Levenshulme Old Library

Levenshulme Old Library Levenshulme Old Library is a community-led arts and heritage centre.

Based in Manchester’s oldest Carnegie library building, we run workshops, performances, exhibitions and events that support creativity, local history and community wellbeing.

NEW - we're very pleased to be joined by BollyFit Active at Levenshulme Old Library on Thursday mornings.Developed with ...
09/06/2026

NEW - we're very pleased to be joined by BollyFit Active at Levenshulme Old Library on Thursday mornings.

Developed with South Asian women in mind, BollyFit combines fitness, dance and community in a welcoming women-only environment with sessions designed to support physical health, improve wellbeing, build confidence and reduce social isolation.

Whether you're looking to become more active, meet new people, or simply enjoy an hour that's focused on your own wellbeing, BollyFit offers a supportive and enjoyable way to do it.

📅 Thursdays
🕙 10am-11am
📍 Levenshulme Old Library

For more info or to book your space contact Asma: [email protected]

Here's some lovely local heritage news - John Rylands Research Institute and Library has acquired the archive of Frank T...
08/06/2026

Here's some lovely local heritage news - John Rylands Research Institute and Library has acquired the archive of Frank Tilsley, a writer who was raised in Levenshulme and whose work captured the lives of twentieth-century Manchester and the wider North West.

The archive includes material relating to Tilsley's connection to the Carnegie Free Library which opened at the bottom of his street in the year of his birth, and where he was effectively self-educated - the building that today is home to Levenshulme Old Library.

As this image sugests, Tilsley was at one time something of a household name, with bestselling novels and a prolific broadcasting career. As an organisation interested in the heritage of our building and the wider neighbourhood, we're delighted to see Frank Tilsley's story being brought back into the spotlight.

You can read more about the archive and its significance on the John Rylands Research Institute and Library blog: https://rylandscollections.com/2026/06/04/introducing-the-frank-tilsley-archive/

Are you a local South Asian mother or carer looking for something to do with your little one on a Tuesday morning?Kahaan...
07/06/2026

Are you a local South Asian mother or carer looking for something to do with your little one on a Tuesday morning?

Kahaaniya is our free storytelling group for South Asian families with children aged 0-4. Sessions include play as well as stories and songs in both Urdu and English.

As well as helping children develop language and confidence, Kahaaniya offers families a chance to meet other local parents and carers in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Sessions are free to attend and breakfast is provided.

Find out more:
https://levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/2025/10/16/kahaaniya

07/06/2026

What happens when former prisoners are asked to recreate the prison where they were held?

As part of Festival of Libraries 2026, we're very excited to welcome back the Muslim Social Justice Initiative for a free screening of Ghost Hunting, the acclaimed documentary by Palestinian filmmaker Raed Andoni.

Blending documentary and reconstruction, the film brings together former prisoners from the Al-Moskobiya detention centre to rebuild the prison from memory and confront the experiences that continue to shape their lives. The result is a powerful exploration of memory and trauma.

Led by MCRCityofLit, the Festival of Libraries is a region-wide celebration of the amazing stuff that goes on in libraries (and former libraries) bringing together more than 120 events across Greater Manchester. Levenshulme Old Library is very proud to be part of this year's programme alongside a host of other libraries and cultural spaces across the region.

📅 6pm, Friday 12th June
📍 Levenshulme Old Library
🎟 Free admission

Open call!Got a creative idea you're working on but not quite sure what it is yet?Good news - Bonjour Claude's next Scra...
06/06/2026

Open call!

Got a creative idea you're working on but not quite sure what it is yet?

Good news - Bonjour Claude's next Scratch Night takes place at Levenshulme Old Library on 10th July, and they're looking for artists to take part.

A scratch night is a chance to share work before it's finished. It could music, dance, word, arts, another discipline or even something that doesn't fit neatly into any category at all. The idea is simple: bring along something you're developing, share it with an audience, and see what happens.

Selected artists will have up to 15 minutes to present their work, followed by a conversation with the audience. It's a supportive, informal environment designed to encourage experimentation, spark new ideas, and connect artists working across different disciplines.

One of the things we value most here at Levenshulme Old Library is finding opporunities for artists the space to take creative risks, try new things and develop work alongside a supportive community, so it's great to welcome back Bonjour Claude next month.

If you're making interesting things and would like to test them in front of a curious audience, applications close at midnight on 14th June.

https://bonjourclaude.co.uk/scratch-night

05/06/2026

"We had dreams, goals, prospects, and we were working towards them. Everything was perfect. And now..."

As part of this year's Festival of Libraries in partnership with MCRCityofLit, we're hosting a special screening of The Rising Sun, the award-winning documentary by Alyona Kaporina.

The film follows a young Ukrainian woman and her son as they rebuild their lives here in Manchester after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It's an intimate, deeply personal story about war, displacement, resilience and the search for hope and won Best Documentary at the 2024 Manchester Film Festival.

We'll also be joined after the screening by the film's protagonist for a conversation about the experiences behind the story.

📅 Saturday 13th June
⏰ 4.30pm
📍 Levenshulme Old Library
🎟 Entry is free but a £5 donation is recommended, with proceeds supporting Sunflower_Manchester's work with people affected by the war in Ukraine.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-rising-sun-award-winning-documentary-film-alyona-yavorskakaporina-tickets-1245237702489

Join us for Stitch Club this coming Monday at Levenshulme Old Library.Whether you're an experienced sewing wiz, an occas...
04/06/2026

Join us for Stitch Club this coming Monday at Levenshulme Old Library.

Whether you're an experienced sewing wiz, an occasional crafter or someone who's looking to learn something new, Stitch Club is a relaxed and welcoming space to work on your own projects, share skills, and meet other creative people.

Sewing machines and fabric are all supplied, but you can also bring along your knitting, embroidery, mending, crochet, sewing or any other textile-based project.

Stitch Club is part of our free weekly Art Club programme which is all about creativity, community and making things together.

Tickets are free but we recommend a donation of £6 to help keep the sessions going.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/levenshulmeoldlibrary/1517703

Vote for Levenshulme Old Library at the Manchester Culture Awards 2026Last year we were delighted to be shortlisted at t...
04/06/2026

Vote for Levenshulme Old Library at the Manchester Culture Awards 2026

Last year we were delighted to be shortlisted at the Manchester Culture Awards. This year we're asking for your support again.

We're encouraging nominations for two projects we're incredibly proud of:

- You Are Here (Outstanding Storytelling)
- Kahaaniya (Excellence in Creative Health and Wellbeing)

If you've enjoyed either project, we'd be hugely grateful if you'd take a few minutes to submit a nomination.

We've put together a blog post with more information about both projects and links to the nomination form:

https://levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/2026/06/04/vote-for-levenshulme-old-library-at-the-manchester-culture-awards-2026/

What does a festival of libraries look like when the library is no longer a library?This month, Levenshulme Old Library ...
03/06/2026

What does a festival of libraries look like when the library is no longer a library?

This month, Levenshulme Old Library joins the MCRCityofLit Festival of Libraries 2026 with a programme that reflects what the building has become - a community-led arts centre bubbling with creativity, culture and community.

Across three days we'll be exploring comics, film, performance, migration, justice and imagination through a series of free events:

- Comic Creativty Galore - create your own comics with Jim Medway and Phoenix Comics
- Ghost Hunting - a powerful documentary exploring the experiences of former Palestinian prisoners, presented by the Muslim Social Justice Initiative
- The Quest for Planet P - an imaginative family performance from the great Knotted Hawk
- The Rising Sun - Alyona Kaporina's moving documentary about Ukrainian families building new lives in Manchester, followed by a discussion with the director

Festival of Libraries celebrates the places where people come together to share ideas, stories and experiences - we're proud that Levenshulme Old Library continues to be one of those places.

All events are free and everyone is welcome.

Find out more and book your tickets here: https://levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/2026/06/03/manchester-festival-of-libraries-at-levenshulme-old-library/

27/05/2026

Officially the first outdoor set up of the year🌈☀️ If you’re collecting or returning items on a sunny day, be sure to look to your left and we might be nestled outside out storage container💚

Address

Cromwell Grove
Manchester
M193QE

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Wednesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm

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