Free things to do in Manchester this weekend ft. Burgess 101 + more

Burgess 101 at Burgess Foundation
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about Manchester’s most famous literary son, then our first pick of free things to do in Manchester this weekend is the one for you. Writers Ben Masters and Jim Clarke come to the International Anthony Burgess Foundation this Friday for a crash course in the venue’s namesake. Novelist Masters will be dissecting Anthony Burgess’ great works, exploring the themes of free will, violence and religion, and helping him out is Clarke, a Burgess expert and academic whose book ‘The Aesthetics of Anthony Burgess: Fire of Words’ was published last year.
Fri 16 Feb, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester, M1 5BY. 5.30pm – 8.30pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Five Ways Creative Drop-In at The Horsfall
The Horsfall is a creative venue on Great Ancoats Street run by young people’s mental health charity 42nd Street. This Saturday, they’re running a full afternoon of drop-in workshops covering a range of creative endeavours. You can learn to create electronic music with musician and producer Dan Valentine, stitch a giant embroidery piece with Islington Mill-based textile artist Elnaz Yazdani, learn upcycling with Rotherham’s Taylor Made, study portraiture with illustrator Kate Berry and even make yourself some vegan sweets. You can book ahead through Eventbrite, or just drop in on the day.
Sat 17 Feb, The Horsfall, 87 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 5AG. 12pm – 5pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Last Chance to See Cosgrove Hall Puppets at Sale Waterside Centre
Puppets from the legendary animation studio Cosgrove Hall – famous for children’s series such as Noddy and Danger Mouse – have been on display at Sale’s Waterside Arts Centre since October, but this Saturday is you last opportunity to see them. See our full preview for more information.
Until Sat 17 Feb, Waterside Arts Centre, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Greater Manchester, M33 7ZF. Tel: 0161 912 5616, times vary, www.watersideartscentre.co.uk

Hannah Wooll & Ange Ong Exhibition at PAPER Gallery
With one exhibition ending, another begins. Weekend gallery PAPER launches their latest exhibition this Saturday, which shows the work of artists Hannah Wooll and Ange Ong (pictured). Check out our full preview for more details.
Sat 17 Feb – Sat 31 Mar, PAPER Gallery, Mirabel Studios, 14-20 Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ. 11am – 5pm, www.paper-gallery.co.uk

Block Printing Workshop at Arndale Centre
The Centre for Chinese Contemporary Arts are making their way to the Arndale Shopping Centre this Sunday for an afternoon of free block printing workshops. Block printing is perhaps the oldest form of printing known to man, and really simple to get a handle on. If you drop by this Sunday, you can create a unique print based around the theme of the year of the dog, which is the perfect way to ring in the Chinese New Year.
Sun 18 Feb, Arndale Centre, Manchester, M4 3AQ. 11am – 5pm, www.facebook.com