As we get further into the month of April and the long-awaited Spring half-term, there are still bucketloads of free things to do around the city.

From live studio listening parties to checking out the newest addition over at the Manchester Art Gallery – you’ll be spoilt for choice this half-term.

Street Style spray painting workshop | Newton Heath Library | Mon 4 Apr | 11am-3pm

Head to Newton Heath Library for an amazing free session of spray painting, embellishing and designing your very own t-shirt ran by Street Style and award-winning fashion designer Sissy Rooney.

Perfect for ages 11-16, the session will encourage participants to embrace their inner artists and even display their creations with a mini fashion show at the end. With food and materials provided, this is a perfect way to kick off the half-term holidays.

2 Old Church Street, Manchester M40 2JF, Tel: 01612 344474
Room to Breathe | Manchester Art Gallery | Mon 4 Apr | 10am-5pm

Brand new to the Manchester Art Gallery is the incredible addition of Room to Breathe—an entire space dedicated to art, mindfulness and all the amazing wellbeing benefits of slow looking.

Perfect for museum fatigue and helping viewers reconnect with art in a purposeful and productive way—the gallery’s newest wellbeing space is sure to offer you a state-of-the-art viewing experience totally unlike any you’ve had before.

Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL, Tel: 01612 358888
Mireia Calafell and Björt Rùnars | Manchester Poetry Library | Thu 7 Apr | From 6pm

Coming to the Manchester Poetry Library this Thursday is another amazing event geared around the marriage of words and music. Catalan Poet, Mireia Calafell, will be performing accompanied by Icelandic cellist and soundscaper Björt Rùnars.

Introduced by queer Chilean-Columbian poet, Jova Bagioli Reyes, this is a great opportunity to see the seamless entwining of poetry and music in this experimental recital performance.

Manchester Metropolitan University, Cavendish Street, Manchester M15 6BG, Tel: 01612 472000
Open House | Whitworth Art Gallery | Sat 9 Apr | 12pm-4pm

Check out the launch of the Whitworth’s brand new exhibition, Open House, a project all about connecting the gallery’s wallpaper with the community’s stories of domestic life.

Surprise yourself with some history about the 10,000 wallcoverings looked after at the Whitworth, whether cheap and cheerful or fine and expensive, and get ready for a whole afternoon filled with show and tells, curator tours and some lovely tea and cake to top it all off.

Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER, Tel: 01612 757450
Strawberry Guy | Low Four Studios | Thu 7 April | 7pm-11pm

Low Four Studios in Deansgate is putting on a cracking evening for viewers to watch a full band performance of the ethereal sounds of Strawberry Guy.

Completely redefining the notion of a “bedroom artist” as he conjures up angelic soundscapes, Strawberry Guy will be showcasing work from his debut album Sun Outside My Window and with a Cloudwater bar at the back—what’s not to love?

Deansgate Mews, Great Northern Warehouse, Manchester M3 4EN
Mon 4 Apr - Sun 10 Apr
Words:
Rhiannon Ingle
Published on:
Sun 3 Apr 2022