International Mother Language Day 2019 at various venues

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Poet Lemn Sissay.
Poet Lemn Sissay.

International Mother Language Day at Manchester Central Library, Manchester 21 February 2019 Entrance is free

Presented in partnership between Manchester City Council, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester as part of Manchester City of Literature, we’ll be celebrating this year’s International Mother Language Day through a number of exciting events taking place in various venues. With the event marked around the world annually on 21 February, in 2018 Manchester’s International Mother Language Day welcomed speakers from Jamaica to Japan; this year, activities include fun, family-friendly games, crafts and performances, plus panel discussion, workshops and a lively, interactive multilingual Mushaira – all are free.

Manchester-based independent publishing house Comma Press are running Manchester In Translation workshops at Z-arts; Manchester City Council’s Libraries Team are hosting a number of events, including at North City and Wythenshawe Forum libraries, and including the Mancunian Tongues: Why Language Diversity Matters For Manchester discussion with poet/author and Chancellor of The University of Manchester Lemn Sissay MBE, Manchester Museum Director Esme Ward and Councillor Luthfur Rahman at Central Library, and Manchester Writing School are putting on the Multi-language Mushaira poetry performance event at Longsight Library in the evening. Full details in the link below.

International Mother Language Day at Manchester Central Library, Manchester 21 February 2019 Entrance is free

Where to go near International Mother Language Day 2019 at various venues

St Peters Square Manchester
City Centre
St Peter’s Square

St Peter’s Square is a public space in Manchester – home to the city’s iconic library, town hall, Pankhurst statue, art gallery and famous Midland Hotel.

Manchester Art Gallery. Photo by Andrew Brooks
City Centre
Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery

The Charles Barry-designed, Grade I-listed Manchester Art Gallery is one of the city’s leading galleries and is back open for visitors once more.

Chinatown
Hotel
The Alan

This high-end city-centre restaurant has an excellent afternoon tea option that more than matches up to the superb main menu.

Salut Wines
Chinatown
Bar or Pub
Salut Wines

Salut wines pride themselves in offering “wider horizons beyond the safe choices.” With 42 wines by the glass and a regularly changing selection of bottles in their Enomatic wine preservation machines (or  “wine jukebox,” as they’re colloquially known), this is one of be best bars in Manchester for exploring new vintages.

Manchester
Restaurant
Friska

Latest branch of Friska, the independent healthy fast food chain.

Manchester
Restaurant
Don Giovanni

Traditional Italian restaurant, serving everything from pizza to steak. All this in a large modern venue with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Manchester Art Gallery Cafe

Summery bakes, seasonal salads and fresh light meals at Manchester Art Gallery’s in-house café, courtesy of highly-regarded Head Chef Matthew Taylor.

City Centre
Tourist Attraction
Manchester Town Hall

Re-opening in 2024, Manchester Town Hall is a monument to Victorian Manchester’s ambition, and one of the city’s most-loved landmarks.

City Centre
Tourist Attraction
Albert Square

A public square in the heart of Manchester which plays hosts to festivals and major events. Home to the Albert Memorial and statues of Bishop James Fraser, John Bright, Oliver Heywood and William Ewart Gladstone.

Contemporary Six, art gallery in Manchester
City Centre
Gallery
Contemporary Six

Contemporary Six is an independent commercial art gallery in Manchester city centre, set up by Alex Reuben in 2010.

What's on: Literature

Portrait of Dane Holt who is white with light brown short hair and wears a blue denim shirt
Literature
Carcanet online book launch: Father’s Father’s Father by Dane Holt

Please join us to celebrate the launch of Father’s Father’s Father by Dane Holt. The reading will be hosted by Caroline Bird. The event will feature readings and discussion, and audience members will have the opportunity to ask their own questions. We will show the text during readings so that you can read along. Registration for this online event will cost £2, redeemable against the cost of the book. You will receive the discount code and instructions for how to purchase the book in your confirmation email as well as during and after the event.

from £2.00
Poet Imtiaz Dharker. Photo by Ayesha Dharker
LiteratureManchester
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free entry

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Poet Imtiaz Dharker. Photo by Ayesha Dharker
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