Free things to do in Manchester this week ft. Festival of Leaving + more

Festival of Leaving Launch at Manchester Jewish Museum
The Manchester Jewish Museum will be shutting its doors this month, as it prepares to make a move – first to a temporary exhibition space at Central Library, before finally settling into their new premises in 2020. To give the historic moorish building – once used as a synagogue – a final hurrah, they’re throwing a ‘Festival of Leaving’ over the next two weeks, with a packed programme of events and workshops. Monday is the festival’s opening night party, and as it coincides with bonfire night and the Mexican Day of the Dead, they will be building a bonfire and also inviting participants to contribute to to their ofrenda – a ritual display of objects that once belonged to a deceased loved one. The ofrenda will be overseen by Glasgow-based artist and activist Ellie Harrison, and will be on display for the duration of the festival.
Mon 5 Nov, Manchester Jewish Museum, 190 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 8LW, 7pm – 10pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Explorer Tour at John Rylands Library
This Tuesday offers a rare opportunity to explore John Rylands Library’s hallowed vaults with the aid of an expert guide. See our full preview for more details of this and other future events.
Tue 6 Nov, The John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH, Tel: 0161 306 0555, 2pm – 3pm, www.library.manchester.ac.uk

Shirley Baker Book Launch at Manchester Art Gallery
Celebrated street photographer Shirley Baker passed away a few years ago, but this week sees the launch of not one, but two new books featuring her work. Manchester Art Gallery hosts the launch of Dog Show and Without a Trace: Manchester and Salford in the 1960s on Wednesday night. You can find out more in our full preview.
Wed 7 Nov, Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3JL, Tel: 0161 235 8888, 5pm – 9pm, www.ticketline.co.uk

Move to a New Town! At 70 Oxford Street (pictured)
MMU’s School of Human Geography and the Manchester Modernist Society host this free screening event at 70 Oxford Street on Thursday night. It looks at the films used to promote the new towns of the post-war period, as well as archive footage shot in these town’s early days. From Stevenage to Skelmersdale, the construction and lives of these towns is covered in great detail. This event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science.
Thu 8 Nov, 70 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5NH, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, www.eventbrite.com

Vote vs Voice at People’s History Museum
Part of the People’s History Museum’s Radical Lates series of events, the museum invites Shami Chakrabarti, Niku Archer and historian June Purvis along for a discussion of the role of activism in affecting political change. Covering topics such as civil disobedience, the relationship between activism and establishment politics, and the most effective forms of campaigning. This is a pay-what-you-feel event, so you’re encouraged – but not compelled – to give generously.
Thu 8 Nov, People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3ER, 6pm – 7.30pm, www.phm.org.uk