Boho Manchester, cool Manchester, modish Manchester, funky-but-chic Manchester. Join the equally boho, cool, modish Ed Glinert on this tour of the Northern Quarter – the ‘hood’ east of Piccadilly Gardens. A land of crumbling cotton factories, sky-scraping fire escapes, Bohemian bars, hidden spaces, cult markets, chic galleries and cardamom-scented and sizzlingly-cheap curry cafes.
Wander through the great history of political turmoil, a stretch of the last remaining back-to-back houses in Manchester, and testaments to the great figures who have walked its streets, like Abel Heywood, L. S. Lowry and Emmeline Pankhurst and see this Manchester hotspot in a whole new light…
Instituto Cervantes is set to organise a very special evening to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Acknowledged as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, this Mexican holiday gathers friends and families around an altar, and they pray for the loved ones no longer with us. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas, honouring the deceased using calaveras, candles, marigolds flowers, and the favourite foods and beverages of the departed.
On Wednesday, the Instituto Cervantes will open up the altar expressly created for its exhibition along with a brief talk on the origins and meanings of this holiday followed by a screening of La Llorona. Topping off the evening is the special participation of Los Mariachis, who will provide a fitting soundtrack to end the occasion.
Calling all artists, scholars, cultural workers and policymakers aiming to increase visibility and opportunities for refugee artists and groups, sharing experiences and practices across geographic and cultural settings – head to the Martin Harris centre this Wednesday. This panel discussion and exchange will bring together refugee artists’ advocacy networks to discuss new models for resilient creative networks, featuring grassroots organisations from the UK, France, Germany and Portugal.
The hybrid event will facilitate an open conversation on the role of networks in advocating change on various artistic and institutional levels, aiming to build alliances across research and the creative sector within and outside the UK. Completely free to attend, this event welcomes everyone interested in refugeedom, performing arts and building connections between the personal and political.
Head to Niamos, formerly The Nia Centre, to meet a whole bunch of different likeminded creatives to come together and unite as you all shed, jam and spawn art. Niamos has just opened a brand-new event space and café/bar, and have announced a new, free community-led jazzy, funky and neo-soul jam. Hosted by The Urban Cellist, Cornwater, from New Orleans via Hulme, Niamos invites you to explore new vibrations and journey through a whole array of musical landscapes.
Featuring some killer funk, hip hop, jazz, orchestral, soul and pretty much everything else in between – this is sure to raise your vibrations and leave you feeling energised for the rest of the week. Bring only your instrument or lyrics and see for yourself the unifying power of music.
The newly-opened Village Books marks another welcome literary addition to the Northern Quarter, and the launch of Mark Edwards’ new book, No Bombing, offers the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the space.
Throughout the evening, there’ll be an exhibition of mixed collage pieces and a selection of short stories written by friends who have an affinity for water.
- Words:
- Rhiannon Ingle
- Published on:
- Mon 1 Nov 2021
Come and join Take up Space for their zine launch party where you can grab yourself a copy, listen to some inspirational speakers and leave empowered at the Partisan Collective – Manchester’s co-operative arts and social space.
Take Up Space is a community-based creative project, using a mixture of creative mediums to build social cohesion, trigger social change and provoke thought. Their core ethos is intersectional feminism and how it can help build a brighter future for everyone within our communities.
Expect special guests, open discussions and a chance to network and meet with the lovely people behind Take up Space. Proudly sporting the mantra ‘When feminists collide, magic happens’, get involved with the magic yourself, meet some new faces and support a brilliant social project. Entry is free including an optional glass of fizz, but if you have a spare few pennies any donation is welcome!