Turner: In Light and Shade – A Second Tour of the Whitworth’s exhibition

Posted on: August 6th, 2025 by Alan Wareham

Due to the first tour selling out, the Manchester Lit & Phil has secured a second date for you to join Curator, Imogen Holmes-Roe as she discusses how the exhibition rethinks Turner’s legacy by exploring his genius as both painter and a master of printmaking.

The Whitworth is pleased to present a special exhibition that looks afresh at the work of Britain’s greatest landscape artist J.M.W. Turner. The exhibition is being shown as part of a national celebration of the artist on the 250th anniversary of his birth.

For the first time in over 100 years the entire published set of Turner’s celebrated Liber Studiorum series, the Latin title can be translated to ‘Book of Studies’, has been specially conserved and is on show at the Whitworth.

Turner: In Light and Shade unveils 71 of Turner’s published prints, displayed alongside major paintings loaned from private and public collections across Europe, as well as the artists’ most celebrated watercolours from the Whitworth collection.

Join the Whitworth’s Curator (Historic Art), Imogen Holmes-Roe as she discusses how the exhibition rethinks Turner’s legacy by exploring his genius as both painter and a master of printmaking – which was vital to the development of his reputation as an artist. At a time when printmaking was regarded as secondary to painting, this collection display reveals how Turner approached the print medium with the same innovation and expressive freedom that marked his oil and watercolour paintings.

In Light and Shade offers an unprecedented opportunity to view this extraordinary series.

SimpsonHaugh: A Manchester Story

Posted on: August 6th, 2025 by Alan Wareham

Over the past 38 years, SimpsonHaugh Architects has established a strong presence in Manchester, compiling a distinguished portfolio of award-winning projects and playing a pivotal role in helping shape the city’s identity on both the national and international stage.

The practice’s initiation was motivated by a shared belief in the power of high-quality design to lead the regeneration of post-industrial cities and instigate new contemporary architectural identities. As projects have increased in scale over the years, these original values have matured and been reinforced such that they remain the practice’s guiding principles.

The underlying themes of urban renewal, sustainability and design excellence unite an otherwise diverse range of building functions and solutions. Similarly, the completed work demonstrates that the practice’s regeneration objectives are equally valid whether applied to new buildings or to existing historic structures.

A recurring challenge of the practice’s work has been the need to develop appropriate forms for emerging typologies. Its innovative solutions for public galleries, transport interchanges and high density living have both challenged normative design responses and contributed positive new precedents.

While the success of its completed work and a growing reputation for design integrity has allowed the practice to expand, Rachel and Ian remain personally involved in each project. Consequently, the inspiration in design and the attention to detail in construction that have stimulated the achievements of the practice so far will continue to guide the ambition and quality of its schemes in the future.

Ian Simpson and Rachel Haugh will share their vision, highlight their architectural milestones, and place their work in the context of the evolution of the city.

 

Who Should Attend

This event is perfect for anyone passionate about architecture, urban design, and the transformation of Manchester. Whether you’re an architect, urban planner, historian, environmentalist, student, or simply someone curious about how thoughtful design can shape the identity of a city, you’ll find this talk engaging and inspiring. Join us to gain unique insights into the challenges and triumphs of urban renewal and sustainable design from two leading figures in contemporary architecture.

 

Practical Information

The talk includes a Q&A session and light refreshments can be purchased from the venue’s bar.

Booking is essential. Lit & Phil members: we recommend logging into the website to make booking your free member ticket quicker and easier.

 

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

Turner: In Light and Shade – A Tour of the Whitworth’s exhibition

Posted on: July 24th, 2025 by Alan Wareham

The Whitworth is pleased to present a special exhibition that looks afresh at the work of Britain’s greatest landscape artist J.M.W. Turner. The exhibition is being shown as part of a national celebration of the artist on the 250th anniversary of his birth.

For the first time in over 100 years the entire published set of Turner’s celebrated Liber Studiorum series, the Latin title can be translated to ‘Book of Studies’, has been specially conserved and is on show at the Whitworth.

Turner: In Light and Shade unveils 71 of Turner’s published prints, displayed alongside major paintings loaned from private and public collections across Europe, as well as the artists’ most celebrated watercolours from the Whitworth collection.

Join the Whitworth’s Curator (Historic Art), Imogen Holmes-Roe as she discusses how the exhibition rethinks Turner’s legacy by exploring his genius as both painter and a master of printmaking – which was vital to the development of his reputation as an artist. At a time when printmaking was regarded as secondary to painting, this collection display reveals how Turner approached the print medium with the same innovation and expressive freedom that marked his oil and watercolour paintings.

In Light and Shade offers an unprecedented opportunity to view this extraordinary series

Stone: An Historical Walking Tour of Manchester

Posted on: July 6th, 2025 by Alan Wareham

This walk looks at our city of Manchester from a different angle – how stone is used and the response which that triggers in us.

The city of Manchester is a collection of materials, each of which has a shifting place and meaning in the urban environment.

Stone is only one of these materials, but it is embedded in the fabric of Manchester in the form of some of our most iconic buildings.

Our Central Library is built from Portland Stone from the South Coast, the Town Hall is faced in Spinkwell sandstone from Yorkshire, and St Ann’s Church is a multi-coloured mix of sandstones from the north.

Across the city stone is a status symbol, a durable building material and an aesthetic choice.

This tour explores all of this and more, as well as asking the all-important question: how does stone make you feel?

Stone and Spirit of Place at Alderley Edge

Posted on: June 24th, 2025 by Alan Wareham

From the work of Victorian archaeologist William Boyd Dawkins, through the explorations of the Derbyshire Cave Society, to the novels of modern-day fantasy author Alan Garner, Alderley Edge has long served as a crossroads where imaginative subjectivity intersects with scientific objectivity.

Over thousands of years, multiple layers of meaning have become interwoven with this physical landscape, each drawing people to engage with The Edge in diverse and distinctive ways. Many of these meanings and interactions have been directly inspired by the area’s unique sandstone bedrock.

Drawing upon the disciplines of psychogeography and phenomenology, this talk examines how the geological character of Alderley Edge has cultivated a distinctive ‘spirit of place’, existing somewhere between magic and science.

Mineral deposits laid down millions of years ago have been mined since the Bronze Age, while extraordinary rock formations have given rise to enduring local folklore.

Today, The Edge is not only a protected site but also an immensely popular destination for walkers and nature enthusiasts. Adding to its intrigue are tales of a wizard, a stone imbued with a golden aura, and even the devil himself to add to the mix.

In this talk, Charlotte will unravel the interplay between scientific enquiry and the legends, illuminating why Alderley Edge continues to captivate and fascinate so many.

 

Practical Information

The presentation will include time for questions and discussion. Booking is essential.

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

Mrs Dalloway at 100

Posted on: June 6th, 2025 by Alan Wareham

One hundred years after the publication of  Mrs Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf,  Mark Hussey and Kaye Mitchell discuss this iconic book. The fourth and best-known of Virginia Woolf’s novels, Mrs Dalloway is a modernist masterpiece that has remained popular since its publication in 1925.

Its dual narratives follow a day in the life of wealthy housewife Clarissa Dalloway and shell-shocked war veteran Septimus Warren Smith, capturing their inner worlds with a vividness that has rarely been equalled.

Mark’s new book Mrs Dalloway: Biography of a novel offers new readers a lively introduction to this enduring classic, while providing Woolf lovers with a wealth of information about the novel’s writing, publication and reception. It follows Woolf’s process from the first stirrings in her diary through her struggles to create what was quickly recognised as a major advance in prose fiction. It then traces the novel’s remarkable legacy to the present day.

Woolf wrote in her diary that she wanted her novel ‘to give life & death, sanity & insanity. to criticise the social system, & to show it at work, at its most intense.’ Mrs Dalloway: Biography of a novel reveals how she achieved this ambition, creating a book that will be read by generations to come.

 

Practical Information

The talk includes a Q&A session and light refreshments can be purchased from the venue’s bar.

Booking is essential. Lit & Phil members: we recommend logging into the website to make booking your free member ticket quicker and easier.

 

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

Quakerism

Posted on: May 12th, 2025 by Alan Wareham

In an era increasingly defined by ideological division, social turbulence, and environmental instability, how do we reclaim a sense of purpose, direction, and connection? The Religious Society of Friends—commonly known as Quakers—offers a profound and enduring response: a way of being that transcends dogma and invites us into a practice of spiritual clarity, ethical integrity, and transformative community discernment.

Quakerism is not a rigid doctrine but a lived experience—a journey of listening deeply, living authentically, and bearing witness to the divine spark within all people. Rooted in the powerful stillness of silence yet dynamically committed to meaningful action, the Quaker tradition provides a countercultural model of resilience and hope in an ever-changing world.

About the Session

This illuminating session will be led by Bobby Mears, who brings a wealth of insight to the practice and philosophy of Quakerism. To enrich your experience, we highly recommend reading Bobby’s thought-provoking focus paper in advance. This resource will provide valuable context and enhance the depth of our collective exploration.

What to Expect

The Lit & Phil Philosophy Forum is a space where serious ideas meet joyful exploration. Whether you are a seasoned philosopher or a curious newcomer, our discussions are designed to foster a spirit of open-minded inquiry. We prioritize respectful dialogue, intellectual curiosity, and the shared pursuit of understanding over adversarial debate. This is philosophy as it should be—dynamic, inclusive, and profoundly engaging.

Practical Details

  • Pre-Event Preparation: The focus paper can be downloaded here.
  • Note on Attendance: Due to the popularity of these events, places are often fully booked. If you reserve a ticket but later find you cannot attend, we kindly ask that you cancel promptly to allow others the opportunity to join.

Join us as we delve into the Quaker way of life—a practice of listening and living that offers timeless wisdom for navigating the complexities of our modern age.

3D Printing in Medicine: From Science Fiction to Reality

Posted on: April 15th, 2025 by mlpEditor

From Fiction to Possibility

In Mary Shelley’s iconic novel, Victor Frankenstein harnessed electricity to breathe life into inanimate matter. Fast forward to recent times, and we find films like “Moon” (2009) and “Mickey 17” (2025) exploring the ethical complexities of human cloning. These narratives spark a fascinating question: Could we someday print fully-functional human beings, much like Star Trek’s replicator materialized objects on demand?

 

Science Fiction Becomes Science Fact

What once seemed confined to the realm of science fiction is increasingly crossing into scientific reality. The journey from imagination to implementation has always been medicine’s most exciting narrative. Consider organ transplantation—first conceptualized in fiction in 1925, before becoming reality with the first successful kidney transplant in 1954.

 

Manchester’s Pioneering Role

The field of bioprinting stands at a similar frontier today. Two decades ago, Manchester proudly hosted the first International Workshop on Bioprinting, establishing our city as an early pioneer in this revolutionary technology. Since then, Manchester’s scientists and clinicians have remained at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field, pushing boundaries and transforming possibilities.

 

Current Breakthroughs and Future Horizons

Join us as we explore the remarkable progress in bioprinting both locally and globally. We’ll journey through current capabilities—from printing simple tissues to the complex challenges of vascularized organs. We’ll examine the latest breakthroughs in biomaterials, cell sourcing, and fabrication techniques that are bringing us closer to printing functional human tissues and organs.

 

Ethical Considerations and Practical Applications

Our discussion will bridge the gap between what was once purely imaginative and what is now scientifically achievable. We’ll consider not just the technical aspects, but also the ethical implications and regulatory frameworks that must evolve alongside these innovations.

 

About the Speaker

Professor Brian Derby is a pioneer in bioprinting who coined the term itself and has led ground-breaking research at the University of Manchester for over 20 years, collaborating with medical scientists and local hospitals to develop 3D printing applications for medicine.

 

Who Should Attend

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a technology enthusiast, or simply curious about how science fiction continues to inspire medical advancement, this talk offers a fascinating glimpse into a future where bioprinting may revolutionize personalized medicine and potentially solve the global organ shortage crisis.

 

Practical Information

The talk includes a Q&A session and light refreshments can be purchased from the venue’s bar.

Booking is essential. Lit & Phil members: we recommend logging into the website to make booking your free member ticket quicker and easier.

 

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

Manchester’s Arts and Crafts Revolution: Unveiling the Northern Art Workers’ Guild

Posted on: April 7th, 2025 by mlpEditor

William Morris and Manchester’s Creative Roots

Manchester has long been a hidden gem in the Arts and Crafts movement, with connections that run far deeper than most realise. William Morris, the movement’s most iconic figure, was a frequent visitor to the city, and Manchester was home to the only Morris & Co shop outside of London – located right on Albert Square.

It was here that Morris first shared his now-famous philosophy: Do not have anything in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful – words that would echo through design history.

 

A Crucible of Artistic Innovation

The city was a crucible of artistic and social innovation. Morris delivered his groundbreaking lecture Art, Wealth and Riches at the Manchester Royal Institution (now Manchester Art Gallery), an event that challenged contemporary thinking – though perhaps a bit too radically for its initial audience!

Alongside Morris, other influential figures like John Ruskin frequently lectured here, and artists such as Walter Crane – who was Head of Design at the Manchester Municipal School of Art from 1893 to 1896 – helped shape the city’s creative landscape.

 

The Northern Art Workers’ Guild: A Revolutionary Collective

But there’s an even more fascinating story waiting to be told. In 1896, a group of passionate local artists, architects, and artisans came together to form the Northern Art Workers’ Guild – a collective that would challenge the traditional narratives of the Arts and Crafts movement. Unlike many contemporary movements that focused on rural idylls or London-centric perspectives, this Guild planted its roots firmly in the heart of industrial England.

 

Breaking Barriers: Women in the Arts and Crafts Movement

What makes this Guild truly remarkable was its progressive spirit. At a time when women were often marginalized in professional circles, the Northern Art Workers’ Guild was radical in its approach. Women were not just members but active, equal participants – holding office, delivering talks, and showcasing their work in open exhibitions.

 

A Lasting Legacy of Design and Creativity

Though the Guild existed for a relatively short period (1896-1912), its influence rippled far beyond its years. Its legacy continued through subsequent initiatives like the Manchester branch of the Design & Industries Association, established in 1917, and the Red Rose Guild of Artworkers, which began its annual craft exhibitions in 1920. These organisations ensured that Manchester continued to be an important centre for craft and design in the inter-war years.

 

Join Us for an Extraordinary Journey

Join us for an extraordinary journey through Manchester’s hidden design history. Barry Clark will unveil this captivating narrative through a beautifully illustrated talk, bringing to life original documents and untold stories of creativity, innovation, and social change. As an experienced lecturer, author and craft bookbinder, Barry offers a uniquely insightful perspective on this fascinating chapter of Manchester’s artistic heritage.

 

Practical Information

The presentation will include time for questions and discussion. Booking is essential.

 

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk

Sharston Materials Recovery Facility Tour

Posted on: March 20th, 2025 by mlpEditor

Experience first-hand where recycling happens! The Sharston Materials Recovery Facility processes recycling from nine Greater Manchester boroughs, expertly sorting materials like glass, steel, aluminium, and various plastics.

Our two-hour visit includes a comprehensive tour of the facility guided by the passionate Education Team. You’ll witness the story of the first stages of the recycling journey – from mixed to sorted – and on its way to becoming something else. Enjoy discussion time to ask questions about proper recycling practices and learn what truly happens to items after they leave your bin.

 

Important Information:

  • The tour involves walking and stairs
  • Casual clothing recommended (jeans and trainers ideal)
  • Safety equipment (including hard hats) will be provided
  • Please inform us in advance if you have pacemakers, insulin pumps, cochlear implants, or mobility needs, as we’ll customize the tour to avoid strong electromagnets used in processing
  • This educational experience is completely free of charge

 

Getting there

  • The site is at Longley Lane, Sharston M22 4RQ.
  • It is an 18-minute walk from Gatley railway station.
  • There is a visitor car park on site.
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