Manchester Histories Hub
The Manchester Histories Hub is a welcoming and inspirational space that has a focus on wellbeing and will highlight lesser-known histories and heritage through exhibitions, performances, installations, workshops, and events.
The hub will promote well-being by creating opportunities to connect with others, explore histories and heritage, make new friends and combat isolation. It is a place for people to come together to reveal and celebrate Greater Manchester’s rich and diverse histories.
The hub will promote the work of the HiDDEN network. A smaller group of historic buildings, museums, and libraries with rare collections and archives such as the Working-Class Movement Library, Victoria Baths, and the Jewish Museum.
What will happen in the Hub?
Over the coming year, the hub will deliver a series of workshops and informal social sessions exploring archives and collections with people from marginalised communities or those facing mental health challenges, homelessness, or social isolation.
The hub will host a variety of new exhibitions, such as Rooms of Our Own, Pankhurst Centre archive, telling the stories and voices of campaigners and project workers from the 1970s to 2014. For International Mother Language Day in February 2023 the hub will host a doll’s house installation about the home in Arabic, plus 11 comic art panels from other Cities of Literature.
Manchester Histories Salons will commence in January 2023. These will be in-person and online events that present fascinating hour-long lunchtime discussions on the histories of topics we and you are passionate about. They will be hosted by an inspiring guest speaker, with the chance for people to ask questions and have conversations about an array of different historical themes. Past Salons have included topics such as Roman & Medieval Manchester and the histories of Manchester shops.
Where is it?
The hub is located on the lower ground floor of Manchester Central Library. This will make Manchester Histories more visible to the public and reach out to those who may not ordinarily engage with history by inviting people into the hub to share their stories.
Who runs the hub?
Manchester City Council kindly loans the hub to Manchester Histories. We programme the activity that takes place in the hub by working alongside the library team and our partners. Our volunteers will also play an integral role in the development of the hub over the years to come.
