Free things to do this weekend ft. Matter, Sun Ra + more

Matter exhibition at The Beagle
A new free exhibition opened last week at Chorlton’s The Beagle, and this weekend is your first opportunity to check it out. It’s called Matter and features the work of nine different artists, including local heavyweights himHallows and DR.ME. It’s an exhibition and installation that utilises a variety of different materials, from woodwork and ceramics to concrete and textiles. If you don’t think you’ll get round to taking in this multi-disciplinary exhibition this weekend, then don’t worry, as it’ll be running all the way through to August 2018.
Thu 9 Nov – Thu 9 Aug 2018, The Beagle, 456-458 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 0BQ. 12pm – 12am, www.beaglesabout.com

Space is the Place Screening at Manchester Museum
This Friday afternoon, you can catch this unsung science fiction classic in a special screening at Manchester Museum. Written, starring and produced by experimental jazz composer Sun Ra, 1974’s Space is the Place is a freewheeling afrofuturist spectacle that’s imagination far exceeds its meagre B-movie budget. This is the museum’s second screening of the film, this time presenting a properly-restored print that shows the film in all its weird, wild glory. The screening will be introduced by the museum’s Egypt curator Dr. Campbell Price.
Fri 10 Nov, Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL. 12.30pm – 2.30pm, www.eventbrite.com

Christmas Crafts at Manchester Craft & Design Centre
If you’re stuck for things to do with the kids this Saturday daytime then look no further than the Manchester Craft and Design Centre. The centre will be hosting a day of festive crafts aimed at little ones: Kids will get the opportunity to decorate their own candy canes, and learn how to make an origami Santa. Throughout the day there will also be live music, complimentary mulled wine and mince pies. At 3pm there’s also a family-friendly dance party with Reform Radio’s Ailsa McLaggan on DJing duties.
Sat 11 Nov, Manchester Craft & Design Centre, 17 Oak Street, Manchester, M4 5JD. 10am – 5.30pm, www.craftanddesign.com

Picturing Prince at Chapter One Books (pictured)
It’s been a year and half since Prince passed away, but the purple one’s music is never far from our radios and Spotify playlists. This Saturday, Lever Street café/bookshop Chapter One Books are hosting a free Q& A with Prince’s former art director and sometime personal photographer Steve Parkes. Parkes has gathered his collection Prince paraphernalia into a new coffee table book, and here he will be discussing the intimate, revealing portraits that feature in this new volume. Tickets are likely to fly out for this one, so be sure to get in early.
Sat 11 Nov, Chapter One Books, 19 Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1BY. 1pm – 2.30pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk