Free things to do in Manchester this week ft. Interruptions + more

Interruptions at Holden Gallery
All this week and into next week, The Holden Gallery at Manchester Metropolitan University hosts a programme of artistic events under the Interruptions banner, where the gallery space is opened up to invited artists for experimentation under the theme of ‘projection’. First up on Tuesday is South Yorkshire filmmaker Chris Paul Daniels, who makes short artistic films with dreamy, documentarian slant. He’s followed on Thursday is another artist and filmmaker Sam Meech, whose diverse works range from knitted data visualisations to community cinema installations. Meech will be accompanied by Manchester sound artist Raz Ullah. Other Interruptions events, with different monthly themes, will be running throughout the year.
Tue 15 Jan, Holden Gallery, Grosvenor Building, Cavendish Street, Manchester, M15 6BR, 6pm – 8pm, www.facebook.com
Thu 17 Jan, 6pm – 8pm, www.facebook.com

Manchester’s Tramways On Film at Central Library
On Wednesday evening, the film-restoration boffins from the North West Film Archive come to Central Library for a special screening event. This year marks 70 years since the closure of Manchester’s original tram network, constructed at the turn of the 20th Century and serving the community through two world wars. The screening collects decades of footage of the network and the double-decker trams that ran on it, and is a must-see for local history enthusiasts keen to peek through into the golden age of public transport. At the time of writing, this event is listed as being Sold Out, but it’s always worth checking for returns on the day.
Wed 16 Jan, Manchester Central Library, Manchester, M2 5PD, 6pm – 8pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Alison Hill and Josephe Cocles at Chuck Gallery
Longsight’s Chuck Gallery hosts this discussion between artists Alison Hill and Josephe Cocles on Wednesday night, as part of the gallery’s regular Artists In Conversation series, which is programmed by gallery founder and namesake Chukwudi Onwudiwe. The two artists will talk through the methods the employ in their work, and what inspires as they prepare for forthcoming solo exhibitions at the gallery.
Wed 16 Jan, Chuck Gallery, 166 Plymouth Grove, Manchester, M13 0AF, 6pm – 8pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Adam Rutherford at University Place (pictured)
Manchester Literature Festival might not be coming round in earnest until October, but they’re already organising events in the lead up, including this one at Oxford Road’s University Place on Thursday. They’re inviting along author, broadcaster and scientist Adam Rutherford, perhaps best known for his contributions to BBC’s Horizon programme. Here he’ll be talking to fellow scientist and author Matthew Cobb about his new lengthily-titled book ‘The Book of Humans: 4 Billions Years, 20,000 Genes and the New Story of How We Became Us’, which explores the origins of humanity and some of the ways we’re not different from other species inhabiting this globe. Booking ahead for this event is essential.
Thu 17 Jan, University Place, 178-186 Oxford Road, M13 9PL, Tel: 0161 275 8951, 7pm, www.eventbrite.com