The Portico Library

Upcoming events at The Portico Library

Community

Another Stranger: Cressida’s Tale

In a world where the lives of strangers and survivors are weighed and traded for political gain, this Cressida is determined to define her own value. With Stephe Harrop.

Thu 4 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Curator's Tour: Everything and Nothing

An exclusive, small group tour of Everything and Nothing exhibition, exploring the story of The Portico Library through objects and stories.

Mon 8 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

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Talks & Lectures

Book Launch: Anglo German Manchester with Janet Wolff

Join us for the launch of Janet Wolff's new book on the lives of Germans in Manchester, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day.

Tue 9 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Talks & Lectures

Christopher Isherwood: An illustrated talk by Andrew Biswell

Did you know Christopher Isherwood came from Stockport? Come and find out more in this Festival of Literature talk.

Fri 12 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

The Minds Eye in Reading: A World Without Mental Pictures

What is it like when you don't see images in your head when you read, or can't see memories as pictures? Perhaps you already can't?

Sat 13 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

The Library of the Past and the Future

Join Dr Amanda Potter from the Open University for a screening of the Doctor Who episodes ‘Silence in the Library’ and ‘Forest of the Dead’ from 2008, followed by a discussion of libraries of the past, and what the library of the future could be like.

Tue 16 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Bookbinding: Creating a portfolio for loose A4 sheets

Artists have long used portfolios to hold, protect and transport their work, however they are also useful for everyday filing, safely holding loose sheets in one place. They can be custom-made to any size - ours will be for holding A4 sheets.

Wed 17 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Food & Drink

The Portico Kitchen Secret Supper Club

Join the Portico Kitchen team for a series of unique dining experiences in one of the city’s most extraordinary settings.

Thu 18 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Life Drawing with HappeningInMCR

The Portico Library has got Life Drawing with HappeningInMCR pencilled in. We've got the date — they've got the detail. Between us, you're sorted.

Wed 24 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Zuihitsu of Sound - A New Way to Listen

From the silent, snow-clad forests of Finland to the beating heart of Manchester comes the intimate and curious Zuihitsu of Sound - A New Way to Listen. Free your mind as you explore and wonder at the ways fragments of sound and silence can play off one another under the warm acoustics of the Portico Library’s beautiful dome.

Thu 25 JunThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Curator's Tour: Deconstructing The Signature of All Things

Curator Susana Sanchez-Gonzalez introduces her display on the books behind the story of Elizabeth Gilbert's historical novel.

Thu 2 JulThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Curator's Tour: Everything and Nothing

An exclusive, small group tour of Everything and Nothing exhibition, exploring the story of The Portico Library through objects and stories.

Mon 6 JulThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Slow Reading: de Stael's Corinne or Italy

A bookclub but with a difference - a few passages to read & discuss in a relaxed environment. Join our love affair with Italy this summer!

Wed 8 JulThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Arts & CultureLive Music

Imaginary Landscapes: A poetry and harp recital

Imaginary Landscapes brings together the spellbinding poetry of Chris Tutton with the semi-improvised harp brilliance of international award/winning harpist, Lucy Nolan.

Thu 9 JulThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Bookbinding: A multi-section journal / notebook

This attractive A6 notebook/journal features an Italian patterned paper front cover (with a colour co-ordinated book cloth on the rear cover).

Wed 16 SeptThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Life Drawing with HappeningInMCR

Join us for HappeningInMCR's last life drawing session of 2026 with life model Lady Panthera!

Wed 30 SeptThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Community

Bookbinding: Paper Magic

An opportunity to get creative making a variety of ingenious, fun and useful items. A treat for yourself and an opportunity to make some unique Christmas gifts.

Wed 11 NovThe Portico Library

via The Portico LibraryCurated

Event details on Near Here are aggregated from third-party sources and may change. Always verify times, location, availability, and any price directly with the organiser before travelling. See Terms.