Words and the books that hold them travel around the world, influencing action, creative thought, and collaboration between countries and cultures.

As a UNESCO City of Literature, Manchester works closely with 52 other Cities of Literature around the world and 349 other Creative Cities in other fields. This global network means Festival of Libraries is the perfect opportunity for Manchester to collaborate with the rest of the world and to spotlight literary heavyweights from our sister cities.

Here’s a few events taking place this year where you can travel the world from your local library…

The Embassy of Utopia is coming to Manchester Central Library again after a really successful 2024 run. A collaboration between Manchester UNESCO City of Literature and Capital of Culture 2024 Tartu UNESCO City of Literature, artist David Hartley is hosting over 60 performances on 4th June where individuals and community groups will share reflections and global perspectives on eco-futures and climate issues.

Performances from members of Dragons Voice CIC and The Poetry Place, our very own multilingual city poet Nóra Blascsók, community members from the Let’s Talk Rochdale group, international artists from Quebec, Tartu and Nanjing UNESCO Cities of Literature, and work developed via a special collaboration with the Sonder Radio Community will be programmed throughout the day.

Expect storytelling, academic reflections, poetry, music, and more.

Between 2-17th June Manchester Central Library will showcase the Real Contentment exhibition, displaying poetry, illustration and writing created through a partnership between Manchester and Nanjing, both UNESCO Cites of Literature and UNESCO Cities of Lifelong Learning. The work is the result of a 9-month project between the two cities, exploring the natural world through literature and exchange between the UK and China. The exhibition will explore the ecological theme Real Contentment, inspired by Han Dong’s poetry.

 

This year’s Festival of Libraries will see the UK premiere of Monuments, a looped twenty-minute performance in which voices, texts and photos meet around a real territory, Newfoundland, and an imagined road trip. Created by award winning Quebec poet, author, performer, and curator Vanessa Bell, Monuments is a performance and installation based on the book of the same name published in August 2022 in collaboration with photographer Kéven Tremblay by Éditions du Noroît. The event will take place on 6th June at Alliance Francaise de Manchester.

 

Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free: Palestinian Comics Revealed’ presents the work of twelve Palestinian comic artists in a unique installation designed by architects Rabih Koussa and Nabil Farhat, made from cardboard. Fragile yet resilient, paper symbolises the endurance of a people amidst the tempests of history. The installation reflects the traditional architectures of the region and will house the art of twelve Palestinian comic artists. Each fold and crease in this paper house reflects the complexities of identity, memory, and the unyielding spirit of the works.