Rusholme Festival of Ideas ft. film, lit, workshops, map-making & more

Every year, the Festival of Ideas descends on Rusholme – a unique week-and-a-bit of free events designed to stimulate discussion and foster creativity in South Manchester. This year it opens with the Emmy Award-winning documentary Journey of the Universe, which receives its first Mancunian screening – introduction and subsequent discussion led by Dr Helen Kettleborough (Sun 2 Nov, 6pm – 9pm). Next up, a discussion of the work of black American novelist James Baldwin presented by Manchester University’s Dr Douglas Field, and followed by a screening of the 1968 documentary Baldwin’s Nigger (Tue 4 Nov, 6pm – 9pm). On the Thursday, something a little different: a scriptwriters’ workshop under the gentle tutorship of writer Susan Holden (Thu 6 Nov, 10.30am – 2pm). The following day, you can take a walk from the Anchor Coffee House into the City Centre to explore Manchester’s museums and archives (Fri 7 Nov, 9.45 – 4pm). As the weekend arrives so does something for the family, with Caroline Coates’ map-making workshop (Sat 8 Nov, 11.30am – 2.30pm). The festival is nicely rounded off with the Imagine Rusholme workshop, which focusses on community planning and creative networking (Mon 10 Nov). All events as part of the festival are free, but registration on the website is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Sun 2 – Mon 10 Nov, Various venues around Rusholme, FREE (online registration recommended), www.festivalofideasrusholme.com