The artist exchange is central to the project, uniting poets, illustrators, and playwrights from both cities to create new work. As part of the exchange, artists from 黑料网吃瓜爆料 will visit Nanjing in March 2025. The creative collaborations will explore the ecological theme of Real Contentment, inspired by Han Dong鈥榮 poetry. 

A new bilingual illustrated poetry collection and play will be released later this year. 

The programme is funded by the British Council鈥檚 International Collaboration Grants. 

The six selected artists are:

• Han Dong mainly writes poems and novels. He is a representative of the New Generation Novelists. To date, he has published around fifty works including collections of poems, novels, novellas, and essays. His first novel Banished! was long-listed for Man Asian Literary Prize 2008. Some of his selected poems have been translated and published in Capriccio on the Way to Buy Salt, and anthologised in The Qilin鈥檚 Gaze: Poems by 12 Contemporary Nanjing Poets. His novels include Metamorphosis of an Educated Youth, Me and You, and My Plato. His poetry collections in Chinese include Dad鈥檚 Looking Down on Me from The Sky, Miracle, and Sorrow or Eternal Life. He is a winner of the Lu Xun Literary Award, Golden Phoenix Medal, and Chinese Media Literary Award for Long Fiction.
   
• Amy Lever is an award-winning writer/actor from 黑料网吃瓜爆料. As a writer her work includes the award-winning, five-star reviewed 鈥淟ife Before the Line鈥� (Cambridge University Edinburgh Fringe Prize). She was named runner up for the Alpine Fellowship Prize for Playwriting, a finalist for the Channel 4 Writing for TV Awards, selected for Channel 4 x New Writing North Development Scheme and was a part of The Warner Bros Writers Exchange Programme with Warner Bros, The Royal Exchange and Wall to Wall.
   
• Zhou Meisen is a fiction writer and screenwriter and now serves as the Vice President of the Jiangsu Writers' Association. Influenced by Balzac and Dickens, his works are characterised by strong realism and plot twists. In his works readers can find a focus on under-class characters鈥� destinies and critiques of injustices from the suppressive political forces on individuals. . His novel Made in China was  a winner of the National Book Award and National Bestseller Award. His other works include a twelve-volume Zhou Meisen Anthology and the TV script for In the Name of the People, among others.
   
• Eleanor Mulhearn is a visual artist and storyteller, whose multidisciplinary practice spans illustration, animation, sculpture, and installation. Drawing inspiration from materials discovered in archives, libraries, museums and places, her work explores fragile, overlooked, and diverse histories, stories, and ecologies. Through engagement with these spaces, Eleanor creates narrative-driven, lyrical works, thematically engaging with the non-material world. Since 2002, Eleanor has collaborated across art, design, and theatre contexts, working with diverse artists and institutions, nationally and internationally, within group and solo projects. Eleanor is Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Illustration with Animation, and a researcher, at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 School of Art.
   
• Charlotte Shevchenko Knight is a poet of both British and Ukrainian heritage. Her debut collection Food for the Dead, published by Jonathan Cape in 2024, was a winner of an Eric Gregory Award (2023) and the Laurel Prize for Best First Collection UK (2024). Shevchenko Knight is an NWCDTP-funded PhD candidate at the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Writing School.
   
• Yao Yuan is Director of the Landscape Painting Institute under the Nanjing Painting and Calligraphy Academy, reflecting her commitment to art for ecology, as well as Founding President of the Nanjing Kai-Ming Painting and Calligraphy Academy. Asan acknowledged expert, she is also a member of the Committee of Traditional Bird and Flower Painting of Jiangsu Artists Association. She has been featured by multiple art galleries and exhibitions at the regional and national levels in China. In 2017, her works were included at the Influence: Women in Art Exhibition at NYC Grand Central Terminal, and she gave a lecture on Chinese traditional ink painting at the UN Headquarters New York.

In addition to the artist exchange, a school engagement programme involving Year 3-6 pupils has also been launched, fostering inter-cultural understanding and addressing our relationship with the environment through creative expression. The work created by the artist exchange and schools programme will be shared at the Festival of Libraries in June 2025 when 黑料网吃瓜爆料 hosts the artists from Nanjing.

Anita Ngai, Creative Producer for the project, says:

Chantal Harrison-Lee, Global Lead for International Collaboration Grants at the British Council said:

This project is funded by the British Council鈥檚 International Collaboration Grants, which are designed to support UK and overseas organisations to collaborate on international arts projects. It鈥檚 delivered in partnership with Nanjing University of the Arts, University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Metropolitan University and 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Confucius Institute.

Read the original .

AHRC-funded project (2022-2024) built a coalition of researchers and partners from across Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 to understand creative health better. This included working with Cartwheel Arts to understand more about communities鈥� access to creative health activities in their local area. 

Findings from this research have been published in . We also wanted to understand the .

We are working on future publications from this research that reflect on the challenges of implementing a civic strategy and explore some of the distinctive approaches to creative health within Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料.

To help build research networks we held Creative Health events in June 2023 and June 2024. In 2023 the Organisations of Hope Symposium focused on networks between research, policy and practice in Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料. 

In 2024, our also brought together other researchers from across the UK working on similar projects. Panels at this event focused on: ; ; and . 

Attendees at the event also tried their hand at reflecting on creative health research through . Artist Domenique Brouwers ran a session and .

We are continuing to work closely with our partners at Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Combined Authority Integrated Care Partnership, NHS Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and other universities from across the region on an ambitious 3-year programme of work (2024-2027) supported by Arts Council England. 

The Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Creative Health Place Partnership will pioneer new ways of supporting residents to live as well as they can, by creating new, community-led approaches with culture and creativity at their heart. We have also developed strategic partnerships with key partners on creative health research, regionally and nationally, from , and in Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料, to and the #BeeWell.

Look out for future reports as this work develops! For more information on any of this work please contact: creative@manchester.ac.uk.

Resources and links:

• Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Creative Health Strategy 
•  
• storybook 
• Report on the
• Creative Health Symposium 2024: ; ; ; ; . 
• Announcement of Place partnership 3-year programme of work (2024-2027) supported by Arts Council England 

The CreaTech Innovation Lab is a half-day workshop convened by the research platform and the University鈥檚 Business Engagement team with facilitation by the creative consultancy . 

In the course of one afternoon the teams worked on developing a research project focused on a challenge brief provided by the participating companies.

The event brought together several businesses, including , and BandShare - working within creative, cultural and digital sectors with a team of academics to inform their challenge brief by new knowledge, technology or methodology stemming from academic research. 

Over the course of the workshop teams developed tangible project plans to pitch for seed funding to develop the project.

Throughout the afternoon the teams worked through a dynamic, creative process of defining their problem and generating a range of solutions. By the end each team concluded with an optimal project plan and pitch, which was presented to an expert panel of judges for seed funding, with an emphasis on projects with the potential for larger collaborations in the future.

With the third CreaTech Innovation Lab completed the project teams now look towards the next six months to develop research addressing the businesses鈥� challenge briefs and scope out future opportunities with the University.

Our heartful thanks go out to our panel of expert judges, industry and academic participants and our facilitators from Future Everything.

To stay informed about Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 work in the CreaTech theme and our other events and activities please .

This year will be the 9th International Mother Language Day observed in Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料, a celebration of the cultural diversity and vast number of languages spoken across the city region.

, one of the University鈥檚 research platforms, will offer a series of events to mark the occasion in collaboration with partners and colleagues. All events are free to book and all are welcome.

• 19 February 2025 鈥� - Hear from researchers, poets and collaborators about how they came together in the aftermath of the pandemic to create a book capturing local communities' experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic. This event will be held at Contact Theatre at 12pm.
• 21 February 2025 鈥� 鈥� A talk by the 's Dr Alex Baratta on accentism within British teacher training, held at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Museum at 12pm.
• 21 February 2025 鈥� - A language themed trail around 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Museum offering visitors of all ages a chance to learn about and celebrate languages and multilingualism. The trail is held in partnership with the and 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Museum and takes place from 1pm.

To find out more about International Mother Language Day and the city鈥檚 celebrations, visit the .

As the latest academic to deliver one of these inspiring lectures, Peter will use his talk to delve into the compelling world of Baroque opera, exploring its historical significance in promoting equality and reconciliation.

Having garnered international recognition for his advocacy of 20th century and contemporary music, Peter is a distinguished professor currently teaching in the Department of World Arts and Cultures at UCLA. He has received numerous prestigious awards for contributions to European culture, including the MacArthur Fellowship and the Erasmus Prize.

Peter鈥檚 visit to 黑料网吃瓜爆料 follows the launch of a major new partnership between the English National Opera (ENO) and Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料. The organisation鈥檚 exciting relocation project will see the development of longer-term strategic partnerships with venues and organisations across Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料, all working to create operatic experiences for communities and raise the curtain to the opera-makers of tomorrow.

Professor Maggie Gale, Vice-Dean for Research at the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 Faculty of Humanities, said:

Following the lecture, Peter will be joined by distinguished academic, critic and curator Professor Maria Delgado, who will discuss his illustrious career and current interests. Professor Delgado is the Vice Principal at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. Her extensive work across Spanish-language theatre, film and cultural memory has garnered her numerous accolades, including the ATHE Lifetime Achievement Award in Academic Theatre and the Cross of the Order of Alfonso X the Wise for her services to culture and education.

Reserve your spot on .

黑料网吃瓜爆料 is one of three stakeholders in the organisation, and each year offers a diverse series of workshops for the Festival of Libraries. These workshops are organised by the research platform and delivered by academics across the . 

The award went to the Festival of Libraries for its 2023 programme which included a vibrant selection of dance, theatre, music, comic art, poetry and family events, all of which were free.

Headline events featured Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Drag Artist Cheddar Gorgeous, award-winning poet Raymond Antrobus and Icelandic novelist Au冒ur Ava 脫lafsd贸ttir in residence at John Rylands Research Institute and Library.

黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 2023 event offerings included a workshop looking at dictionaries and word meanings, delivered by the Linguistic Diversity Collective,鈥榃riting for Wellbeing鈥� workshops led by poets and authors from the Centre for New Writing, and a family-friendly session exploring food in children鈥檚 literature, run by the Programme in American Studies.

Head of the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, Thomas Schmidt, commented:

The Festival team, including Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Director John McAuliffe, took to the stage to accept the award at the ' ceremony at The Hilton, Deansgate, which took place on 23 November.

The next will take place 4-8 June 2025.

• Dave Moutrey: Director of Culture and Creative Industries for 黑料网吃瓜爆料 City Council;
• Julie McCarthy: Strategic Lead for Creative Health, NHS Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Integrated Care / Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Combined Authority;
• Sameed Rezayan: Head of Learning, Factory International.

The appointments have been awarded an Honorary Research Fellowship in the Drama department at 黑料网吃瓜爆料. The Fellowships recognise the outstanding contribution and ongoing work that Dave, Julie and Sameed make to the vibrant creative and cultural industries sector in Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料. 

The research projects they will embark upon align with the research themes within the University鈥檚 ; Creative Industries and Innovation, Creativity, Health and Wellbeing, and Creative and Civic Futures. 

From 25 to 27 November the conference took place at The Lowry in Salford, bringing together business leaders, researchers, policymakers, and creative visionaries to explore the dynamic intersection of creative research, business innovation and research and development (R&D). 

As an annual nexus for thinkers and makers, the conference provided a unique platform for delegates to connect, explore pioneering R&D projects, and engage with the global conversation on creativity and opportunity, with this year focussing on creative cities. 

were delighted to support the conference as a local event partner, showcasing the (OHOS) research project, which is a collaboration between the Universities of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and as well as . 

The event kicked off with fringe events in Media City, Salford, on 25 November, followed by the official programme that highlighted cutting-edge research and collaborative opportunities. 

Throughout the conference Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 presented an engaging expo stand with representatives from the Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 team, and the Research and Business Engagement team of 黑料网吃瓜爆料. 

As part of Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料's presence at the conference the 鈥淥ur Heritage, Our Stories鈥� R&D showcase illuminated the work of the academic team to address critical challenges in digital cultural heritage. 

In an era where communities have increasingly adopted digital technologies to capture and preserve their histories, OHOS responds to the urgent need to archive and link community-generated digital content (CGDC). 

The OHOS project brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and 黑料网吃瓜爆料, collaborating with The National Archives and leading UK heritage organisations. Their mission to dissolve barriers preventing the discovery and integration of diverse community-generated digital content addresses the risk of CGDC being lost or isolated. 

At the OHOS R&D Showcase stand Post-Doctoral Research Associate Hanna Schmueck demonstrated interactive visualisations of the project's innovative approach to archiving community narratives. 

A conference highlight was the presentation by Professor Lorna Hughes (University of Glasgow), Professor Hannah Barker (University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料), and Professor Goran Nenadic (University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料) on 27 November. Their session explored the project's diverse outputs, showcasing how sophisticated automated tools can make previously hidden community stories discoverable and connected, as well as discussing the ethics and challenges of working with community-generated archival materials. 

The OHOS project aims to change our understanding of historical archives by developing cutting-edge tools and AI methods. By creating meaningful links across diverse collections, the project will not only preserve but also reimagine community-generated content, ensuring these vital narratives survive and thrive for future generations. 

Further information about the , , and can be found on the OHOS website. 

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is an annual event that celebrates and empowers entrepreneurs worldwide. The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre offered events throughout the week, catering to individuals at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey, from newcomers to those ready to scale their ideas. The events drew 263 students and delivered over 32 hours of programming.

The week began with the inspiring Startup Spotlight with Dr. Mehdi Boutagouga Boudjadja, the visionary Founder of Metofico. He generously shared deep, invaluable insights from his entrepreneurial journey from a PhD student to a Venture Further Awards winner, captivating the audience with stories of challenges he overcame.

Throughout the week, participants had access to a comprehensive series of professional development workshops and learning opportunities:

馃挕 A strategic AI Marketing masterclass conducted by Peter Dickinson, focusing on advanced methodologies for business development

馃幆 An executive Personal Branding 101 workshop facilitated by Jessica Lewis-Tatton, designed to enhance participants' professional presence

馃帳 The Ready, Set, Pitch! competition, providing emerging entrepreneurs with a platform to present their business ideas

馃摎 An essential 'Introduction to Starting a Business' seminar by Jessica Lewis-Tatton delivering strategic business fundamentals

馃 An insightful Neurodivergence & Entrepreneurship session facilitated by Matilda Page and Dr. Rob Martin, examining diverse entrepreneurial perspectives

The week concluded with the inaugural Startup Weekend, a three-day intensive program where 140 participants collaborated to develop their business concepts into viable ventures. The level of innovation and professional dedication demonstrated was exemplary.

The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre extends its gratitude to the speakers, mentors, and participants who contributed to the success of #GEW2024. The professional excellence and collaborative approach exhibited throughout the event reinforces 黑料网吃瓜爆料's status as a premier destination for entrepreneurship and innovation.

MEC looks forward to seeing the exciting ventures and connections that emerge from this incredible week.

Events took place on campus at the Martin Harris Centre, including an in-conversation with former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, an evening with award-winning cook and food writer Meera Sodha, and a very special appearance by poet Jackie Kay who read from her latest collection. 

Over at Central Library, Scottish author Andrew O鈥橦agan joined us to discuss his latest novel Caledonian Road, and legendary music producer Joe Boyd celebrated his engrossing new book And the Roots of Rhythm Remain: A Journey through Global Music. 

Foreign correspondent Lindsay Hilsum joined Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 director John McAuliffe to share some of her favourite poems and memories from her decades-long career, and Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Powers went on to bookend the Festival with his recent event on 8 November in support of his new novel. 

HOME was host to David Peace, discussing his gripping new novel Munich, and to George Monbiot鈥檚 event, hosted by Professor of New Writing Jeanette Winterson, in support of his passionately argued new book, The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism (& How It Came to Control Your Life). 

Prolific designer Thomas Heatherwick joined Ella P. Wakatama at Contact to talk about his book Humanise: A Maker鈥檚 Guide to Building Our World and putting the human emotion at the heart of building design. At John Rylands Research Institute and Library, former National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke ran a highly anticipated poetry workshop, then went on to deliver the annual Rylands Poetry Reading to a sold-out crowd. 

Festival attendees at the Royal Northern College of Music enjoyed an audience with bestselling global sensation and Yellowface author Rebecca F. Kuang, hosted by broadcaster, producer and Chair of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 City of Literature Katie Popperwell. 

For more information about the festival, visit the .

黑料网吃瓜爆料 is delighted to announce a new collaboration with English National Opera, as they announce the first wave of plans for a major new partnership between the company and the city-region of Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 for the next three years, enabling ENO to be firmly established within Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 by 2029.  

The ENO Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 partnership, which includes projects across the city-region, covers every aspect of opera production and celebrates new possibilities for the artform. This announcement represents the beginning of longer-term strategic partnerships with venues and organisations across Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料. 

It will include major contemporary works, new work development in opera, presenting ENO signature classics, interdisciplinary experimentations, creating operatic experiences by, with and for communities, and developing the opera makers of today and tomorrow.

The first wave of projects and partnerships announced, include collaborative projects with 黑料网吃瓜爆料, Factory International, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, The Lowry, The Bridgewater Hall, Walk the Plank, Royal Northern College of Music, and The Hall茅.

黑料网吃瓜爆料 and ENO will work together on Tuning Into Opera. This invites the people of Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 to explore the opportunities for the artform, engage with new communities and discuss what it means to have an opera company based in the city-region. 

We will bring a range of perspectives together, including artists, local communities, researchers and the wider sector to discuss how the artform can and must continue to grow. The first of these events will take place at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 International Festival at Aviva Studios in July 2025.  

Professor John McAuliffe, Director of Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 said: 鈥�黑料网吃瓜爆料 is delighted to be working in partnership with colleagues at ENO, as part of their move to the city-region. Together, we are planning a shared programme of work, that will look at opera as part of Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料's cultural landscape, listening for the sound of new collaboration and creating more opportunities for our students, staff, artists and research in creative health across the music sector.鈥�

Jenny Mollica, Chief Executive of English National Opera, said: 鈥淭he projects we are announcing today mark the first wave of our developing partnership with Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料, which will be fully implemented by 2029. Working together over the last year, we could not be more clear that Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 is the right place to put down roots, a place where we can develop, expand and innovate. Where, building on the region鈥檚 legendary reputation as the heart of music making in this country, we can make a difference to audiences and communities, help invest in the next generation of talent and break new ground in the future of the artform 鈥� locally, nationally and internationally.鈥�

ENO鈥檚 Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 partnerships and programme will continue to develop alongside the continuation of annual seasons at the London Coliseum, and ENO鈥檚 nationwide education and health programmes.

Further information:

• Visit the .

This November, Bob Dylan performed the final concerts of his at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The tour picked up where Dylan left off just before the COVID pandemic 鈥� . But now at the age of 83, the concerts might well be Dylan鈥檚 last. 

The Rough and Rowdy Ways tour was billed as running from 2021 to 2024, but at the time of publication, there seem to be no future tour dates on the horizon. As Dylan himself wondered on his most recent album:  

Dylan has diced with death more than once 鈥� think of his infamous , or his serious 鈥� and death has preoccupied his songs increasingly in recent years. Throughout this tour, Dylan鈥檚 thoughts have been heavily focused on his own mortality and his own legacy. 

If the Albert Hall concerts this year are to be his last on the road, then it鈥檚 a fitting venue at which to bow out, having first played it nearly 60 years ago. Back then, Dylan was a restless, hungry artist, reinventing his sound, his image, his voice with every album 鈥� sometimes, within months of release.

Between 1962 and 1966, Dylan went from being a Midwest folk singer to the , via , rewriting the popular music songbook as he went. 

With each successive regeneration, he seemed determined not only to redefine rock and popular music, but to alienate his audience . He was an artist in search of answers, who didn鈥檛 give those in his wake time to catch their breath. Sixty years on, and now well into his ninth decade, things haven鈥檛 changed.

His own version 

Dylan鈥檚 final night at the Albert Hall was a summation of how he remains a defiant artist still forging new ideas. The performance contained highlights from his entire career. Eight of the 17 songs were written and released before the 1990s, while everything else was from the 2020 album after which the tour is named. But each song was radically reinvented, reworked to Dylan鈥檚 ever-changing vision, with some of the songs even being rearranged during his three-day residency at the Albert Hall.

Take (2020), Dylan鈥檚 late masterpiece about the process of creation. In the song, the narrator 鈥� a modern-day Prometheus, maybe even Dylan himself 鈥� tells of his efforts to construct his vision from 鈥渓imbs and livers and brains and hearts鈥�.

The song鈥檚 arrangement at the start of the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour was as a brooding, Tex-Mex noir. But by the tour鈥檚 end, Dylan had stripped his ode to Mary Shelley鈥檚 Frankenstein to its essentials, until all that was left by the final Royal Albert Hall concert was Dylan鈥檚 voice. 

He rapped the lyrics, accompanied by his own sparse piano backing and the occasional guitar flourish. It was a performance that evoked similarities to Dylan鈥檚 rapid-style solo delivery of songs like (1965) on the same stage in the 1960s. 

My Own Version of You is a song in which Dylan reflects on his own artistic and creative processes. And in its radical and stark new arrangement in this final concert, Dylan was returning to how he started: as an artist whose main tools have always been . It鈥檚 the reason he was awarded the in 2016, after all.

It鈥檚 perhaps unsurprising then that the entire concert was a reflection on the process of creation. Dylan鈥檚 process is to reshape, disassemble, reassemble and strip back. While the process is undoubtedly frustrating for some in the audience, as they struggle to guess what song Dylan is performing, it is also exhilarating to watch an artist reinventing himself and his songs in real time. 

They become assemblages of the old and the new, the found and the borrowed. (1971) is no longer an elegiac sing-along song, but instead a reggae-influenced tune via Dylan鈥檚 own down-and-dirty blues of the Time Out of Mind album (1997), with a bit of his born-again gospel thrown in for good measure.

(1968) is no longer Dylan鈥檚 homage to Jimi Hendrix鈥檚 career-defining cover version, but a fable of hell trapped on a loop from which the narrator seeks escape, with echoes of (1990). And (1981) becomes a melancholic requiem by an old man with no regrets, determined to rage against time. It conjures memories of Dylan鈥檚 version of , performed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013. 

If this was to be Dylan鈥檚 last ever live performance, then what does it say about him and his place in music history? Well, that he remains as vital an artist as he was in the 1960s, one who continues to reinvent himself, who continues to chase that restless, hungry feeling and who doesn鈥檛 look back, but constantly forward. 

Dylan would leave behind an expansive body of work 鈥� both studio albums and live recordings 鈥� for scholars, critics and audiences alike to . And in that rediscovery, they will learn much about what it means to be an artist.

, Senior Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries, University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. .

The welcomes a world premiere on Friday,13 December as De Profundis, a newly crafted musical piece from , takes centre stage. 

A story of despair, tragedy and protest, De Profundis is Latin for 鈥楩rom the Depths鈥�. The piece reflects on the impact of tyranny, particularly for those who stand up to tyrannical regimes - as such, the piece is dedicated to Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny who died in prison in February.

Switching between time periods, the piece uses multiple languages - Latin, German, Russian and English. It will be performed by the Quatuor Danel string quartet, with Opera North鈥檚 Simon Grange 鈥� Philips鈥檚 son - as bass voice, who is cast as an unnamed journalist.

鈥楾yranny through the ages鈥� is a focus, with the piece featuring quotes from Russian poet Anna Akhmatova, who suffered under Stalin鈥檚 regime. 

It then moves back to 523AD, to the Roman Empire and the story of Boethius who fell foul of the Roman Court, being imprisoned and eventually executed the following year. De Profundis quotes from his The Consolation of Philosophy, which he wrote in prison. The piece also uses quotes from Todesfuge by poet and Holocaust survivor Paul Celan.

A conversation then took place between Philip and the quartet鈥檚 first violinist, Marc Danel, who enthusiastically embraced the idea of a work for bass voice and quartet. This ignited a creative journey lasting nearly three years.

For the text, Philip turned to writer Kim Ballard, who he has worked with previously. It was Kim who created the main premise for the piece following numerous conversations with Philip. By October 2023 the text was ready, and over the following year Philip wrote the music.

Friday, 13 December 2024 will be the first performance of the piece. Tickets are available .

These African objects, generally seized within a colonial context and often with violence, are usually held in stores concealed from public view. Herein lies the challenge - how to engage with and exhibit African history, yet in ways that are honest, respectful and true to the knowledge and meanings of people鈥檚 lived experiences. 

The event was designed to support 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Museum鈥檚 aims to change its approach to narrating the past, and to reinforce how important local communities are to these developing understandings and approaches to decolonisation.

It was particularly fitting this workshop was held in 黑料网吃瓜爆料, next door to the site of the 1945 Pan African Congress, widely celebrated as a turning point in the journey of African nations to freedom from colonial powers. This poignant connection was pointed out by one attendee while discussing the considerable challenge ahead for a museum committed to decolonising their exhibitions.

With input from people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, the objects literally came to life as people shared feelings, ritual practices and stories.

For many objects, their meanings emerge through experiences or knowledge about their use, hence the terminology of 鈥榣iving cultures鈥�. Sometimes recounting these stories and uses drew excitement and laughter but other reflections warranted a serious tone and quiet contemplation.

An object described simply as 鈥渁 wooden cup鈥� by its label was so much more. We learnt of the vessel鈥檚 potential use for divination purposes, in meaningful rituals for special blessings and protective reasons. What looked at first glance like a decorative pattern etched onto its surface likely symbolised a particular community, and in this case the gift of such an object could symbolise friendship or support between communities. 

The 鈥渨ooden cup鈥� represents so many things but reduced to this simple label 鈥渢he knowledge is dead鈥� as one participant so eloquently remarked.

Unsettling memories and historical facts were recounted. One example being the instruction to stop using particular objects - threats by Christian missionaries that heaven wouldn鈥檛 be an option if populations continued with African practices and customs: 鈥渘ow we are reclaiming them鈥� said one woman. 

And that鈥檚 what this workshop was all about. Using an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to help the Museum discover the values and meanings these objects have for African diaspora. This essentially is at the heart of the Museum鈥檚 decolonisation methodology, hence the importance of this collaboration to . Centring those histories and narratives that are often omitted or ignored allows the return of the 鈥渓iving鈥� to these objects encouraging those who know to reclaim and narrate their stories.

What鈥檚 next? 

We hope to continue with this collaboration between methods@manchester, 黑料网吃瓜爆料, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Museum and the African diaspora community groups who very generously shared their stories during the workshop.

Filmmaker, Dr Sophie Everest is currently leading with the development of a co-produced film featuring the workshop, the stories and the museum鈥檚 attempts to decolonise its exhibits, and we hope to release a digital mini-exhibition and Dr Njabulo Chipangura will appear on an episode of , the methods@manchester podcast.

To keep up-to-date with methods@manchester activities and events please or connect with us via our . 

This year was themed around tackling the extremes of our world, with approximately 30,000 visitors having the opportunity to get hands-on with some of science's most cutting-edge developments through multi-sensory experiences, immersive events and hands-on family fun.

A series of interactive events were held throughout the 10 days of the festival. It was in the fun-filled at the Museum of Science and industry where visitors were able to look at the extremes of human performance and our planet.

Colleagues from the NOVARS Research Centre at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 showcased a series of hand-on video game activities that emphasise the positive impact we can all have on the planet.

Professor Ricardo Climent, NOVARS Researcher, said:

The 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Science Festival is a highlight of the city's cultural calendar and the team are proud to be part of one of the most popular science festivals in the UK.

Discover more about the research on the .

John McAuliffe, Professor of Poetry and Director of , said:

Karen Wang, Deputy Director, , said:

As part of the exchange, artists from 黑料网吃瓜爆料 will visit Nanjing in March 2025. Outputs will include a bilingual illustrated poetry collection and a play, ensuring representation from under-represented groups, including female artists.

The creative collaborations will explore the ecological theme of Real Contentment, inspired by 鈥榮 poetry. Additionally, a schools engagement programme will involve 300 young people, fostering inter-cultural understanding and addressing the climate emergency through creative expression. The work created by the artist exchange and schools programme will be shared at the Festival of Libraries in June 2025 when 黑料网吃瓜爆料 hosts the artists from Nanjing.

Partners in the programme also include and . 

The British Council鈥檚 International Collaboration Grants are designed to support UK and overseas organisations to collaborate on international arts projects. 

The is based on research from the Placeholders project, which emerged out of a collaboration between Bruntwood Group Ltd. and 黑料网吃瓜爆料.

Conducted from April to November 2022, the project engaged over 100 young people in the Stretford area, and partnered with more than 50 community organisations. 

The initiative aimed to amplify the voices of under-represented groups, particularly young women, in the town centre's development planning.

During the project the team focussed on designing an inclusive process for engaging young people in place-making in Stretford and produced this report co-written by Carl Fraser, Professor Abigail Gilmore, Dr Elena Brearley and Dr Ailbhe Treacy.

The report offers recommendations for future participatory processes in urban development, and highlights the need to carry out participatory engagement with young people earlier in the process of regeneration projects. 

Finally, the report recommends a continuous point of contact within the stakeholder organisation to ensure continuous engagement with young people in Stretford, both during the time of participation to maintain ongoing dialogue.

For more information, contact Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料.

The report is also available to .

Being Here is the first major solo exhibition from artist Barbara Walker. Charting the engagement with figuration and portraiture since the 1990s, the exhibition opened at the Whitworth Art Gallery in October 2024. 

Alice Correia, our Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary Art History, has contributed an essay to the catalogue accompanying the exhibition, in which she positions Walker鈥檚 work with narratives of British art in the 1990s. 

Alice addresses the ways in which Walker and other artists of colour were often overlooked and excluded from the hype of 1990s BritArt. Correia discusses how Walker鈥檚 work is driven by extensive research, during which the artist excavates and engages with the histories of Black representation in art history and the contemporary news media.

Alice took a group of First Year Art History students to the Whitworth to consider Walker鈥檚 use of drawing as a method for contesting racist stereotyping, and the group was fortunate to have a special introduction to Walker鈥檚 work by the exhibition鈥檚 curator Hannah Vollum, in the Whitworth鈥檚 Study Centre.

Edward Wouk, Head of Art History and Cultural Practices (AHCP) said:

Further information

Barbara Walker was born in Birmingham, England, in 1964. She studied at the University of Central England, Birmingham, and completed post-graduate studies at Wolverhampton University. Her work is informed by the social, political and cultural realities that affect her life and the lives of those around her. 

Growing up in Birmingham, her experiences have directly shaped a practice concerned with issues of class and power, gender, race, representation and belonging. Her figurative drawings and paintings tell contemporary stories hinged on historical circumstances, making them universally understood and reflecting a human perspective on the state of affairs in her native Britain and elsewhere. 

In 2023 Walker was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts and shortlisted for the Turner Prize.

Walker's show at the Whitworth is her first major retrospective exhibition in the UK. 

As part of the Faculty of Humanities鈥� Outstanding Staff Awards for Teaching, Learning, and Student Experience, this recognition highlights programmes that have not only met but exceeded students' expectations, thanks to inspiring, motivating, and innovative teaching teams. 

Launched in September 2023, the MA Library and Archive Studies has already made a significant impact by offering a curriculum that blends academic excellence with practical insights into the evolving field of library and archive management. 

Student feedback played a crucial role in this recognition, with nominations highlighting the programme's commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment, encouraging students to push their boundaries, and promoting critical thinking. 

Speaking ahead of the award, Programme Director Benjamin Wiggins expressed his gratitude, saying:

Kenneth Atuma, another academic actively contributing to the programme鈥檚 development, also said:

The Faculty awards panel reviewed numerous student nominations across various categories, and the programme鈥檚 recognition stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of the teaching staff, who have consistently delivered a high-quality educational experience.

The official awards event will take place on Wednesday, 6 November 2024, at Christie鈥檚 Bistro, where this outstanding achievement will be formally celebrated.

, a volume created between colleagues at the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and the University of Liverpool, has been unveiled as a contender for the Association of Dress Historians Book of the Year Award. 

The volume is a decentred study of how textiles shaped, disrupted, and transformed identities in the age of the first globalisation.

The research and work in the shortlisted book have been undertaken by (Professor of Early Modern History and Deputy Director and Scientific Lead of the John Rylands Research Institute, University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料) and (Derby Fellow in Historical Legacies of Empire) from the University of Liverpool鈥檚 archaeology and history departments, who brought together researchers from a plethora of disciplines. 

Professor Han脽 said: 鈥淭he diversity of topics, disciplines, geographies, and contributors in these 16 chapters is so exciting! We bring together world-leading anthropologists, archaeologists, art historians, conservators, curators, historians, scientists, and weavers, establishing cutting-edge conversations across disciplines to examine how textiles created and challenged experiences of subjectivity, relatedness, and dis/location that transformed social fabrics around the early modern globe. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e really proud to be named on the shortlist for this year鈥檚 Book of the Year award, particularly because we are the only pre-modern study and the only edited volume to feature in the shortlisted works. It鈥檚 a real honour!鈥� 

The project has received funding from various streams and Professor Han脽 added: 鈥淎ll of our funding contributors and supporters are integral to the work we have been able to conduct. From the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, we were awarded funds from the Research Development and Support Fund. We were also able to secure funding from The Leverhulme Trust, Churchill College Cambridge and St. John鈥檚 College Cambridge.鈥� 

The volume has received stellar praise, among others, by Indian literary critic Homi K. Bhabha (Harvard University): 鈥淭his outstanding volume provides us with the warp and woof of historical exchange and cultural co-existence. These enthralling essays engage with material practices of weaving across genres and geographies, displaying the travelling world of textiles as they record the shifting global communities of a 鈥榳oven imaginary.鈥� Reading In-Between Textiles, brought to life the migratory memory of my mother鈥檚 Parsi garas: a traditional sari, commissioned in Bombay from Chinese sailors who offered her a range of silks and motifs, and brought her the sari, months later, when they docked again in Bombay harbour. Set out on this wondrous voyage of the woven world.鈥�

The erhu (Chinese fiddle)

The first talk will focus on the historical development of the erhu. We will explore how the instrument is made and learn about its diverse repertoire since the early 20th century.

Guest: Xinjie Yang (MA Conducting, RNCM)

Date & time: 6-7pm on 30 October
Venue: 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Central Library

The violin

The second talk is on the violin. It examines the transmission of violin culture from Europe to China. We will discuss how the violin influenced Chinese musical development and explore various compositions written over the last century.

Guest: Ziluo Huang (PhD Musicology student, University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料)

Date & time: 6-7pm on 20 November
Venue: 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Central Library

The guzheng

The last instrument in the series is the guzheng. The talk will introduce composing for the guzheng. It will discuss how our guest reimagined the instrument鈥檚 musical tradition by integrating Chinese philosophies found in painting and ancient literature.

Guest: Li Yang (MA Performance Studies student, University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料)

Date & time: 6-7pm on 11 December
Venue: 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Central Library

Sign up to the to find out about upcoming events.

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This role allowed me to apply my academic knowledge in a practical setting, enhancing my skills and preparing me for a dynamic career in the arts and cultural sector. I am enthusiastic about leveraging my experience and skills to foster innovation and inclusivity in the creative field.

The primary project I worked on was the , an event funded by Arts Council England (ACE) celebrating 黑料网吃瓜爆料's rich literary heritage and extensive local library network. My responsibilities included event planning and coordination, audience development, and communication strategy, and I participated in Zoom meetings with key stakeholders to finalize event details.

Implementing audience development strategies was crucial, involving tailored communication plans and outreach efforts to engage specific demographics. Crafting engaging news stories and social media posts using platforms like Hootsuite and Canva was also a key part of my role, ensuring content resonated with the target audience.

As part of the event, I helped to establish detailed communication planning and implementing audience growth strategies for four key seminars in the Festival of Libraries schedule. Each session was carefully crafted to appeal to a wide variety of age groups and interests, providing participants with a rich and immersive experience suited to their preferences and expectations. I hoped that by implementing these ideas, we would not only broaden the festival's reach, but also deepen engagement and foster long-term relationships with our audience.

To illustrate, take the "Tasting Children鈥檚 Literature 鈥� An Edible Readathon" workshop, for instance, which was designed to captivate young children up to the age of 8, along with their parents, caregivers, and educators. Employing audience development strategies, we orchestrated targeted social media plans and community outreach endeavors to ensure broad participation and robust engagement.

This is also one of the highlights of my placement. This event was a resounding success and a truly delightful experience. The workshop's innovative approach combined the joys of reading with sensory play, allowing children to explore literature through interactive and edible elements. 

Promotional materials emphasized the educational benefits and fun nature of the event, which helped in drawing a significant number of participants. The event featured a variety of activities where children could taste food items inspired by their favourite storybooks, making the experience both memorable and educational. 

The atmosphere was filled with excitement and laughter as children immersed themselves in the stories, transforming the act of reading into a multi-sensory adventure.

The success of the "Tasting Children鈥檚 Literature 鈥� An Edible Readathon" workshop not only demonstrated the power of creative engagement in fostering a love for reading among children but also highlighted the importance of community involvement in cultural events. It was incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact of our efforts on the participants, reinforcing the value of inclusive and accessible cultural programming.

Final-year History and American Studies student Anya Carr was named winner of the British Association for American Studies undergraduate essay award, and Xavi Goodall, a third-year student currently studying at Rutgers University in New Jersey, received an honourable mention in the same competition. Both students were honoured as part of the BAAS award ceremony, which took place in June this year.

Anya鈥檚 essay offered a sparkling account of the African American actor, singer, and activist Paul Robeson鈥檚 1949 visit to 黑料网吃瓜爆料. The project used Robeson鈥檚 brief trip to lens the local and global agendas that came together in this moment, as civil rights, decolonization, and the Cold War intermingled, and as various groups competed around Moss Side, Chorlton-on-Medlock, and Belle Vue to win Robeson鈥檚 support. The project argued that we should think of the city of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 as akin to 鈥榯he global activist hubs of London, Paris, and Harlem鈥� that other scholars have written about, and it made an innovative attempt to 鈥榞round the global in the local, and to offer a new perspective on the complex interplay between the Red, white, and Black Atlantics.鈥� A short blog post that Anya wrote describing the research .

The BAAS judges 鈥渨ere incredibly impressed by this well-argued essay鈥� which 鈥渟ituated Robeson within intersecting contexts鈥� and which 鈥渉ighlighted the complexities of post-war organising and solidarity.鈥� Anya鈥檚 work drew extensively on the University鈥檚 US newspaper holdings, as well as materials at the , the People鈥檚 History Museum archive, and the Working Class Movement Library and Archive, in Salford.

Xavi Goodall鈥檚 essay looked at references to American writer Harriet Beecher Stowe鈥檚 novel Uncle Tom鈥檚 Cabin (1851-52) in The Century Magazine, America鈥檚 most popular periodical in the late nineteenth century. Xavi uncovered a handful of references to Stowe鈥檚 novel between the 1880s and late 1890s, and used these to show that, while Stowe鈥檚 novel exerted a lasting influence on American opinions about slavery, The Century Magazine seldom discussed the literary merits of Stowe鈥檚 work or offered a neutral account of her politics. As Xavi argued, 鈥楿ncle Tom鈥檚 Cabin鈥檚 appearances in The Century were defined more by the magazine鈥檚 context than the book鈥檚 contents.鈥� The judges described the piece as 鈥渁 beautifully written and accomplished essay,鈥� and thought Xavi鈥檚 鈥渃areful and detailed analysis of The Century magazine鈥檚 complex engagement with Stowe was very strong.鈥�

Both students鈥� essays were developed and written within second-year American Studies modules. Xavi鈥檚 work on Stowe began in Dr. Gordon Fraser鈥檚 AMER22662 Uncle Tom鈥檚 Cabin as Global Media Event, while Anya鈥檚 study on Robeson was written in Dr. Andrew Fearnley鈥檚 AMER20022 US History Long Essay module. Each project made use of the printed and electronic resources held by the University, and the physical archives available around the city of 黑料网吃瓜爆料.

The day commenced with a panel discussion on 鈥淎rchaeotecture鈥� chaired by Professor Teresa Anderson, with Professor Clive Ruggles and Professor Bob Cwyinski, to explore the intersection of ancient cosmologies and modern scientific discoveries. The panel discussed how Garner's fiction has bridged dialogues between disciplines such as archaeology and physics, offering imaginative continuities that enrich our understanding of the universe. The discussions were a testament to Garner鈥檚 ability to weave complex, interdisciplinary ideas into his narratives, making his work a subject of academic interest and admiration.

One of the highlights of the day was "A Walk in Time" with archaeologist Melanie Giles. Participants were taken on a journey through the Jodrell Bank site, where Giles reflected on the objects and ideas that have inspired Garner鈥檚 writing. The walk included hands-on experiences with archaeological artefacts and replicas, bringing to life themes of landscape lore, craft skills, and protective charms that are prevalent in Garner's novels.

Following the walk attendees were invited to a film screening of To The Round Meadow: Alan Garner & Jodrell Bank by Al Kenny. The film featured an intimate conversation between Alan Garner and his daughter, Elizabeth Garner, discussing his connection to the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank. This conversation delved into Garner's personal memories and reflections on the site, highlighting how it has influenced his writing and enriched his imaginative landscapes.

The day continued with the panel discussion "Archaeology & the Imagination of Place" chaired by Melanie Giles. The panel, Tim Campbell-Green, Richard Morris, and Rose Ferraby, explored how Garner鈥檚 work, deeply rooted in the past, has woven archaeological knowledge, discoveries, and folklore into his narratives. Melanie Giles and Rose Ferraby discussed how their professional practices have been influenced and enriched by Garner鈥檚 storytelling and explorations of histories in the Cheshire landscape.

The final panel, "A Place Across Time" chaired by , featured Elizabeth Garner and medieval scholar David Matthews. This discussion centred on the intersections of historical and mythological time within imaginative fictions, poetry, and actual landscapes, drawing on Alan Garner鈥檚 vivid depictions of place across time in his works.

In the evening our Solstice celebrations culminated with a reading and discussion of Sarah Perry鈥檚 latest novel, Enlightenment. Set in a small town in Essex, the novel intricately weaves a narrative of entangled relationships and emotional turmoil, exploring the conflict between faith and fact. Perry, renowned for her award-winning works such as The Essex Serpent, explored the novel's themes with Chair Teresa Anderson, and wowed guests with her seamless integration of astronomical principles into the storytelling.

鈥� the University鈥檚 creativity-championing research platform 鈥� hosted five workshop sessions in partnership with the , , and .

鈥榃riting for Wellbeing鈥� took place at Tameside, Rochdale and Bury Libraries on 13 - 15 June. Facilitators Rebecca Hurst, Tessa Harris and John McAuliffe worked with participants to explore the benefits of creative writing on personal wellbeing. 

One attendee commented:

鈥楾asting Children鈥檚 Literature 鈥� An Edible Readathon鈥� returned on Friday, 14 June with two sessions: a private workshop for Reception children at St. Andrew鈥檚 C of E Primary School Levenshulme, held at Arcadia Library, and a public session at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Central Library. Children enjoyed a storytime session with play food, colouring activities, and fruits to eat.

The Linguistic Diversity Collective held two well-attended workshops at The Portico Library on 12 and 14 June. The first, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 in a word and what鈥檚 in a dictionary?鈥� saw attendees take part in activities looking at how dictionaries define words and phrases. 

鈥楤lackout the jargon鈥� then invited participants to engage with scientific literature in a unique way through blackout poetry. 

Supported by , the Festival of Libraries 2024 was a testament to 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 enduring commitment to literacy, learning, and inclusivity. 

Find out more about the Festival of Libraries .

Senior Lecturer Dr Amanda McCordkindale spoke with careers guidance podcast Future You about life and study at HCRI, reflecting on the benefits and challenges of studying difficult global issues.

The latest Future You podcast delves into the history of the University鈥檚 and looks at the day-to-day life of students on our courses.

Listen to on Spotify.

In this podcast, Dr Amanda Mccorkindale describes the rationale behind HCRI鈥檚 foundation 鈥� to apply critical refection to the real-world practices of humanitarian response and improve the outcomes of those affected by natural and man-made disasters and emergencies.

Since its founding in 2008, HCRI has moved from being a strictly research-focused institute to providing a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD courses, for those working as or aspiring to become humanitarian practitioners. This includes our unique Leadership Education Academic Partnership (LEAP) online course, which provides critical and theoretically-informed education to those working for humanitarian NGOs.

In the , Dr Mccorkindale discusses the mental health challenges of studying heavy topics, such as conflict, genocide and disasters, but also the measures HCRI takes to support its students, including trigger warnings, peer mentoring programmes, reflection on ethical positionality, and access to a wide variety of support services at University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料.

The podcast also covers the wide range of career outcomes for those studying at HCRI and the multidisciplinary nature of our courses and student cohorts.

The Future You podcast is published by Prospects, an organisation that supports graduates in finding employment and educational opportunities. You can find out more information on the website.

The "Chinese Bridge" International University Student Chinese Competition is an international competition organized by the Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of China aiming to strengthen academic and people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries through language and culture.

In this year's competition, a total of 24 contestants participated in the semi-finals, with 11 contestants making it to the final. Eight finalists took part in the Business Innovation Competition.

Childimma Daisy Anyakora has been studying Chinese since 2019 and shares her learning experience via the popular Chinese social media channel Little Red Book. Julia, who successfully represented 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Confucius Institute at the Chinese Bridge competition in 2021, is currently in her fourth year at UoM. 

They follow in the footsteps of UoM medical student, William Hart, who successfully taught himself Chinese over lockdown and won the Grand Prize at the finals of the 2022 Chinese Bridge competition.

Want to improve your Chinese so you can compete next year? Check out our .

I am a Master鈥檚 student in Creative and Cultural Industries at 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 . My keen interest in creative production and event management is what led me to choosing Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 for my placement module. 

The placement option stated that the placement student would have the opportunity to support the curation, planning and delivery of the University鈥檚 Bicentenary Festival, as well as supporting Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 activity and engagement events. 

Since I was looking for specific project management experience, I knew that Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 was the best place to be, especially as they were so well-connected with the wider cultural and creative community of 黑料网吃瓜爆料.

My placement began in January and would last until the end of May, every Wednesday for 20 weeks (with a short break over Easter). After completing the health and safety induction, I was asked to familiarise myself with the projects I would be assisting on. 

This included our Bicentenary festival programme for Friday, 7 June, the Diagrams collection (a collection of diagrams relating to the university), and a cross-platform art installation. With this information, I had to research what type of structure we could use for the art installation, producing a document with price, material, size, sustainability, and other relevant information.

Then, in the afternoon, I helped install a new art installation in the glass corridor in the Samuel Alexander building. This mix of activity represents my days at the placement quite well; I would work on the main projects, as well as the organisations many other engagement events such as research caf茅s, talks, panels, and installations. 

This allowed me to grow my understanding of Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 as a research platform, but even more generally of what a creative and cultural organisation may look like. Every week was a different experience and I never felt idle in my time. 

One such event was the , focusing on women of colour, partnering with (MACFest). It was an afternoon event held in the Whitworth Gallery, Grand Hall, with performances, food, and a panel discussion on inequalities in women鈥檚 health. I helped to set up the event, assisting MACFest, and offering event support throughout the event. 

This was such a highlight of my placement as I got to meet such a variety of people, and really enjoyed the performances and the panel talk. I understood first-hand how Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 connects with other creative organisations in 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and supports researchers, in both networking and their projects.

My main work with the Universally 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Festival involved planning, programming, and marketing. Over weeks, the event day was built up through meetings, emails, and communications with relevant partners to perfect tech, timings, and other specifics for each event. I learnt how to plan and execute a marketing and event communications campaign and design the graphics for social media. 

Getting down to the minute details was so important for this process and I learnt that planning each step carefully would lead to a more efficient and low-risk event day. It was a privilege to be able to help organise Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 events at the Universally 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Festival, and I am looking forward to seeing them become reality!

I would like to thank the convenor of the placement course, , as well as Anne-Marie Nugnes and the rest of the Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 team, and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, for making this placement possible. It has been the highlight of my Master鈥檚 course and I look forward to taking the skills I have gained into my future career.

This series of events aimed to build a CreaTech network to provide support, funding and connections to help grow this sector. These events echoed the aspirations of the Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 city region to develop the CreaTech sector and to facilitate partnerships between the university and the wider GM Business Community.

We are pleased to announce that is now live, featuring photos and outputs of the breakout sessions. We are also pleased to have worked with to produce a suite of after movies showcasing People's experiences at the events and highlighting the importance of networking across the emerging CreaTech sector. Watch the full videos .

Our first event invited individuals interested and working in the gaming/animation/VR/AR industry within Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 to network with each other and collaborate. We asked them to uncover the overall theme of 鈥淗ow Do We Make 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Great?鈥� within breakout groups. See what attendees had to say about CreaTech innovation and the importance of networking across the sector.

 

In our second event 鈥楧igital Artisans鈥� we bridged the gap between tradition and innovation through looking at how artisanal craft can harness Createch This event was held at a fitting setting to delve into how independent artists can come together to chart a path towards a future where tradition and innovation converge, propelling 黑料网吃瓜爆料's artisan arts and crafts sector to new heights of success.

Our next event focused on CreaTech innovation in the Audio and Sound sector. Held in the entrepreneurial atmosphere of , the event brought together enthusiastic, experts, and visionaries from diverse backgrounds, all united by their passion for the intersection of creativity, technology, and sound. See what attendees had to say about the importance of CreaTech in the sound industry.
 

Our next event focused on the fast-paced world of 鈥楥reative AI鈥� and took place at . This event brought together creatives who have an interest in digital technology and AI. Furthering the CreaTech ethos, the event connected inspired individuals who wanted to understand how to stay at the front of technological change and how their work practice has adapted to the advances in accessible AI.

The final instalment in the CreaTech Network Series surrounded the theme of Fashion, taking place in the iconic in Ancoats. Bringing together professionals and enthusiasts in the Fashion scene around 黑料网吃瓜爆料. We asked attendees about how they thought technology could change the landscape of the Fashion industry.

As our CreaTech Network events of March 2024 have drawn to a close, we reflect on the exciting potential all attendees have reflected through the CreaTech network and look forward to future collaborations. 

We have helped to pave the way for a strong network of Creatives in Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 ready to tackle the evolving CreaTech sector. We have also gained an understanding of the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 role in an increasingly digital and technology focused landscape.

From 12-16 June 2024, Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 will once again celebrate the Festival of Libraries 鈥� which promises a rich tapestry of vibrant events for all ages and interests.

Authors, poets, performers, artists and historians will share their love for libraries and literature across the region鈥檚 libraries. The Festival of Libraries programme is brimming with imagination and attendees can expect exhibitions, author talks, performances, installations, live music, workshops, and international collaborations. 

These free events highlight the diverse offerings of libraries, showcasing their role as service, learning and creativity hubs which are open to all.

is delighted to be offering a series of workshops for the Festival of Libraries celebrations, partnering with the , and .

All workshops are free to attend but booking is required due to limited spaces.

This session delves into the meanings of everyday words and idiomatic phrases, offering insights into how dictionaries define words and how language learners acquire vocabulary. Run by the . 

• Wednesday, 12 June 2024, 3pm - Portico Library

Facilitated by professional writers from the , these workshops explore the positive effects of creative writing on mental health and wellbeing. 

• Thursday, 13 June 2024, 6pm -  
• Friday, 14 June 2024, 1pm 鈥� Heywood Library
• Saturday, 15 June 2024 鈥� Ramsbottom Library

Participants will engage in blackout poetry, finding meaning in scientific texts by selecting certain words and redacting the rest to create literary and visual works of art. Run by the . 

• Friday, 14 June 2024, 3pm - Portico Library

An immersive experience and read-a-thon of classic and contemporary children鈥檚 literature aimed at young children aged 0-8. Run by the staff and students. 

• Sunday, 16 June 2024, 1pm - Central Library

An immersive audio experience allowing listeners to walk in the footsteps of those with the misunderstood condition of chronic cough. Run by the project. 

• Wednesday, 12 June 2024, 12pm, 2pm and 6pm 鈥� Longsight Library
• Thursday, 13 June 2024, 12pm and 2pm 鈥� Longsight Library

More information on the Festival of Libraries 2024, including the full programme, can be found on the website. 

In the evening novelist Sarah Perry will discuss her new novel 鈥楨nlightenment鈥� in an intimate setting, featuring a reading and a Q&A.

Date:  Friday, 21 June 2024, 10.30am 鈥� 5.30pm
Location: Jodrell Bank

The day begins with a variety of panel discussions, a walk of the Jodrell Bank site and a filmed conversation with Alan Garner exploring the themes of his literary work. Alan Garner鈥檚 writing is deeply rooted in the history and landscape of Alderley Edge, draws inspiration from the area's archaeology and the cosmic wonders observed at Jodrell Bank Observatory. 

In celebration of his 90th birthday, experts from archaeology, physics, and literature will convene at Jodrell Bank to discuss the impact of Garner's writing on their respective fields, as well as how the sciences have influenced the writer himself. Together, they will explore themes of time and place in his novels, celebrating his contribution to contemporary storytelling.

Purchase your ticket and optional lunch and transport from Oxford Road .

Date:  Friday, 21 June 2024, 6.30pm 鈥� 8pm
Location: Jodrell Bank

Later in the day, attendees can enjoy an evening with author Sarah Perry, featuring her latest novel, Enlightenment. Perry's book delves into questions of faith, physics, and human emotion against the backdrop of a small town in Essex. The newest story from award-winning novelist Sarah Perry weaves a web of entangled relationships and emotion, its characters trapped within the conflict between faith and fact. 

Traversing some of the biggest questions on an intimate and captivating level, Enlightenment will stay with you long after closing the final page.

The event offers a chance to hear Perry discuss her creative process, read excerpts from "Enlightenment," and participate in a Q&A session.

Purchase your ticket and optional dinner .

These events promise a thought-provoking exploration of literature and science, set against the backdrop of the Summer Solstice at Jodrell Bank. Tickets are available for both events, with a discounted rate available for the 鈥楢n Evening With Sarah Perry鈥� event if attending both events.

These events are part of Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 鈥楽olstice and Equinox series鈥�, a series of events which brings innovative creative artists to 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 four Cultural Institutions. 

Each of our unique cultural institutions 鈥� the Whitworth, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Museum and Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre 鈥� focus on building civic, national and international partnerships to advance the social, environmental and individual wellbeing of our communities.

Grammy award-winning jazz percussionist and Simon Industrial Fellow Carlos Maldonado recently ran workshops for year 6 classes in two local primary schools.

Pupils from Stanley Grove Primary Academy and Abraham Moss Community School had the opportunity to learn about the origins and traditions of jazz, including an introduction to jazz instruments and how to recognise styles and music from Latin America. The workshops also saw the children experience jazz first-hand, with a live performance from Carlos and the chance for pupils to perform and improvise using traditional instruments such as Maracas, Guido, Claves, Cowbell as well as different drums such as the Bongo drums and Caj贸n. 

The pupils asked great questions about Carlos鈥� awards, being a professional musician and his favourite instruments and percussion sounds. They described the workshop as 鈥楢mazing,鈥� 鈥楩un鈥� and 鈥楿nique,鈥� with teachers commenting on how well the session aligned with their music curriculum and how it engaged and inspired pupils who would typically not engage. 

Watch the video below to see highlights of Carlos鈥� visit to Abraham Moss Community School:

Carlos has also performed with 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 jazz ensemble. Watch the video here: