People's History Museum
Left Bank
Spinningfields
Manchester
Greater Manchester
M3 3ER
England
Website
People's History Museum
People's History Museum
Telephone
People's History Museum
0161 838 9190
Fax
People's History Museum
0161 838 9190
There have always been ideas worth fighting for. Join a march through time at the People's History Museum following Britain’s struggle for democracy over two centuries. Meet the revolutionaries, reformers, workers, voters and citizens who fought our battle for the ballot. Gather amongst their magnificent banners and discover how time off was won (and spent).
Enjoy our many galleries, with interactives and activities for visitors of all ages. Browse our shop for unique books and gifts and round off your day with a bite to eat in our new cafe, complete with the sunniest riverside terrace in Manchester!
People's History Museum is a member of the First World War Centenary Partnership, a network of organisations committed to the delivery of the First World War Centenary Programme: a global programme of events and activities inspiring young and old to remember the impact of the First World War on people and society today.
Venue Type:
Museum, Archive, Gallery
The entire collection of this museum is a Designated Collection of national importance.
The collections of the People's History Museum contain items relating to the working people of Britain, and cover ceramics, prints, posters, banners, ephemera and photographs.
The museum (registered as the National Museum of Labour History) is the national centre for the collection, conservation, interpretation and study of material relating to the history of working people in Britain.
Collection details
Trade and Commerce, Social History, Photography, Personalities, Performing Arts, Music, Industry, Fine Art, Design, Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles, Coins and Medals, Archives
Key artists and exhibits
- Watch the first Match of the Day, visit a 1930s Co-op shop, play your favourite vinyl on the jukebox, create your own badge and much more......
- The new People's History Museum has more interactives throughout the galleries, both high tech and low tech so there's something for visitors of all ages.
- Almost 1500 historic objects are on display including many items that will are on display for the first time. Some objects have been specially conserved so that they can be shown to visitors in the new galleries.
- The redevelopment of the museum has also enabled more of our collection of trade union and political banners to be shown. A new double height gallery space now shows off these beautiful, striking banners at their best.
NOISEfestival.com presents ‘Art of Protest’
A stunning showcase of the best protest artworks submitted to NOISEfestival.com
Visit this exciting exhibition of the best submissions by emerging artists to the NOISE ‘Art of Protest’ project.
Launched in response to the Manchester Riots in August 2011, the AOP project promotes high-impact, peaceful protests from Banksy, Joseph Beuys & Thomas Peiter, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Gillian Wearing, Stella Vine, Billy Bragg, Ed Hall and Katherine Hamnett.
Don’ t miss NOISEstock on Sat 18 May, an interactive ‘sit-in’ evening with performances from protest music and comedy artists – part of Museums at Night 2013.
There will be more exciting events to accompany the exhibition, check back soon for further details.
The Community Gallery space is where local groups can display their own work. We try to make these displays relevant to the story told in the museum where possible. If you are interested in exhibiting, contact exhibitions@phm.org.uk
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
Free.
Website
NOISEfestival.com presents The Art of Protest
Visit this exciting exhibition of the best submissions by emerging artists to the NOISE ‘Art of Protest’ project.
Launched in response to the Manchester Riots in August 2011, the AOP project promotes high-impact, peaceful protests, taking inspiration from protests artists including Banksy, Joseph Beuys & Thomas Peiter, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Gillian Wearing, Stella Vine, Billy Bragg, Ed Hall and Katherine Hamnett.
Please note some artworks contain strong language or imagery that may not be appropriate for younger children.
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
People's History Museum
Admission
Free. Donations to the museum gratefully received.
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/noisefestival-com-presents-the-art-of-protest/
Manchester Motoring Memories
Manchester Motoring Memories looks back to how the people of Manchester took to ‘mass motoring’ in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Through interviews of first-time motorists and salesmen in Manchester in the 1960s, this exhibition looks at how our streets changed, what we did with our cars, and how they changed our lives.
If you have no idea what ‘running in please pass’ means, or didn’t know you could park outside Manchester Town Hall, come along and find out. Or maybe you do remember your first rustbucket? Look back on a time when brakes and headlights were useless. Maybe you bought your first car or motorbike second-hand on ‘terms’, probably from a man in a mohair suit. Perhaps your car had been ‘clocked’? Despite no heaters having been fitted, motoring presented opportunities for courting, while the ‘woman driver’ continued to challenge those who saw motoring as a ‘man’s activity’.
Manchester Motoring Memories is open to all ages. With an opportunity for older visitors to jot down their memories or contribute to the oral histories of those ‘pioneer’ mass motorists, it allows younger visitors to see first hand some old brochures, driving licences, magazines, and photographs of what seems a long-gone Manchester.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
Manchester Motoring Memories Opening Day
Be the first to see our exciting new Community Gallery exhibition and share your motoring memories of Manchester.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2-3pm
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/manchester-motoring-memories-opening-day/
Hazards! Revisited
In the past ordinary people had little protection against work-related hazards such as industrial disease, accidents and poor working conditions. Around 200 years ago men, women and children risked their health working in the new factories, trades, canals and railways of the Industrial Revolution. Governments and employers showed little concern for industrial health. Some Friendly Societies provided accident funds but most accepted hazards were an inevitable part of working life.
In the 1830s campaigners began to demand limits on child labour and better protection for all workers. Over the next 170 years governments gradually limited hours, provided industrial inspectors, introduced compensation and banned child labour. New research improved the prevention and treatment of industrial disease. Today workers still suffer the legacy of earlier industrial diseases, such as asbestos-related cancers, and are at risk from new hazards. Occupational illnesses common in Britain in the past are now found among workers in developing countries.
This redisplay of a past exhibition coincides with the 24th International Congress for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine at the Universtiy of Manchester.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
Hidden by Red Saunders
An Impressions Gallery touring exhibition, Hidden recreates great moments in the long struggle for rights and representation in Britain. It is particularly fitting that these photographic tableaux be on show at the People’s History Museum – the national museum of democracy in Britain and the home of ‘ideas worth fighting for’.
With the past often dominated by Kings, Queens and military battles, the aim of the Hidden project was to recreate the historic scenes involving the dissenters, revolutionaries, radicals and non-conformists who have often been hidden from history.
Each scene is carefully planned and lit, using costumed models in the style of tableaux vivants (living pictures). Together they suggest photographic ‘evidence’ for events that occurred before the widespread adoption of camera technology.
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
Free
Website
Delve & Discover - Refugee Week
Come along to the Labour History Archive & Study Centre to find out more about the experience of refugees in Britain over the last 100 years. As part of our Refugee Week celebrations we will be holding a drop in session for you to browse through material relating to refugees from World War I to the Spanish Civil War and Chilean Solidarity Campaigns.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
1:30-3:30pm
Admission
Booking advised. To book please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
Hidden changing exhibition tour and artist talk
Come and be inspired by Red Saunders on this artist led tour of our brilliant changing exhibition Hidden. Find out more about how Red creates his stunning photographic tableaux and the stories behind them.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
1:15-2:30pm
Admission
Booking required. To book please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/hidden-changing-exhibition-tour-and-artist-talk/
Know Your Place
A game where status is everything. Know your place, and move accordingly. Social climbing is unacceptable. Come along to watch or join in with The Larks’ latest interactive performance piece, Know Your Place, which pitches you – the audience – at the centre of a rigid and ridiculous social system over which you must triumph.
Suitable for
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
When
2-3pm
Admission
Booking advised. To book please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
Working Class Women, Fashion, Glamour and Shopping in Manchester, 1910s-1939
How did women in Manchester use home dressmaking to access fashionable clothes? How did developments in the British textile industry affect workers and workers’ communities? This afternoon event will launch a series of events related to the Tailored Trades: Clothes, Labour and Professional Communities (1880-1939) research network, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
1-4pm
Admission
Booking required. Please book at http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/research/networks/tailoredtrades/
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/ahrc-tailored-trades-network-launch/
Snapshot on Michael Foot
Did you know the museum holds an archive of over 80,000 photographs? Go behind the scenes and delve into our unique photo collections, the Labour Party photograph collection and the Communist Party of Great Britain photograph collection. In this lunchtime drop in session, browse through photographs on the theme of Michael Foot and uncover history through the lens. To celebrate the centenary of former Labour Party leader Michael Foot.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
12:30-1:30pm
Admission
Booking advised. To book please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
Living History performance: Moving Stories - Migration & Identity
As part of our Manchester Mela celebrations, return back to the 1960s to meet Anita Sharma, who is at school in Manchester. Follow her journey to adulthood as she explores her identity and describes her summer holiday trip to India with her mother and father who were born there.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
When
1:15-2pm
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/living-history-performance-moving-stories-2/
Table Legs and Truncheons – a History of Violent Protest tour
Is violence ever the answer? Explore the murky side of protest in this thought provoking tour and find out how ordinary people fought – and were attacked – for their ideals. Stick around afterwards to see unique material in the Labour History Archive & Study Centre and go behind the scenes in our archive tour - 2.00pm-2.30pm.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
1:15-2pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
Create a Crowd
Be inspired by the figures in our Hidden exhibition and make your own clay characters to take home with you.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
1:30-3:30pm
Website
Make a Motorbike craft table
Brrrrrum! Be inspired by Sundar Singh Sagar’s motorbike in our Manchester Motoring Memories exhibition and make your own motorbike to take home with you.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
Science, Technology and Medicine gallery tour
We will also revisit our Hazards! exhibition to explore how health in the work place has changed over the past 200 years. Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
2-3pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/science-technology-and-medicine-gallery-tour/
Science, Technology and Medicine gallery tour
We will also revisit our Hazards! exhibition to explore how health in the work place has changed over the past 200 years. Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
2-3pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/science-technology-and-medicine-gallery-tour/
Science, Technology and Medicine gallery tour
We will also revisit our Hazards! exhibition to explore how health in the work place has changed over the past 200 years. Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
2-3pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/science-technology-and-medicine-gallery-tour/
Beeing Special
Meet Little Bee, the bee who wants to be different. Join in the busy bee dance, search for flowers in the museum and follow Little Bee’s adventure to find out how he becomes the hero of Victorian Manchester. Fun interactive story session with puppets, song, dance and a craft activity.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- Especially for children
- Family friendly
When
11am-12pm
Admission
£1 per child, adults free. Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/the-little-people%e2%80%99s-history-museum-%e2%80%93-beeing-special-3/
Mr Ordinary’s Prize
Discover our story of Manchester's Coat of Arms. Someone has stolen Mr Ordinary’s Thinking and Doing! What will he do without them? Join in the adventure as Mr Ordinary and his friends try to get them back. Fun interactive story session with puppets, song, dance and a craft activity.
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
11am-12pm
Admission
£1 per child, adults free. Booking required. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
Beautiful Boxes
Learn how to make your own origami keepsake box to take home with you. Be inspired by the shapes and textures in our banner collection to create printed embellishments for your box.
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
When
1:30-3:30pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
Snapshot on the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Did you know the museum holds an archive of over 80,000 photographs? Go behind the scenes and delve into our unique photo collections, the Labour Party photograph collection and the Communist Party of Great Britain photograph collection. In this lunchtime drop in session, browse through photographs on the theme of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and uncover history through the lens. To celebrate 50 years since the Partial Test Ban Treaty.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
12:30-1:30pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/snapshot-on-the-campaign-for-nuclear-disarmament/
Living History performance: Strike a Light! – A Match Girl’s Story
Celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Match Girls’ Strike of 1888. Meet Maggie McCallow, a Victorian match girl involved in the strike. Learn about the shocking conditions the match girls experienced and how the strike gained them better conditions and the right to join a union.
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
- Family friendly
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/living-history-performance-strike-a-light/
Huge Hats
Be inspired by the weird and wonderful hats in our Hidden exhibition and create your own magnificent headgear to take home with you.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
1:30-3:30pm
Website
Hidden Dramas
Inspired by the striking images from our exhibition Hidden by Red Saunders, this fun, informal workshop will use a wide variety of performance techniques to explore stories and relationships from history. Led by Emily Capstick, Peoplescape Theatre.
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
2:30-3:15pm
Admission
Booking required. Please contact 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk. Workshop at 1.30pm - 2.15pm and repeated 2.30pm - 3.15pm, please specify your preferred timeslot when booking.
Website
Hidden Dramas
Inspired by the striking images from our exhibition Hidden by Red Saunders, this fun, informal workshop will use a wide variety of performance techniques to explore stories and relationships from history. Led by Emily Capstick, Peoplescape Theatre.
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 11-13
When
1:30-2:15pm
Admission
Booking required. Please contact 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk. Workshop at 1.30pm - 2.15pm and repeated 2.30pm - 3.15pm, please specify your preferred timeslot when booking.
Website
Living History performance: Read All About It! – Papers, Protest & Peterloo
Commemorate the anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre and meet James Bronterre O’Brien, editor of Victorian newspaper the Poor Man’s Guardian. Accompany Bronterre on a march to Peterloo and uncover the stories of the day.
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
When
1:15-2pm
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/living-history-performance-read-all-about-it-3/
Manchester Motoring Memories Meet the Curator
Manchester Motoring Memories looks back to how we took to ‘mass motoring’ in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
Through interviews of first-time motorists and salesmen in Manchester in the 1960s, it looks at how our streets changed, what we did with our cars, and how they changed our lives. Meet curator Craig Horner and share your motoring memories.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
1:30-2:30pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
Peterloo - Soldiers on the Rampage
To commemorate the anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre in Manchester in 1819, famous local folk musicians Geoff Higginbottom, Martin Gittins and Bob Ashworth will perform their homage to Peterloo. Come and listen to this amazing collection of songs linked together by prose and quotes which tells the story of the Peterloo Massacre. There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and talk to the musicians about this world-changing event.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
3-4:15pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/peterloo-soldiers-on-the-rampage/
Peterloo Commemoration Design Day
What do you think the memorial to the Peterloo Massacre should look like? The Peterloo Memorial Campaign want to find out what you think and collect as many ideas as possible in the form of sketches, photos, or more! Come along and get creative! For those with 'sketchophobia' they'll have a panel of 'you describe it - we'll draw it' artists on hand to help. The Peterloo Memorial Campaign will pass on your ideas to Manchester City Council as they aim to campaign to ensure the memorial is an appropriate one that reflects public opinion. Stick around for the Peterloo -Soldiers on the Rampage performance afterwards.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
12-3pm
Website
http://www.phm.org.uk/whatson/peterloo-commemoration-design-day/
Revolutionary Rosettes
Be inspired by Mary Wollstonecraft’s tricolour cockade in our Hidden exhibition and use felt making techniques to create your own beautiful rosette.
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
When
1:30-3:30pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
Pride tour
Celebrate Manchester Pride in this special LGBT tour of the main galleries of the People’s History Museum. Stick around afterwards to see unique material in the Labour History Archive & Study Centre and go behind the scenes in our archive tour - 2.00pm-2.30pm.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
1:15-2pm
Admission
Booking advised. Please contact the People’s History Museum on 0161 838 9190 or info@phm.org.uk
Website
Print a Bag
Find out about the hidden messages and meanings in our banners and screen-print your own bag to take away with you.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
1:30-3:30pm
Admission
£2 per bag.
Website
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