We were honoured to welcome Greater Manchester Mayor @andyburnham.bsky.social, alongside partners from Historic England, @artscouncilengland.bsky.social, @manchester.ac.uk, @mancitycouncil.bsky.social, Heritage Fund UK, and the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy to the Portico last week...

Step into an unforgettable evening of powerful true storytelling as we explore the theme ‘Reframing Resilience’. Join us for an inclusive event where voices share raw, real and extraordinary personal stories that will move, challenge and inspire...

I even have a Ulysses broach that I bought in Dublin. This is one of my favourite books - or parts of it are. Find out more about Banned Books Week on Index for Censorship: www.indexoncensorship.org/bannedbooksw...

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This October, we'll be hosting a special Banned Book Week edition of our Slow Reading Club. Portico Creative Producer and cultural historian, Dr Debbie Challis, has chosen a few passages from James Joyce's Ulysses to explore with the group.

We're pleased to say that the Portico's learning resources can now be accessed and downloaded by teachers through Tes! Take a look at what's on offer below... www.tes.com/teaching-res...

Join us this Thursday for an intimate sonic experiment where UnHeard presents original classical contemporary works by Manchester-based composers, inspired by literature, myth and popular culture... www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

Exciting news! We've been shortlisted for the FamtasticRocks Awards in the ‘Independent Venue of the Year’ category. Huge thank you to the judges who have selected us from hundreds of nominations, and, of course, to the entire Portico team who make our library such a special place!

Why join The Portico? Becoming a member doesn't just mean you become part of 217 years of history; it also means you can help shape the future of our building...

We’re delighted to be celebrating #ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) Heritage Month by showcasing VOICE ESEA's ECHO exhibition. ECHO uncovers the forgotten stories and lives of the Titanic’s six Chinese survivors, chronicling their journeys before, during and after the iconic ship’s fateful sinking.

We're delighted that The Portico Sadie Massey Awards for Young Readers and Writers and our Art of the Book Award have been included in the 2025-26 MADE Creative Cultural Directory...

A massive good luck to everyone heading back to school today! A reminder that we're pleased to offer a range of free, downloadable resources and other activities suited to a variety of ages... www.theportico.org.uk/learning

If you missed out on last night's Life Drawing class, fear not, as HappeningInMcr will be back in a few weeks with another session...

We’re delighted to celebrate #ESEA (East & Southeast Asian) Heritage Month this Sept by showcasing VoiceESEA’s ECHO exhibition all month! ECHO uncovers the forgotten stories & lives of Titanic’s 6 Chinese survivors, chronicling their journeys before, during & after the iconic ship’s fateful sinking.

We were recently lucky enough to host Emily & Mitchell’s small, intimate wedding here at the Portico. It was a wonderful occasion with just the Bride, Groom and 4 guests...

Ground-breaking research funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund pinpoints Manchester’s historic Portico Library and Newsroom as influential in the city’s connections to the transatlantic slave trade economy. You can read more about the research below: www.theportico.org.uk/reunitedglob...

Today marks #WorldPhotographyDay2025, which seems as good an excuse as any to share a few more wonderful shots of our ongoing exhibition, The Songs The Morning Sang...

Join us this September for an intimate sonic experiment celebrating original classical contemporary works by Manchester-based composers, inspired by literature, myth and popular culture... www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

We're down to our last few tickets for next week's Portico Pride Supper Club! The special menu will feature dishes inspired by books from our collection, served in the beautifully intimate surroundings of our stunning Reading Room.

Have you had a chance to visit our latest exhibition, The Songs The Morning Sang? A special collaboration between poet Ian McMillan and photographer Andrew Brooks, the pair explore the streets where they live in the early hours to capture some of the strangeness and beauty of the everyday world..

Fusing performance poetry and family-friendly stand-up comedy, multi-award-winning children’s author, Oliver Sykes, brings his hotly anticipated new one-man show to the Portico this September. Book tickets: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

We can't wait to welcome the Happening in MCR team back to the library for two more of their always excellent themed life drawing sessions beneath our glorious 19th-century dome. Book for August: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend... Book for September: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

My September storytelling and creative writing workshop @porticolibrary.bsky.social has already sold out! Those Manchester folk must be properly hungry for more wandering through storied landscapes, imagining new ways to inhabit our different, diverse norths. www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

Last month, poet Ian McMillan and photographer Andrew Brooks hosted a workshop and walk leaving from the Portico as part of their exhibition, The Songs The Morning Sang, which is currently on display at the library....

Join us this September for an intimate sonic experiment where UnHeard presents original classical contemporary works by Manchester-based composers, inspired by literature, myth and popular culture... www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

There's always something incredibly special about discovering people have visited the Portico whilst on their travels. This is Rod, from Madrid Libraries, who recently stopped by for a look around and a chat. Gracias, Rod! Hopefully we'll be able to welcome you again soon!

Linked in article on @heritagefunduk.bsky.social funded project @porticolibrary.bsky.social & headline findings. (Should point out the comfort cat is the Portico’s, not mine.) And my confession to an affair with Bryan the library boggart. Now to join the fae. www.linkedin.com/pulse/runnin...

Fancy a bite to eat in one of Manchester's oldest lunch spots? Our Chilli Cheese BLT, served on gorgeous Holy Grain sourdough, is always a big hit with guests. We'll be serving until 4pm, feel free to pop by! www.theportico.org.uk/kitchen

Our next Secret Supper Club, Portico Pride, will be taking place on Thursday 21st August, coinciding with Manchester Pride Week. The tantalising menu will feature dishes inspired by books from our collection, served in the beautifully intimate surroundings of our stunning Reading Room...

Holiday Sketches is on for another month @porticolibrary.bsky.social. It’s not closing in July after all. Thanks so much for the kind comments from visitors. Am so happy to put Mary Severn Newton’s work on display & have nuanced conversations about the eastern Mediterranean - Ottoman & Greek.

The Portico will be closed today as we're hosting a party to celebrate our incredible volunteers! We apologise for any inconvenience, and look forward to welcoming everyone back as normal tomorrow.

Starting tomorrow and continuing every Thursday throughout the summer holidays, we'll be running a series of free, family-friendly workshops. These fun, drop-in sessions will invite curious kids to capture different features of the historic building and record them via Polaroid images.

Learning through fun, creative activity, writing, and reading is the beating heart of the library. We also believe learning is lifelong, and offer a range of free resources that can be enjoyed, whatever your age. You can find the Portico's learning resources here: www.theportico.org.uk/learning

We're over the moon that The Portico Sadie Massey Awards for Young Readers and Writers and our Art of the Book Award have been included in the 2025-26 Creative Cultural Directory! If you'd like to find out more about our awards, you can do so here: www.theportico.org.uk/portico-sadi...

Later this month, Jo Bell joins us to discuss Boater: A Life on England's Waterways - the debut memoir written by the UK’s inaugural Canal & River Trust poet laureate. Book your spot: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

Looking forward to the Year of Reading? Even our cats at home are getting involved! This is Lucia, who clearly can't get enough of this latest page-turner... Thank you to Julia, one of the Portico's volunteers, for sharing the lovely clip 😍

Did you know that you can adopt a book from the Portico's collection? You can help us preserve the Library’s historic collection by donating to our adopt-a-book fund, or choosing an individual book to adopt. www.theportico.org.uk/adoptabook

Lovely to see so many tourists in #Manchester. Find an oasis from Oasis with us tomorrow or pop in if you are visiting the city. We’ll have cold drinks and cake (no lunch menu this sat - apologies), including this gluten free orange & almond cake.

We welcome making 2026 The year of Reading with an emphasis on reading for pleasure from the National Literacy Trust & DoE. We know first-hand the magic that reading can bring to people of all ages, & we're excited to see what the future holds... www.gov.uk/government/n...

We'd love for you to join us tomorrow evening! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/songs-the-...

It’s an exciting evening for us as we - trustees, staff, committee members, consultants- examine design for #reunitingtheportico. So much work & still more to do. Thank you all for coming to our events, taking part in consultation & learning sessions. And to our funders @heritagefunduk.bsky.social.

We’ve just released four extra tickets for Ian McMillan & my photography & poetry walks from the @porticolibrary.bsky.social Library in Manchester that’s happening tomorrow morning at 10.30am www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/songs-the-... We’ll be sharing ideas connected to our exhibition at the library.

A big thank you to the folks at creativetourist.com for their lovely words about Jo Bell's book launch at The Portico later this month... www.creativetourist.com/event/jo-bel...

This Thursday, poet and presenter of the Verb on Radio 4, Ian McMillan, and photographer @andrewpbrooks.bsky.social will be back at the library talking about their collaborative exhibition The Songs The Morning Sang... www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

Last Saturday, coinciding with Portico Pride, we hosted the launch of William Rayfet Hunter's new book Suntruck, as part of the Penguin Random House book tour...

‪After a sold-out spring session, I'm excited to be returning to the beautiful @porticolibrary.bsky.social this autumn with a workshop on Wednesday 10 September. Get inspired by the strange old tales of the north, through storytelling and creative writing ... www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

Join us tomorrow evening for a guided talk and workshop inspired by the Ottoman Empire and the art of Henna. Book your spot below... www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

From Ian McMillan & my exhibition, The Songs The Morning Sang. Next week on Thursday the 10th me & Ian are doing an evening talk about the project in the @porticolibrary.bsky.social Library in Manchester. Tickets and times here www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

Breaking news! Our specials from the Kitchen & a picture of our goats cheese salad. #food #porticokitchen #lunch #manchester

Not that we needed an excuse, but with National Writing Day coming up this week, we've found ourselves looking back through these wonderful photos from this year's The Portico Sadie Massey Awards for Young Readers and Writers ceremony...