Suzanne Lacy

What kind of city?
A manual for social change

The Whitworth presents the first major UK presentation of multiple works of US artist Suzanne Lacy, a pioneer of social practice and community organising for almost five decades. In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, What kind of city? has been conceived with the artist as a project that is more than an exhibition, one that takes key works with relevance to our current context and uses them to convene people in order to start new initiatives that will actively help rebuild our city. Working around fundamental themes such as youth agency, borders, social cohesion, and work prospects for older women, the exhibition is designed to operate as an evolving manual for how we create equitable transformation. This underpins a new direction of travel for the Whitworth, as an institution that actively works for and with people across the city, one that begins with the question: after Covid, what kind of city can we make together?
 
Presented in partnership with Manchester Art Gallery which is concurrently presenting the Suzanne Lacy projects Uncertain Futures and Cleaning Conditions.

The 'What Kind of City?' summit took place over 4 days, 23-26 March 2022 at the Whitworth, The University of Manchester.

This is a past exhibition that ran from 26 November 2021 – 10 April 2022

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Suzanne Lacy, Annice Jacoby, and Chris Johnson, The Roof Is on Fire, 1993–94, from The Oakland Projects, 1991–2001; performance, June 4, 1994, City Center West Garage, Oakland. Courtesy Suzanne Lacy; Photo: Gary Nakamoto