School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

14/10/2026

Immersive opera where you steer the story from your seat. A Japanese ghost story in an AI future, sung live. Friday 6 November 2026, Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester. One night only.

13/10/2026

This week: The Banners of Ed Hall: Art, Activism & Civic Action in Contemporary Britain
 
📅 Thursday 15 October, 5.30pm - 7pm
📍 2.007, Alliance Manchester Business School  
🎟️ Book your free place via our Eventbrite
 
Join us for a research café discussing the history, politics and stories behind banners in art and activism.  
 
Ed Hall has been making trade union, campaign and gallery banners since 1984 when he worked for Lambeth Council as it launched a political campaign against cuts in local authority spending. Since then, Ed has had many commissions, including for the artist Jeremy Deller and notably making 20 banners for the Manchester International Festival of 2012.
 
In this talk, Ed will describe how banners were developed in the industrial heartlands of Britain, drawing on examples such as the wonderful banners made by artists of the Suffragettes movement, the banner makers inspired by Walter Crane, and the current renaissance of banner making which includes contemporary artists incorporating banners in their work.

Ruth Flanagan Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology UoM Humanities UoM Social Sciences

08/10/2026

Next Wednesday The University of Manchester hosts Professor Stefano Bartolini, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute and one of Europe's most influential scholars of comparative politics and political theory, for a prestigious British Academy Lecture.

📅 Wednesday 14 October
⏰ 5-7pm
📍 Alliance Manchester Business School
🎟️ Free – Booking required

In this lecture, Professor Bartolini examines how this unique historical process generated political pluralism and institutional diversity. He argues that the coexistence and competition of multiple normative traditions created conditions that have no direct equivalent elsewhere in world history, helping explain both the strengths and limitations of Western political development.

Tickets and info:

Rule Making Rules: The Origins of Western Political Institutions and Why They Matter Today.

08/10/2026

We’re delighted to be hosting events as part of Manchester Literature Festival, which gets underway tomorrow and runs until Sunday 25 Oct.

Across the festival, audiences can discover acclaimed authors, cultural icons, bold new voices and family favourites with thought-provoking conversations, fresh perspectives and plenty of inspiring encounters and family fun along the way.

If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, now’s the time! Head to the festival website to explore the programme and book your place. We can’t wait to welcome you and be part of another brilliant two weeks of celebrating the power of books, ideas, storytelling and conversation.

https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/whats-on

01/10/2026

TONIGHT: Last chance to book your spot for Vince Cable and Rebecca Fannin in conversation about the future of China's economy.

📅 Thursday 1 October
⏰ 6-7.30pm
📍 Roscoe Building, The University of Manchester
🎟 Free – Booking required

Hosted by The Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester

Tickets and info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/whats-next-for-chinas-economy-tickets-1991763765038

Join us for a panel discussion and book launch discussing the future of China's economy with two eminent speakers.

China has the potential to wield enormous economic and political power, already vying with the US for the top spot in the global economy, and on some measures has surpassed it. How will China navigate its growing role on the world stage? What are the implications for commerce, international law and the fight against climate change?

Manchester University Press and The Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester are delighted to host a discussion between authors SIr Vince Cable and Rebecca Fannin on 1st October on the university campus (venue TBC). The discussion will be chaired by lecturer Xiaobing Wang.

FREE tickets on Eventbrite here: https://whatsnextchinaeconomy.eventbrite.co.uk

23/09/2026

The Observer Book Club with Min Jin Lee

📅 Wednesday 21 October
⏰ 7.30-8.45pm
🎟️ £15 (£32 including book)
📍 Contact

Acclaimed Korean American author Min Jin Lee, internationally celebrated for the bestselling Pachinko, discusses her long-awaited new novel, 'American Hagwon' at this unmissable Manchester Literature Festival event.

Tickets and info: https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/the-observer-book-club-with-min-jin-lee

23/09/2026

The Cultural Welcome is back from 5-11 October to offer students the chance to discover the rich arts, culture and heritage of the Oxford Road Corridor. Whether you’re new to the city or returning for another year, The Cultural Welcome is the perfect introduction to the people, places and experiences that make the Oxford Road Corridor one of the UK’s most exciting cultural destinations.

Creative Manchester is excited to once again be part of the Cultural Welcome with a specially curated exhibition launch and panel event on Thursday 8 October celebrating Black Theatre History Month 2026.

Presented in collaboration with the Drama Department, we are delighted to host the ‘A History of Black Theatre in Manchester 1827-2025: Celebrating presence’ exhibition exploring the artistry and entrepreneurship of people of African and Afro-Caribbean descent in theatre and performance in Manchester.

You will have the opportunity to visit the exhibition and also to hear from the exhibition curators, academics and artists.

There will be a special treat for The University of Manchester students joining us, please just bring your student ID.

Register for free here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-history-of-black-theatre-in-manchester-1827-2025-celebrating-presence-tickets-1997011282504

21/09/2026

The launch event for 'grasp, grasp' by Sian Fan is featured in Mag-North.

https://www.mag-north.com/posts/what-fear-holds-together-sian-fans-grasp-grasp-comes-to-manchester

📅 Wednesday 30 September
⏰ 6.30-8.15pm
📍 esea contemporary (and livestreamed online)
🎟️ Free – Limited capacity, booking required

Tickets and info: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/universityofmanchester5/2344893

Built from the anonymised life stories of minority Buddhist communities in Britain and Japan, a new digital artwork by Sian Fan enters the uncertain territory between fear and belonging - without attempting to hold either still

18/09/2026

Manchester Literature Festival presents Yann Martel, author of 'Life of Pi', to discuss his new novel 'Son of Nobody' – a Creative Manchester and Centre for New Writing partnership event

The Observer Book Club with Yann Martel

📅 Wednesday 14 October
⏰ 7.30-8.45pm
🎟️ £12/£10
📍 Martin Harris Centre

Booker Prize-winning author Yann Martel, internationally acclaimed for the modern classic 'Life of Pi', visits Manchester Literature Festival for this exclusive North West event to discuss his remarkable new novel, 'Son of Nobody'.

Tickets and info: https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/the-observer-book-club-with-yann-martel

17/09/2026

Another fascinating Manchester Literature Festival event in partnership with Creative Manchester and Centre for New Writing – book your place now!

The Observer Book Club with Deborah Frances-White

📅 Sunday 11 October
⏰ 4.30-5.45pm
🎟️ £12/£10
📍 Martin Harris Centre

The author, comedian and host of The Guilty Feminist Deborah Frances-White brings her sharp wit and fresh perspective to Manchester Literature Festival for a lively conversation about Six Conversations We’re Scared to Have and how we can navigate disagreement, polarisation and difficult conversations. Expect big questions, bold ideas and plenty to discuss.

Tickets and info: https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/the-observer-book-club-with-deborah-frances-white