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The Cultural Welcome
This is your all-access pass to Manchester’s iconic creative scene.
For one week only, theatres, galleries, museums and music venues across the city are opening their doors to Manchester students.
From backstage tours and hands-on workshops to live performances and special exhibitions, it’s the perfect way to dive into Manchester’s culture, meet new people, and experience the city like never before.
Find out more about The Cultural Welcome, and see what’s on by browsing the events below:
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Welcome Tuesday X The Cultural Welcome
Once Manchester’s most spectacular leisure centre, now a community-powered cultural hub, Victoria Baths is bursting with creativity, heritage, and the kind of atmosphere that makes ideas feel possible. Take a tour of this beautiful space and soak up its history. This event is free.
Tuesday, 7 October, 11am-3pm
Location: Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, M13 0FE
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Welcome to the Whitworth tour
Explore art, architecture, and green spaces on this free, friendly tour – designed especially for students to help you discover Manchester’s award-winning gallery in the park.
Tuesday, 7 October, 2pm (meet at 1.55pm)
Location: The Whitworth, Parkside entrance (look out for our friendly tour guides)
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Visit Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Discover Manchester’s feminist history through the life of Elizabeth Gaskell, one of the UK’s most important Victorian writers and social reformers. Students can visit for free – just bring your student ID card.
Wednesday, 8 October, 11am-4.30pm (last entry 3pm)
Location: Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, 84 Plymouth Grove, M13 9LW
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Contact Theatre backstage tour and workshop
Take a backstage tour and join a tech workshop with Contact’s production team to learn about the technical side of theatre.
Wednesday, 8 October, 12pm and 3pm
Location: Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, M15 6JA
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Place-making and the role of culture in Manchester
An evening with Luthfur Rahman OBE, former Executive Leader for Culture and Leisure and Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council, exploring cultural place-making and planning in Manchester, and the role of culture in this context. This event is free to attend.
Wednesday, 8 October, 6.30pm-8pm (drinks reception from 5.30pm)
Location: Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama
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Before Gender: Eli Erlick in conversation
Join activist and author Eli Erlick’s talk on Before Gender, uncovering 100 years of forgotten trans histories. The founder of Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER), Eli will be sharing 30 remarkable stories from romance to rebellion and mystery to murder.
Wednesday, 8 October, 6.30pm-8pm
Location: Blackwell’s Bookshop, Oxford Road
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PROTO Artist Social
Looking for new ways to connect with Greater Manchester creatives? Whether you’re an established artist or just starting out, join us for the PROTO Artist Social – a free event created in collaboration with arts organisation FutureEverything and arts and culture venue SEESAW.
Wednesday, 8 October, 7pm
Location: SEESAW, 86 Princess Street, M1 6NG
Book now
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Bad Language Open Mic
In collaboration with the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, the Bad Language Open Mic boasts a line-up of poets, novelists, story smiths and word wranglers. Come along to hear the stars of Manchester’s writing scene, or sign up for a slot yourself.
Wednesday, 8 October, 7.30pm
Location: International Anthony Burgess Foundation, 3 Cambridge Street, M1 5BY
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Sharing DNA: K-Pop and Poetry
For an evening that’s sure to be Dynamite, DDU-DU DDU-DU make sure to come along to this workshop for the chance to explore the links between K-Pop lyrics and traditional poetry, and have a go at creating your own. The session will be led by poet and artist Anita Ngai.
Thursday, 9 October, 12.30pm-2.30pm
Location: Manchester Poetry Library, Manchester Metropolitan University, Grosvenor East Building, Cavendish Street, M15 6BG
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Women of Oxford Road
Take a guided tour of Oxford Road and learn about the artists, writers, scientists, medics and protestors connected with the Corridor. From known pioneers to hidden heroes, Manchester’s women have been shaping the city for centuries.
Thursday, 9 October, 11.30am-1pm
Location: Grosvenor East Building, Cavendish Street, M15 6BG
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Drop-in sauerkraut workshop
Save money and improve your gut health by learning to make the traditional German dish, sauerkraut at this free drop-in workshop. As you chop your cabbage you’ll have the chance to hear from artist and designer Joe Hartley and Matthew Pendergast – Castlefield Gallery Curator and Head of Programmes.
Thursday, 9 October, 6pm-7pm
Location: Castlefield Gallery, 2 Hewitt Street, M15 4GB
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Quarantine artist talk
Through performance, conversation and cultural exchange, Quarantine, in collaboration with ASA-FF e.V. (based in Chemnitz, Germany) will work together to create intergenerational encounters, both locally and internationally.
Thursday, 9 October, 6pm
Location: Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, M15 6JA
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Thursday Late with Short Supply
Short Supply, an artist-led community interest company dedicated to championing early-career and underrepresented artists, lead this session, sharing how a creative career can start while you’re still in art school – and how you can build momentum to take the art world by storm.
Thursday, 9 October, 6pm-9pm
Location: The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road
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Folklore: authors Ceri Houlbrook and Tabitha Stanmore in conversation
Get in the mood for Halloween at this evening of folklore, myth and magic. Author Ceri Houlbrook will be chatting about her book FOLKLORE: A Journey Through the Past and Present, co-written with Owen Davies. Ceri will be joined by Tabitha Stanmore, author of CUNNING FOLK: Life in the Era of Practical Magic.
Thursday, 9 October, 6.30pm-8pm
Location: The Royal Northern College of Music, Oxford Road
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Witching Hour
Witching Hour is a spellbinding live performance that merges classical, contemporary and folk music with storytelling. Listen as British folklore is brought to life by string quartet, lever harp, and singer/narrator, alongside striking visual projections by Will Burns and Miriam Bean.
Thursday, 9 October, 6.30pm-8pm
Location: Carole Nash Recital Room, The Royal Northern College of Music, Oxford Road
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The Hallé – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Enjoy a magical evening of music as The Hallé conjures orchestral magic with Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Ibert’s Flute Concerto performed by Amy Yule, Ravel’s waltz Valses nobles et sentimentales and Stravinsky’s Petrushka.
Thursday, 9 October, 7.30pm
Location: Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, M2 3WS
Book now
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The Cultural Welcome at Manchester Art Gallery
Take an exclusive tour of Manchester Art Gallery and discover the city’s collection of art, design and fashion. There will also be hands-on creative activities designed to introduce you to the gallery and its collections, including textiles and printing, and mindfulness.
Friday, 10 October, 10am-4pm
Location: Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, M2 3JL
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PAGES
A celebration of beer and books, PAGES brings together some of the UK’s top writing talent with a trio of its best craft breweries. Set in Manchester Museum’s stunning Living Worlds gallery, the evening combines insightful author talks with limited-edition beers served by Track, Beak and Verdant.
Friday, 10 October, 6pm-10pm
Location: Manchester Museum, Oxford Road
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BBC Philharmonic – Lost Coast
One of the most celebrated broadcast ensembles in the world, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the UK premier of Gabriella Smith’s Lost Coast, inspired by the composer’s five-day solo backpacking trip along Northern California’s Lost Coast Trail.
Saturday, 11 October, 7.30pm
Location: Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, M2 3WS
Book now
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The Hallé – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Enjoy a magical afternoon of music as The Hallé conjures orchestral magic with Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Ibert’s Flute Concerto performed by Amy Yule, Ravel’s waltz Valses nobles et sentimentales and Stravinsky’s Petrushka.
Sunday, 12 October, 4pm
Location: Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, M2 3WS
Book now
Tuesday, 7 October
Wednesday, 8 October
Thursday, 9 October
Friday, 10 October
Saturday, 11 October
Sunday, 12 October