Free things to do in Manchester this week ft. Sidney Nolan Trust + more

Sidney Nolan Trust Exhibition at 70 Oxford Street
70 Oxford Street – formerly home to the Cornerhouse Cinema – hosts this one-night-only multi-disciplinary exhibition on Monday night. The Sidney Nolan Trust is a charity that provides a peaceful space for artists to develop their work out in the middle of rural Wales, and this exhibition is the result of a retreat undertaken by a recent crop of PhD students from Manchester Met, as well as some  artist-researchers from outside academia. 13 participants have contributed, with pieces ranging prose poetry to audio-visual compositions mixing paintings with new music, designed to explore themes such as sustainable living and homelessness.
Mon 26 Nov, 70 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5NH, 6pm – 8.30pm, www.eventbrite.com

Victorian Eco Activism at Friends Meeting House
This talk at Friends Meeting House, organised by Manchester City Council, documents the birth of the RSPB and the history of environmental activism in Britain, looking at its nascent origins in circles of Victorian ornithologists. Manchester Museum curator Henry McGhie and journalist Tessa Boase have both recently published books in this area, and they will both be discussing their work, touching on the scientific advancements of the time, the dawn of mass communication and the horrors of the international plumage trade.
Tue 27 Nov, Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, City Centre, Manchester, M2 5NS, 7pm – 8.30pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Graham Massey at Electrik
Chorlton bar Electrik hosts another of their One Deck Wednesday nights, this time inviting 808 State’s Graham Massey along to play. The rules of One Deck Wednesday are simple: One turntable, all vinyl, no mixing. Massey will be digging into his vast collection to bring you a classic slice of Madchester, probably with some surprises thrown in too.
Wed 28 Nov, Electrik, 559 Wilbraham Road, Manchester, M21 0AE, 8.30pm – 11.30pm, www.facebook.com

James Oldham at Niamos (pictured)
Manchester’s International Short Film Festival Kinofilm ramps up this week, with plenty of screenings and free events including this discussion with British cinematographer James Oldham. Radical arts co-operative Niamos hosts this talk, charting Oldham’s young career as a commercial and short filmmaker, covering different approaches to filmmaking and talking about how he distinguishes himself in a crowded jobs market.
Thu 29 Nov, Niamos, Chichester Road, Manchester, M15 5EU, 12pm – 1.30pm, www.facebook.com