The Festival of Libraries will celebrate the literary scene that Manchester has to offer, running from Wednesday, 7th – Sunday, 11th June all over the region. It will be full of exhibitions, performances, talks, workshops and art installations that all reflect Greater Manchester’s huge pride in its libraries and their value to their communities. The events are scheduled to take place in the whole of Greater Manchester and every one of them is free.
The sharing of stories, experiences and ideas begins with a series of Inspired By Libraries talks featuring incredible writers, poets, artists and observers who all have a passion for libraries in common.
Dave Scott and Andy Spinoza will be sharing their love of Manchester and how it has boldly changed and challenged. On Sunday 11th June at Bolton Central Library, 6pm – 7pm, Dave Scott will be taking you to Manchester as it stood on the brink of the millennium, by speaking to well-known Mancunians such as Guy Garvey, Sylvia Tella, Badly Drawn Boy and Stan Chow.
Andy Spinoza’s talk will be at Altrincham Library on Sunday 11th June, 6pm – 7pm, in which he will recall how, as City Life founder and editor, he had a front seat from which to observe Manchester as it transformed from a place facing a catastrophic industrial decline in the 1970s, to be becoming the ‘original modern city’ and those that he saw contributing to this cultural shift.
There are more stories of Manchester and music on the main festival programme to transport you back in time or discover anew when you join author, historian and tour guide Ed Glinert for his talk, Manchester: Tales of Rock & Roll Excess at Altrincham Library on Thursday 8th June, 7pm – 8pm. Mark E. Smith, Bernard Sumner, the Happy Mondays and Gallagher brothers are just some of those that you’ll meet through his talk.
There will be so much more happening all over Greater Manchester, including Stockport, Rochdale and Droylsden, with talks from the likes of poet laureate Simon Armitage and drag queen Cheddar Gorgeous, as well as performances from poets, artists and musicians. Find full details and times here.