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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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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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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Visitor Experience Tour
Join one of our Visitor Experience Assistants as they delve into the history and art of Hokusai and Hiroshige.
Friday 11 September
2pm-2:45pm
SOLD OUTBook your place now
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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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British Sign Language Tour of Michaela Yearwood-Dan: The Practice of Liberation
Join Hope Lambert, where she will give an overview of the exhibition and highlight some of her favourite artworks that have been newly created by the artists.
Whether you are a fluent BSL user or learning, this is a great event to engage with others in a entirely BSL environment.
Saturday 19 September
2:15pm-3:15pm
Free, booking requiredBook your place now
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Visitor Experience Tour
Join one of our Visitor Experience Assistants as they delve into the history and art of Hokusai and Hiroshige.
Wednesday 23 September
2pm-2:45pm
SOLD OUTBook your place now
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NCHS Meditation in Nature: The Practice of Liberation
As the year turns towards autumn, join us for a meditation in nature session in the Alex Bernstein Garden inspired by the Autumn Equinox. Together we’ll explore simple mindfulness and sensory practices that support grounding, balance, and care, as the garden begins to soften and settle. Open to all, with no prior mindfulness experience needed.
Thursday 24 September
6pm-7pm
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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Curator Tour
Learn more about the artworks in the exhibition with Imogen Holmes-Roe (Curator, Historic Fine Art) and Lucy Turner (Producer, Families and Early Years).
Thursday 1 October
6–7pm
Free, booking requiredBook your place now
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South Asian & Korean Textiles Study Session
Thursday 8 October 2026
6–7:30pm
Free, booking requiredJoin curators Amy George and Victoria Hartley to explore historic South Asian and Korean textiles connected to Hyundai Translocal Series: Entangled and Woven. This session offers a unique opportunity to encounter collection works up close while deepening understanding of the exhibition’s global context.
Book your place now
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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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The Manji Gatherings: Room to Begin
Whether your starting university, returning to study or figuring out your next step, join us for an afternoon of cooking, conversation and reflection, where we'll explore the idea of what our minds consume – the thoughts we take, what we give our attention to. We'll end the evening with a shared meal, taking the time to slow down, make space for whatever comes next and meet others going through similar change.
Sunday 11 October
1-3pm
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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Young In Hong - Sacred Empires
Thursday 22 October 2026
6–7:30pm
Free, booking requiredArtist Youngin Hong presents an in-depth look at her commission Sacred Empires from Hyundai Translocal Series: Entangled and Woven. Hosted in the Whitworth’s Study Centre, the talk is accompanied by related works from the Whitworth’s collection, offering insight into collaboration, labour and storytelling in textile practice.
Book your place now
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Care-led Co-Creation
Sharing creative approaches, resources and learning with the Still Care project team and participants.
Friday 23 October
11am-3pm
Free, booking requiredBook your place now
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Midwifery Today
A panel discussion with maternity care providers, hosted by practising NHS midwife, activist and bestselling author Leah Hazard.
Saturday 24 October
2pm-4pm
Free, booking requiredBook your place now
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Exhibition Walkthrough
Led by trained practitioners, our exhibition walkthroughs open space for conversation and deeper exploration of the exhibition’s themes and insights.
Thursday 5 November
5:30pm-6:30pm
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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