Events
Talks, tours, workshops and more at the Whitworth – both outdoors and in.
Find out what's on at the gallery – nearly all of our events are free. Join our newsletter list to be among the first to hear the latest news and updates.
Get a deeper insight into the Whitworth’s gallery and park. Led by a member of our Visitor Team, our daily tours (Tuesdays - Sundays at 2pm) alternate between a more detailed look at our current exhibitions and works on display, and an escape to the outdoors to share the stories of Whitworth Park. For more information, please visit our Gallery Tours page.
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PLAYTIME
This summer, PLAYTIME takes inspiration from the Hyundai Translocal Series: Entangled and Woven exhibition.
22 July - 28 August
Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
1-4pm
Throughout the holidays unless otherwise stated.Read more
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Artist in Residence
Join Venture Arts artist Sally Hirst most Thursdays in our Everyday Art School space on our Mezzanine.
Every Thursday
10am-2pm
Free, drop inFind out more
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Dipact CIC Creative Workshops
Join Fifi and Sepideh for two creative workshops exploring character creation in clay sculpting and papier-mâché, inspired by Mehregan, an ancient Persian festival.
Wednesday 2 September
10am & 12pm
Free, booking requiredBook your place now
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Blether Craft Club’s Ceramics Workshop
Join El Garrard from Blether Craft Club to make a ceramic tile inspired by The Practice of Liberation. Blether is a community arts collective who run events, workshops and a monthly Craft Club at the Carlton Club in Manchester.
Thursday 3 September
6pm - 8pm
From £32, with concessions availableBook your place now
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Friends of the Whitworth Pilkington Lecture 2026: The Mighty Mary Rose
Join the Friends of the Whitworth to hear Eleanor Schofield, Director of Collections at the Mary Rose Museum, on the challenges of studying and protecting ancient wooden warships, and the enlightening process of conserving Henry VIII’s Mary Rose shipwreck.
Thursday 3 September
6:30pm - 8pm (join us at 6pm for a complimentary glass of wine)
£10 for non-members / Free for students, booking requiredBook your place now
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Publication Launch
Join us to hear Michaela Yearwood-Dan in conversation at the launch of her first monograph, a fully illustrated publication accompanying The Practice of Liberation. Copies of the publication will be available to buy on the evening as well as in the Whitworth shop and online.
The publication is jointly published by Arnolfini, Towner Eastbourne and the Whitworth, The University of Manchester. Supported by Mr Haydar Alireza, Seunghue Lee, Collection of Donghee Jung and Private Collection. With thanks to Hauser & Wirth and Marianne Boesky Gallery.
Thursday 10 September
6pm - 7:30pm
Free, booking requiredBook your place now
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Japan Day: Kintsugi Clay Workshop with Artist Rachel Ho
A creative clay workshop specifically for midwives and maternity healthcare professionals as part of The Labour of Care workshop programme. Inspired by the ancient Japanese practice of mending broken pottery with gold, this workshop offers space to think about care, repair, loss, hope and healing.
Friday 11 September
1:30pm-4pm
Free, booking requiredRead more
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Embroidery Workshops with Ibukun Baldwin
Second Saturdays (Aug–Dec)
11am–1pm
Free, booking requiredBuilding on the themes of Hyundai Translocal Series: Entangled and Woven and artist Jounghye Yoo’s work, these sessions, led by Ibukun Baldwin, offer a relaxed introduction to embroidery through hands-on making. Participants will work on intricately hand-printed ajrakh textiles featured in Yoo’s installation, and create their own piece to take home.
Workshop dates:Saturday 12 September 2026
Saturday 10 October 2026
Saturday 14 November 2026
Saturday 12 December 2026Book your place now
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A virtual journey in Edo Japan (1603-1868): mapping famous places
Join us for our fourth talk in the series The Floating World: People and Landscapes in Edo with Dr Sonia Favi on the topic A virtual journey in Edo Japan (1603-1868): mapping famous places, introduced by Dr Erica Baffelli.
Thursday 17 September
6:30pm-8pm
SOLD OUTBook your place now
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Beneath the Great Wave Curator tour with Imogen Holmes-Roe
Join Imogen Holmes-Roe, Curator of Historic Fine Art as she gives an overview of this landmark exhibition, where Imogen will be pulling out some of the social and historical themes from within the exhibition.
Thursday 24 September
6pm-7pm
SOLD OUTBook your place now
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Friends of the Whitworth: Sunday Concerts
Students from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester perform in our South Gallery, overlooking Whitworth Park.
Saturday 27 September
3pm - 3:45pm
Free, drop-inRead more
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Whitworth Young Contemporaries - Welcome Social
New to Manchester? Starting university or college? Or simply looking to meet other creative people?
Join us for a relaxed evening at the Whitworth designed for students and young people aged 16–25. Explore the gallery after hours, get creative, and meet new people in a welcoming atmosphere.
Thursday 8 October
6pm-8:30pm
Free, booking requiredBook your place now
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Studio Nights: Walking memory maps – path, place and everyday space
For teachers and educators to enrich and extend your practice, explore how space can be understood through movement and memory.
Thursday 15 October
6pm-8pm
Free, booking required - email steven.roper@manchester.ac.uk to book your place -
Global Samurai: Japan's warriors across time and space
Join us for fifth talk of the series with Professor Oleg Benesch on the topic Global Samurai: Japan's Warriors across Time and Space, introduced by Professor Erica Baffelli.
Thursday 15 October
6:30pm-8pm
Free, booking requiredBook your place now
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The wave, along the road, and Mount Fuji: mobility and power from Edo to Tokyo
Join us for our sixth talk in the series The Floating World: People and Landscapes in Edo with Dr. Monika Hinkel (SOAS University of London), introduced by Professor Erica Baffelli.
Thursday 12 November
6:30pm-8pm
Free, booking requiredBook your place now
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