hello@stepupmcr.org
Event Recap: The Human Library Project
October 2024
An evening of stories, art and connection
On the 11th October 2024, we hosted an incredible celebration at Social Refuge in Ancoats, home to Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ bookshop. Over 100 people came together to experience the finale of
The Human Library, which was our community-driven initiative that brought to life the stories, art, and voices of local residents from
Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw. The energy in the room was incredible, with storytelling, art exhibitions, and performances from local talent.
Celebrating local stories
One of the standout moments came from
Tony Rea, who shared his family’s incredible history in Ancoats’ “Little Italy” with an interactive storytelling piece. Tony's story of his ancestry brought the audience along on a journey spanning over 140 years, highlighting his family's involvement in Manchester's ice cream trade.
Moving performances
The night also featured a number of performances including The Hallé Ancoats Community Choir, who uplifted the crowd with their feel-good songs. Local over 60s group, The Many Hands Craft Collective, treated the audience to a spoken word performance. This group has been a key partner in this project, exploring what truly makes a place feel like a community.
Openshaw resident
Pavia Ward, passionate about women's justice and community work, shared her poetry and offered a beautiful rendition of Labi Siffre's 'So Strong'. Local Ancoats resident
Charles, as well as
Joseph, a friend of Social Refuge, also shared their heartfelt poems that explored the themes of the night.
Community conversations
Another fun part of the evening was the Conversation Cafe, hosted by local resident Paddy Nicholls. This open discussion session focused on the theme of community, as well as encouraging the crowd to share their dreams and aspirations.
One stand-out moment came when Elaine, a local Ancoats resident and member of Many Hands, expressed her lifelong wish to learn how to swim. In the spirit of community connection, Step Up MCR has since been able to introduce Elaine to a community group that offers free swimming lessons for women in East Manchester. It was a touching example of how The Human Library project brings people together in unexpected ways.
The Human Library Project
The Human Library project is about celebrating the people and stories that define our neighbourhoods. We loved working with Manchester-based artist Liz Wewiora on this project. The project also created an opportunity for MA Art & Design students from the University of Salford to shadow and collaborate on the programme.
Throughout the spring and summer of 2024, many residents participated in workshops that encouraged them to reflect on their connection to the area in various ways, including photography, painting, performance, and writing.
The project also brought together multiple community groups, including the over 60's Many Hands and young people from 42nd Street’s art program, offering an opportunity for people of all ages to engage and collaborate.
The publication
The project was not only showcased in the exhibition but also captured in a beautifully designed publication. Thank you to Liz and designer Tommy Morrison who co-created the publication with us. Thank you also to Salford University student Marilena Petrou, who designed the typeface.
With special thanks
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed. This project would not be possible without the support of our local partners and participants. A special thanks to Many Hands, 42nd Street, Hallé, Ancoats Visual Arts, Winning Hearts & Minds, Co-op Live, the Martins, Jan Johnson, Social Refuge, MCRactive, Manchester Histories and University of Salford.
Thank you to our exhibition contributors Joseph, Charles, Pavia, Anthony, Hallé St. Peter’s, Many Hands and Paddy. Thank you to all those who attended on the night and took part in workshops leading up to it.
We also want to show our gratitude to the University of Salford students Marilena Petrou who co-designed The Human Library typeface, and students Jessica Longmore, Aqib Pathan, Bronte James and David Oje-Ade for assisting and documenting the workshops and evening.
The publication is with thanks to designer Tommy Morrison, and finally, the project would not be possible without Liz Wewiora, whose creativity reached into our brains and hearts to pull this all together.
The Human Library project is proudly commissioned by Step Up MCR and funded by One Manchester.