This winter sees Manchester host a range of exhibitions, whether it be galleries, studios and museums presenting art from both new and renowned artists, or installations that really get you thinking and immersed in the experience. Manchester is a cultural hub and you’ll find plenty of exhibitions showcasing the likes of art, photography, memorabilia, sculptures and historical artefacts across the city to discover during your free time. So switch off from the everyday and become fully absorbed in these exhibitions taking place in Manchester this autumn, many of which are free to visit.
Art exhibitions in Manchester
1. L.S Lowry Exhibition, The Lowry
Of course, the largest collection of L.S Lowry‘s work has to be on display at his namesake gallery, and The Lowry boasts its most comprehensive selection ever. Lowry’s so-called ‘matchstick men‘ populate his paintings based on locations around the North West where he spent most of his life, especially Pendlebury, Lancashire, and often evoke a familiarity in northerners, whether through the industrial landscapes they portray, or familiar activities such as ‘Going To Work‘ or milling around a ‘Market Scene‘.
In addition to his paintings, the gallery also houses an extensive archive of photographs, press cuttings and exhibition catalogues associated with Lowry, providing critical and curatorial analysis of his work for a deeper look at the person behind the easel. This permanent exhibition is perfect for anyone familiar with his work who wants to get a real-life look at their favourite pieces, but also newbies keen to take in some North West culture at the true home of L.S Lowry.
🚪 Permanent exhibition.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍 The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, Manchester M50 3AZ.
2. Steph Huang’s ‘There is nothing old under the sun’, esea contemporary
Roaming the street markets of London, Paris, and Taiwan, artist Steph Huang draws on vernacular styles, informal architecture, and local culture for her first solo show in Manchester presented by esea contemporary, ‘There is nothing old under the sun’.
Huang’s multidisciplinary practice investigates mass production and commerce, the transcultural and historical dimensions of the food industry, and the implications of such markets on our natural environment. Working in sculpture, mixed media, and found objects, Huang creates poetically charged installations of quiet resonance.
🚪 Open 28 September−8 December 2024.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍 esea contemporary, 13 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1EU.
3. earth to heart, Manchester Craft & Design Centre
Over the summer, artist Lily Brown in partnership with 42nd Street, and resident makers Shakti and Bhaggie Patel from Imprints of Earth explored what ‘Creativity Means to Me‘. Together they reflected, played, and unearthed a series of ceramics which showcased their shared experience and drive to step into the unknown. Lily embraces perfect imperfections in her work and finds joy in interpreting the world around her. Deeply inspired by nature, Lily translates the landscape into objects people can
enjoy in their homes.
Imprints of Earth are a mother and daughter duo who are passionate about creativity as a healing force. They find beauty in the unpredictability of ceramics and create one-off pieces which celebrate the imperfect and bring a little spirit to your surroundings. Together Imprints of Earth and Lily have produced a series of sculptural pieces which honour our connection to nature and explore creativity. Through the unpredictability of clay, they dared to dream out loud. earth to heart invites you to do the same. What does creativity mean to you?
🚪 Open 7 September–24 December 2024.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍 Manchester Craft and Design Centre, 17 Oak Street, Manchester M4 5JD.
4. Re-thinking the Grand Tour, Manchester Art Gallery
For 200 years the Grand Tour set the standard for western culture. In the 1700s and 1800s, it established forms of privileged travel and cultural tourism to Greece and Italy − a la Colin Bridgerton. Many western European artists took inspiration from classical antiquity. Ruins in idyllic landscapes, nymphs, and goddesses defined the classical fantasy as the pinnacle of taste.
Beneath the refinement of the Grand Tour is a story of empire and cultural appropriation. As the scope of European tourism extended to the Middle East and Asia, a colonial viewpoint prevailed. Artefacts were taken back home in private collections and were later acquired by museums. Manchester Art Gallery maintained this classical fantasy, purchasing Grand Tour artworks during the mid 1900s.
Two decades after this gallery was installed, the Grand Tour is being reassessed. Four contemporary artists have selected works from Manchester Art Gallery’s collection, responding to the legacy of the Grand Tour through the theme of migration, with a focus on empire and colonisation, trade, heritage, gendered experiences, and feelings aroused by the comfort of home.
🚪 Ends December 2025.
🎟️ Entry is free.
📍 Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley St, Manchester M2 3JL.
5. Queens, The Lowry
This free exhibition – curated by The Lowry – is the first of its kind and is produced with the support of SIX and its creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. Queens will ask the question ‘What kind of Queen are you?’ and will start with a celebration of the hit musical, including for the first time in this country a display of all six iconic costumes from the show, alongside Toby and Lucy’s original notes, ideas, scribbles and Instagram photos of the first rehearsals.
Also on display will be costume and set designs, scripts, behind-the-scenes films and fan art. In SIX each of the Tudor Queens are turned into a pop star on stage, and in the exhibition their history as well as their contemporary music influences – from Adele to Beyoncé – will blend together, with lots of opportunities for visitors to sing, dance, play games and quizzes and even take suitably regal selfies.
The exhibition will also celebrate the Queens of every description that we pass in the street, those we work with, play with, we share our lives with and will feature new commissions from artists and photographers, including Manchester Instagram legend, The Mancorialist.
🚪 Ends Sunday 3 November.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍 The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, Manchester M50 3AZ.
Cultural exhibitions in Manchester
6. 50 Years On The Soul Stays Strong, The Refuge
The free-to-see 50 Years On The Soul Stays Strong art exhibition is set to go on display on the walls of Refuge, in a double celebration to Northern Soul and the institution which was Wigan Casino. Curated by We Are Willow creative studio and art collective with photographer Dean Chalkley, the installation offers a unique look into the lasting influence of the iconic venue, discovering different perspectives unified by a love of music.
When asked about the exhibition, artist Dean Chalkley said: “I didn’t set out to create the definitive story of Northern Soul through this collection, but I did aim to celebrate it. The photographic aspect is a study focusing on the burgeoning generation of young people getting into the scene, whereas the film brought the atmosphere and wonder of Northern Soul to life.
“I didn’t want to just recreate the past, but I did aim to produce timeless works that illustrate the culture as never before. It is great to show how people dance to Northern Soul music, but more importantly how it is a passionate experience, and how its devotees are immersed in it.”
🚪 Open 7 September − November 2024.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍 The Refuge, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA.
7. This Sky Is Your Sky, Longsight
This Sky is Your Sky is a new two-part art installation by internationally acclaimed artist Bill Balaskas, commissioned by 422 Arts with the support of Arts Council England. Selected through an open call and public vote in 2023, this site-specific project intertwines the rich history of the iconic building at 422 Stockport Road with the hopes and dreams of its community.
The first part of the installation is an illuminated outdoor sign bearing the phrase “This Sky is Your Sky.” The choice of this text-based work is not only a poetic declaration but also a symbolic reference to the building’s past as one of the first free public libraries in the country. Inside the building, the Hall’s windows feature semi-transparent photographs of the local sky, taken by community members during a workshop held in collaboration with photography students and tutors from Manchester Metropolitan University in April 2024.
🚪 Now open.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍 422 Stockport Road, Manchester M12 4EX.
8. Beyond the Surface, The Turnpike Gallery (Leigh)
Beyond the Surface is an exhibition that profiles 10 years of Fallen Angels Dance Theatre‘s work in the borough of Wigan. Its focal point is the newly commissioned work Samadhi, an immersive digital dance, light and sound installation in collaboration with creative technologist Noel Jones. Playing over multiple screens in a discreet gallery space, the piece aims to bring audiences to the heart of healing journeys experienced by people in recovery.
Chester-based Fallen Angels exists to support people in recovery from addiction and those living with a mental health condition to transform their lives through dance, performance and creativity.
🚪 Open 25 September−23 November 2024.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍The Turnpike Gallery, Civic Square, Leigh WN7 1EB.
9. Northern Ireland: Living with the Troubles, Imperial War Museum North
Northern Ireland: Living with the Troubles unpacks a complex chapter of our shared history, shining a light on the different narratives experienced by people who lived through the conflict within Northern Ireland and allowing them to share their version of events.
This free exhibition is IWM’s first on the subject and opened at IWM North following its inaugural and highly successful run at IWM London. First hand testimony and objects including a rubber bullet, propaganda posters and a Good Friday Agreement booklet will help visitors understand the multiple perspectives and human stories.
🚪 Ends 29 September.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍 Imperial War Museum North, Trafford Wharf Rd, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 1TZ.
10. Ukraine: Our Ordinary Lives, Imperial War Museum North
Spanning the period since the 2022 invasion, IWM North’s Big Picture Show uses powerful real-life stories to highlight the experiences of 15 young Ukrainians, exploring their lives as they try to find normality, living their ordinary lives through extraordinarily challenging times. Told through their own social media posts, their stories are shared through images and footage capturing the reality of what everyday life is like for young Ukrainians caught up in war.
It forms one of six ‘Big Picture Shows’ on permanent display at the museum and is a 360-degree immersive experience projected onto the 27-ft high walls of the main exhibition space, and plays once daily.
🚪 Permanent display.
🎟️ Entry is free.
📍 Imperial War Museum North, Trafford Wharf Rd, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 1TZ.
11. Trading Station: How Hot Drinks Shape Our Lives, Manchester Art Gallery
Hot drinks, once expensive luxuries for the few, have enriched our lives, promoted the exchange of ideas and influenced the design of our homes. Trading Station traces, revealing their global histories, connections to slavery and colonisation and contemporary ethical issues. Spanning four centuries and ranging from silver, porcelain, glass, fashion, lighting, prints and painting, this showcase of exquisite and utilitarian objects asks probing questions and uncovers hidden histories.
At the heart of Trading Station is a gathering space for visitors and groups to use freely. The space is designed to host making workshops, talks and performances to encourage new debate, thinking and action on how better to live together today. The gathering space has been shaped and co-designed by a group of 24 people from groups who regularly use the gallery, working with Manchester-based design studio Standard Practice to realise ideas. The space is open for all to gather and participate in, either in a programmed event or as a space to stop, reflect and take stock.
🚪 Ends 31 January 2025.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍 Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley St, Manchester M2 3JL.
Historical exhibitions in Manchester
12. People’s History Museum
Manchester’s People’s History Museum is the UK’s only museum entirely dedicated to sharing the stories of the revolutionaries, reformers, workers, voters and citizens who strive(d) for change. We recommend checking out the entire collection at PHM as it’s ever-growing and truly fascinating. From suffragette banners and badges, to political posters and artwork, the PHM tracks the political and community history of Manchester, focusing on those who have, and still, fight for justice and equality.
Leading a spectacular and colourful charge through history the 2024 Banner Exhibition opened at People’s History Museum in February. Historical anniversaries, political movements, international causes and campaigns for change are amongst the inspiring stories carried by the banners; banners commissioned and created by renowned banner makers, to those born out of community collaboration. 2024 is a particularly important year in the history of the mining industry, with 50 years having passed since the successful strike of 1974 and 40 years since the major strike of 1984 to 1985, which will be represented in the exhibition.
🚪 Exhibition durations differ.
🎟️ Free entry – donation encouraged.
📍 People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Manchester M3 3ER.
13. Lily Parr display, National Football Museum
Lily Parr – one of football’s first female superstars – gets a new permanent museum display dedicated to her life and legacy. It features never-seen-before photographs of Lily and her teammates – which were found in an old suitcase hidden in a loft for four decades. Emerging in the 1920s as part of Preston’s Dick Kerr Ladies, Parr scored nearly 1000 goals in a three-decade career. She played in some of the world’s first women’s international matches and was a trailblazer for women footballers the world over.
🚪 Permanent exhibition.
🎟️ Free entry.
📍 National Football Museum, Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, Manchester M4 3BG.
14. At Home with the Pankhurst Family, Pankhurst Centre
Ever since No.62 Nelson Street was saved from demolition in the 1980s, the Pankhurst Centre has endeavoured to protect and preserve this important historical building and ensure the story of Emmeline Pankhurst is told to inspire and motivate the next generation of radical activists. This engaging and immersive exhibition explores the extraordinary achievements of the Pankhurst Family in the house where they lived and where the very first meeting of the Women’s Social & Political Union took place in 1903.
🚪 Permanent exhibition.
🎟️ Entry is free – book your slot here.
📍 The Pankhurst Centre, 60-62 Nelson St, Manchester M13 9WP.
15. Weird as Folk, The Portico Library
Weird as Folk threads tales from past to present, weaving a shimmering skein of stories across centuries. It is not easy to find these stories. Folklore is an oral tradition. Tales and beliefs are passed down generations and not always written in books. In Weird as Folk, the concealed is revealed in once hidden or obscure curiosities such as ‘witch bottles‘ and ‘protection objects‘. The oldest of these artefacts on display here is a pair of shoes from 1904, loaned by partners at The Folklore Centre in Todmorden, which were found hidden in a local primary school.
As you wander through the exhibition, you will encounter a pageantry of famous weird folk. Among the fray you may notice characters like Will-O-The-Wisp, and Wag-at-the-Wa’ presiding over marsh lands, roaring fires and bubbling cauldrons. ‘Mab’s Cross‘ – a Wigan tragedy – jostles alongside the comedic mischief of Mancunian Boggarts.
🚪 Ends Saturday 2 November 2024.
🎟️ Entry is free.
📍 The Portico Library, 57 Mosley St, Manchester M2 3HY.
Immersive exhibitions in Manchester
16. Power Up, Science and Industry Museum
Play the very best video games from the past five decades and try out over a hundred different consoles in this ultimate hands-on gaming experience. There’s something for everyone, from Pong to Pacman, Sonic to Street Fighter and Mario to Minecraft, plus a selection of games created in Manchester.
Face off against friends and families in multiplayer showdowns, rediscover your childhood favourites and test out some of the latest virtual reality experiences. Game on!
🚪 Open every Saturday & Sunday in term time and daily during school holidays.
🎟️ Tickets £8 here.
📍 Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4JP.