Free things to do this weekend ft. We Are Who We Are + Virunga

We Are Who We Are Preview at Bankley Studios (pictured)
The Levenshulme studios and gallery launches its latest exhibition Saturday, but the truly hungry can get a lot of this sneak-preview on Friday night. We Are Who We Are is an exhibition of work by the local Level Seven Collective, an all-female art group producing socially-conscious feminist work in a range of styles and mediums. If you’re unable to make it to this evening preview, the exhibition runs until the middle of next week, so there’s plenty of opportunity to catch up.
Fri 1 Jul, Bankley Studios, Bankley Street, Levenshulme, M19 3PP. 6pm – 9pm, www.facebook.com

Virunga film screening at St James’
The CREATE Film Festival is running over the next couple of weeks, showcasing films from some of the toughest, most conflict-blighted areas of the world. One such area is the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is the subject of documentary film Virunga, due to be screened as part of a session at St. James’ Church in Moss Side that will also include a roster of shorter films. To find out more about the festival, take a look at our full preview.
Sat 2 Jul, St James’, 95a Princess Road, Moss Side, Manchester, M14 4TH. 4pm – 9.30pm, www.eventbrite.com

A Guy Called Gerald at Eastern Bloc Records
Acid House pioneer A Guy Called Gerald makes his way to the Northern Quarter’s Eastern Bloc Records for this free early-evening DJ set ahead of his appearance at the Albert Hall’s Hacienda night. Definitely the best alternative if you can’t stump up £25 for the big gig. For an added bonus, he’s also joined on the day by Eastern Bloc Residents and Mr. Redley.
Sat 2 Jul, Eastern Bloc Records, 5A Stevenson Square, Manchester, M1 1DN. 4pm – 11pm, www.facebook.com

Summer Carnival at Trafford Centre
This Saturday and Sunday, the Trafford Centre plays host to a summer carnival: A family-friendly weekend of music and entertainment at the heart of the shopping complex. Already promised on the bill is a steel drums band and a puppet show, but there’s much more on offer, including discounts and promotions at a range of shops and restaurants.
Sat 2 Jul – Sun 3 Jul, intu Trafford Centre, Stretford, Manchester, M17 8AA. 10am – 6pm, intu.co.uk

Human Interest Party at Aatma
This is the second Human interest party, a late-night party at Aatma – the venue formerly known as Kraak – with a bewilderingly diverse playlist. From Kendrick Lamar to Kraftwerk, from Talking Heads to Taylor Swift, no taste is left uncatered for in this early-hours extravaganza.
Sat 2 Jul, Aatma, 1st Floor, 14-16 Faraday Street, Manchester, M1 1BE. 11.45pm – 4am, www.facebook.com

Last Chance to See Best of Chinese Art at CFCCA
It’s been 30 years since the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Art opened its doors, and this exhibition – coming to a close this weekend – provides a snapshot of the best in Chinese art since it started. The final piece you can view this weekend is an installation by Susan Pui San Lok, which takes its inspiration from classic martial arts trilogy Return of Condor Heroes. For more information, check out our full preview.
Until Sun 3 Jul, Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, Market Buildings, Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1EU, UK. Tel: 0161 832 7271, 10am – 5pm, www.cfcca.org.uk

Last Chance to See Imitation of Life at HOME
Another exhibition coming to a close is Imitation of Life at HOME. It’s a group exhibition that explores race in contemporary society: Something that has been thrown into sharp relief over the past few weeks. For more information on the artists involved, take a look at our preview.
Until Sun 3 Jul, HOME, First Street, Manchester, M15 4FN. Tel: 0161 200 1500, Sat 12pm – 8pm, Sun 12pm – 6pm, www.homemcr.org