside Aphex himself.

MIF19: Mon Oncle at HOME

Slapstick prevails again when Tati’s eccentric Monsieur Hulot is set loose in the ultramodern home of his brother-in-law, and in the antiseptic plastic hose factory where he gets a job.

Terrarium Making Workshop with Sue Jeffries

Create a hanging globe terrarium under the expert guidance of Sue Jeffries. In this workshop you’ll get to grips with succulents and use your knowledge to creative something beautiful.

MIF19: 8½ at HOME

Fellini’s 8½ is another of the great films about cinema and the strain of creativity. Mastroianni excels as Guido Anselmi, a director whose new project is collapsing around him, along with his life.

Marika Hackman at Band on the Wall

A whip-smart lyricist and box-defying musician, Marika Hackman is hitting full stride. Don’t miss her playing Band on the Wall this September.

MIF19: In Cold Blood at HOME

Adapting Truman Capote’s true-crime novel about the senseless murder of a family in rural Kansas, In Cold Blood is a grimly authentic American horror story.

Manchester Food & Drink Festival 2019

The biggest food and drink festival in the North is back, and this time it’s a brand new location: the picturesque Cathedral Gardens.

Archive Poetry Workshop with Jennifer Lee Tsai

Join poet Jennifer Lee Tsai as she delves into the CFCCA archive to produce poetic responses. The poetry workshop focuses on themes of migration, identity and inheritance.

MIF19: Stroszek + Introduction at HOME

The 18:10 screening will be introduced by Andy Willis, Senior Visiting Curator for Film.

MIF19: The Man Without a Past + Introduction at HOME

This 16:00 screening will be introduced by Sarah Perks, curator David Lynch: My Head Is Disconnected.

Kurt Rosenwinkel Bandit 65 at Band on the Wall

Don’t miss jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel perform at Band on the Wall, where he’ll perform with Tim Motzer, and Gintas Janusonis under the name Bandit 65.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Free Jazz at Band on the Wall

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Future Cities: Technopolis & Everyday Life at Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art

How is the Digital Revolution affecting the future of our cities? A new season of exhibitions and events at CFCCA explores.

Jiū Society: Lost in Shenzhen at Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art

Artist collective Jiū Society prepares to take over CFCCA’s Gallery 2 with their ambitious multi-media installation, Lost in Shenzhen.

Vintage by the Sea in Morecambe

Celebrate the brilliance of 20th century design, fashion, vehicles and entertainment at this award-winning festival set around Morecambe’s famous art deco Midland Hotel.