Public Opening: Everything and Nothing - what makes a 220 year old library?

‘What makes the Portico Library?'

Is it the books? Is it the history? Is it the building?

Is it the people who walked through the doors? the readers? the members? the staff?

Or is it the feeling that you have when you enter the room?

The Portico Library is going through a rapid change. This exhibition explores the idea of the Portico as a box holding memories; a place to look back in time at 220 years and a place to imagine what a library could be like in 10, 50 and a 100 years’ time. We have opened dusty boxes in the archive and found old toolboxes. We have reconnected with past colleagues, members, and users to select the things that tell us forgotten stories from this room. Come and explore the adventures, the mystery, the fun and sad stories that the Portico has witnessed.

Newly commissioned works by Manchester based artist and poet .

Please join us in this exhibition public opening night and let’s celebrate 220 years of the Portico together.

Introduction and speeches at 18.30pm.

Drinks by donation.

There is a chance for you to take part in our Time Capsule project, writing a memory of the Portico on a postcard that will be stored in the Portico archive to be opened in the year 2076.

Curated by Apapat Jai-in Glynn in collaboration with Dr Debbie Challis and The Portico Library team.

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Host or Publisher Portico Library