FESTIVAL IMPACT REPORT
History Matters!
The aim of history is to expose the diversity of people’s experiences to inform the future.
Introduction
Manchester Histories works collaboratively to reveal and celebrate the stories of the people and places of Greater Manchester and beyond. We connect people through histories and heritage to explore the past and shape the future, valuing all voices in the telling, preserving, and celebrating of people’s stories. We run a year long public engagement programme and produce the biennial Manchester Histories Festival.
The Manchester Histories Festival 2024, now in its ninth edition, was delivered in partnership with The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, who celebrated 200 years of history, learning, innovation, and research. In addition, we invited people and communities to take part in the festival through our ‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza! open call and our popular Histories & Heritage Marketplace.
The festival showcased incredible stories, groundbreaking discoveries, and new learnings, revealing the highs and lows of our region’s stories. We also commissioned talented artists from across the region to create new works specifically for the festival.
The festival was more than just a celebration; it was a vital platform that explored our rich and diverse histories, reflected on our heritage, and inspired hope and possibilities for the future, emphasising the importance of understanding our past to appreciate the present and shape a better future.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated, contributed, funded, and supported the festival. Your enthusiasm and involvement made it truly inspiring and meaningful for all.
Karen Shannon CEO Manchester Histories
‘ The importance of history & nostalgia in society is sometimes overlooked. Manchester Histories is an important vehicle to involve the public.’
Festival Attendee
Key Festival Outcomes
• Four world-premiere music commissions were performed on the opening night at Whitworth Art Gallery, including one with the BBC Philharmonic.
• 24 people from across Greater Manchester participated in the ‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza! at Manchester Central Library, sharing histories that mattered to them.
• Five emerging artists showcased new work in celebration of Manchester Metropolitan University’s 200th anniversary at Manchester Central Library. ISWAS Festival 2024.
• Over 1,000 people attended the Histories & Heritage Market Place at Manchester Central Library on Sunday, 9 June, 2024.
• A day long conference on Intangible Sounds and Histories, along with an evening performance, was held at Manchester Metropolitan University and HOME.
• 9 Talks, 3 conversations, 2 exhibitions and 3 film screenings were presented on a diverse range of topics including migration, graphic novels, the slave trade, history of Champs Camp Boxing Club and an exhibition on the history of birth and childcare from The University of Manchester Museum of Medicine and Health.
• 25 volunteers supported festival activities throughout the four days.
• 3 Young People from DISC (Digital Independent Specialist College), who support young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to move towards working in the creative and digital economy produced social media content to promote the festival.
• On-line audience of 62,419 hits, including new users, user engagement and file downloads from 12 May to 30 June, 2024.
• An estimated audience of over 4,000 attended all events.
‘ I learnt so much! Mostly how ‘community arts’ / ‘putting the community centre stage’ makes for such a rich and relevant programme appealing to all audiences.’
Audience Member
Day
1 : Thursday 6 June 2024
Opening Night
The Whitworth
Manchester Histories Festival and the Universally Manchester Festival 2024 launched with an exciting opening night at the Whitworth Art Gallery, featuring four newly commissioned works and a short film on The University of Manchester’s history.
This event was made possible through collaboration with the University’s Music Department and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, with Manchester Histories leading the commissioning process for the new works from talented composers, students and musicians.
Highlights included the world premiere of Tom Coult’s ‘Ryley’s Ramble’ in the Grand Hall, and an immersive electronic music experience, ‘A Tap, a Click, and a Thump,’ in Gallery 3, which honoured figures like Alan Turing and Delia Derbyshire.
The evening provided an unforgettable blend of contemporary classical and electronic music. One visitor said that the immersive experience ‘Scratched the back of my brain in a really nice way’ and Lemn Sissay described it as a ‘beautiful sound bath.’
Day 2: Friday 7 June 2024
‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza!
Manchester Central Library
‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza! was a rolling programme of twenty-four 10-minute talks that took place in the iconic Manchester Central Library’s Performance Space. The event ran over two days and celebrated the voices of local people and the diverse stories that shape our common identity. Academics, enthusiasts, performers, poets, broadcasters and artists from around Greater Manchester took to the stage to share their passion and research on history topics and personal heritage. The audience was engaged, supportive, and fuelled by tea, biscuits, and a convivial atmosphere, staying for all or most of the sessions.
Throughout the afternoon, ‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza! explored Manchester’s national and international connections through local people aboard the Titanic, Yuri Gagarin’s visit to the city, the Henna plant, and Hong Kong since 1841.
Everyone who attended learned about incredible lies, mass protests, political struggles, and everyday lives through poignant family postcards, poetry, humour, and song. ‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza! traced media history via the UK’s oldest volunteer-run film club in Salford, the BBC’s 1960s Piccadilly Studio, North West Film Archive’s tribute to Manchester Metropolitan University, and the new podcast ‘Everything but a Beach’.
‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza! also explored fascinating topics like The Great Omi of Belle Vue, Bertha Hindshaw of the Horsfall Museum, politician and suffragette Hannah Mitchell, John Pitt Hardacre of the Comedy Theatre scandal, residents of Angel Meadow, and the links between football and theatre.
‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza! was cocurated with the help of our fantastic and dedicated Manchester Histories volunteers, some of whom also presented at the event.
‘ I did thoroughly enjoy the Friday session. The ten-minute format is great as it forces speakers to focus their thoughts and stops the audience becoming bored! There were a lot of presentations that told me aspects of Manchester’s history that I knew nothing about (and I’m probably quite a well-informed Mancunian) and I loved the enthusiasm of the presenters.’
‘ I loved the fact that these were sessions presented by ‘ordinary’ folk who had a passion - a lovely cross section of the community.’
Audience Member
‘ Participating by performing my poetry onstage at an iconic venue during an established Manchester festival. Listening & learning from others and enjoyed the warmth from staff & volunteers.’
Day 2: Friday 7 June 2024
It Started with a Seed International Storytelling Festival (ISWAS)
Manchester Central Library
The It Started with a Seed International Storytelling Festival (ISWAS) debuted at this year’s festival, thanks to a collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University’s Arts and Humanities faculty, Manchester Poetry Library, and Manchester Histories. Five artists were commissioned to create new work inspired by Manchester Metropolitan University’s 200th anniversary, which was presented to a sold-out audience at Manchester Central Library.
The event featured diverse artistic expressions, including:
• Mila Januszova’s 3-minute film poem on urban resilience.
• Josef Minta’s poetic exploration of Manchester Metropolitan University’s history.
• Anita Ngai’s writings on the experiences of early Chinese students at Manchester Metropolitan University.
• Quen Took’s ‘Here, I Am Whole,’ highlighting the voices of disabled individuals through zines.
• Tolulope Ami Williams’ ‘Planted Not Buried,’ an installation celebrating Manchester’s diverse legacy, including the 5th Pan-African Congress of 1945.
The evening was hosted by Ruth Awolola from Manchester Poetry Library, with a special poetry performance by student Imogen ThompsonVear, who also supported ISWAS’s social media as part of her RISE internship at Manchester Metropolitan University.
‘ This was such an amazing experience and opportunity. I especially agree with Josef’s thought about the sense of pride being part of this group. Everyone’s work was so unique and impactful, and together generated a lot of synergistic energy - having the chance to contribute my work to the project was such a deep honour.’
Anita Ngai, Artist
Day 3: Saturday 8 June 2024
Intangible Sounds
Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester Histories Festival 2024
As part of the Manchester Histories Festival 2024, researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities hosted a day of public talks and workshops on music and sound heritage, followed by an evening of music and performances at HOME Manchester.
The event featured collaborations across several research groups, including Contemporary Intimacies, MASS (Music and Sonic Studies), and DARK , and brought together speakers from academia, public history, arts, and cultural practice.
Highlights included:
• Session One, ‘Alternative Voices,’ hosted by Karen Gabay, which discussed underrepresented stories in Manchester music, Northern Soul, DIY archives, and the intersections of music, film, and fashion.
• Session Two, ‘40 Years of the Manchester Studies Oral History Collection,’ explored the history of this collection through a panel discussion and sound interludes.
• Session Three, ‘Paranormal Manchester,’ presented by DARK ( DARK is a research group at Manchester Metropolitan University that focuses on the paranormal, occulture and counterculture), examined Manchester’s heritage of ghosts, UFOs, and the occult.
• Session Four, ‘Intangible Heritage in Place,’ focused on the connection between cultural heritage and physical spaces, featuring a Long Table panel discussion with audience participation.
The evening event at HOME showcased performances by PhD students and staff from DARK and MASS (Music and Sonic Studies Research group), exploring themes like soundscapes, queer sonic geographies, and electronic interpretations of Manchester’s cultural heritage.
This event offered a deep dive into Manchester’s cultural and historical diversity, fostering public engagement across various disciplines.
‘ Very lucky to have a job with brilliant colleagues that allows us to creatively engage with research through music and sound, as part of our ‘Intangible Sounds’ programming with Manchester Histories Festival 2024. We had a brilliant day and evening on Saturday. Fortunate to share a panel with fabulous colleagues talking about alternative voices, narratives, archives, and histories.
Susan O’Shea Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University & Musician
Day 4: Sunday 9 June 2024
Celebration Day
Part of Universally Manchester Festival 2024, The University of Manchester
On Celebration Day, Sunday, 9 June, at Alan Gilbert Green, audiences enjoyed a diverse programme of events. Comedians Black Liver hosted ‘On the Green’ in a geodesic dome, starting with Michael Wood’s talk on Manchester’s history, followed by stand-up comedy from five Bright Club members offering humorous insights into the university’s past.
Rachele, Lamin, R, and Tina from The Old Abbey Tap House shared the story of boxer Len Johnson’s fight against racism and the role of pubs as community centres, through songs, spoken word, and rap, followed by a guided walk exploring Hulme’s history.
The dome also featured live music, with Manchester ballads by Michael Wood and Steve Knightley, an emotional performance of ‘Nana was a Suffragette’ by The Love Notes, modern Manchester classics from The Retros, and a closing ska punk set by the Galivantes.
Next door in the Bloom tent, attendees enjoyed hands-on workshops, including rag rug making, Mesolithic techniques, and a collaborative cityscape project. Ruth Jones’ ‘Many Hands’ celebrated university alumni with crafting workshops and a parade, while Danielle De La Wonk performed hula hoop tricks as Sandwonka, a circus strongwoman.
Outside, Tilly and Trixie of Tea Club entertained with dancing and conversation, and the quirky 16rpm added fun. Guided tours explored local historical sites, led by John Piprani and Andrew Fernley, including a shop, synagogue, and key American connections in Manchester.
Toward the end of the day, a group from the Pro-Palestine protest camp visited to share their views on the situation in Palestine and their reasons for occupying The University of Manchester’s Whitworth building.
Day 4: Sunday 9 June 2024
Conversations
Part of Universally Manchester Festival 2024, Students’ Union,
University of Manchester
A series of captivating conversations hosted by Simon Parry, Director of Social Responsibility and Internationalisation at The University of Manchester were a highlight of the festival. They included:
• Muslim Arts Festival Migration Stories: Karen Shannon, CEO of Manchester Histories, spoke with three migrant women—Dudiya Zilic from Bosnia, Nilofer Siddiqi from India, and Nafeesa Madani from Libya—about their powerful migration experiences.
• Champ’s Camp: Professor Hannah Barker, University of Manchester led this discussion focused on the history and legacy of Phil Martin and Champ’s Camp boxing club, featuring insights from those who knew Martin best, including Carl Thompson former World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Champion.
• A Forgotten Wartime Tragedy: 80 Years after the 1943 Bengal Famine: Professor Anindita Ghosh led a session remembering the tragic Bengal Famine of 1943, including a documentary film, a Q&A session, and an invitation for attendees to share their memories.
These conversations provided deep insights into historical and contemporary issues, enriching the festival and fostering meaningful dialogue.
Day 4: Sunday 9 June 2024
Histories & Heritage Marketplace Manchester Central Library
The ever-popular Celebration Day Histories and Heritage Market Place brought together over 50 museums, archives, and projects from across Greater Manchester to celebrate the city region’s rich history and heritage. Originally due to take place in The Whitworth Hall, the venue switched to Manchester Central Library less than two weeks before the event was due to take place. The short notice did not deter the stallholders from both attending and supporting the event with many informing their own audiences and helping to share messages through their own channels and networks.
The Celebration Day activities took over the whole of the ground and lower ground floors of the library with stalls, talks, film, exhibitions and two joyful acapella performances from the Golden Voices choir, including ‘Nana Was a Suffragette’ written by accomplished musician, singer and composer, Jules Gibb. The whole event was covered by All FM whose own stall provided a base for recording activities and interviewing stallholders and attendees.
The Histories & Heritage Market Place serves several principal functions. It introduces the public to an incredible range of engaging, accessible, history-focused organisations from across Greater Manchester. This underpins a pivotal part of Manchester Histories’ work in the community to support individuals learning
about their own heritage, that of others, and making vital connections to society today. Understanding the past helps shape the future and can deepen a sense of belonging and connectivity beyond one’s own community. The event is held in a fully accessible space and entry is free of charge to remove all barriers.
The Histories & Heritage Market Place is also an invaluable networking opportunity, especially for those managing organisations and projects on limited resources, as many are run by a minimal staff team reliant upon volunteers, or fully volunteer run. Inviting the sector, which represents organisations of all sizes and types, to come together under one roof in an informal and welcoming space provides the chance to refresh, reflect and make new connections.
A special mention must go to the wonderful team at our partner and host organisation, Manchester Central Library, who, together with Manchester Histories staff and volunteers, worked tirelessly to bring the event to life with great enthusiasm, and whose generosity was crucial to the success of the event.
well
‘ Just wanted to say thank you for putting on such a great event over the weekend. Enjoyed both days I was there and it was great. I was thinking yesterday I wish we could do this every month but I know that would be too much of a headache organising it. Once every couple of years is more than enough.’
Heritage Marketplace and ‘R Histories
Open Mic Extravaganza! Participant
‘ Celebration Day is such an important event for us as small heritage organisations as it’s one of the very few opportunities for networking as a sector. I’ve caught up with people I haven’t seen for a while and made lots of new contacts which has been great! ’
Stallholder
Day 4: Sunday 9 June 2024 Celebration Day
Talks Manchester Central Library
As part of the Celebration Day programme, Manchester Histories hosted six thoughtprovoking talks by academics, subject specialists, and authors, taking attendees on a journey through history and beyond.
The Reading Room sessions included The Appley Bridge Meteorite (including actual meteorites!) with meteorologist Russell Parry. Dr. Natalie Zacek and Professor Rosemary Broad from the University of Manchester gave a talk on historical and modern slavery. Additionally, bestselling author Brian Groom introduced his latest book, ‘Made in Manchester.’
City Library talks included Polyp, co-author, and illustrator of graphic novel ‘Peterloo’ and new book ‘Courage;’ ‘The Roads to Rome’ with
Professor Catherine Fletcher, and a screening of a specially produced film archive of Manchester Metropolitan University by North West Film Archive.
The talks played a crucial role in enriching the audience’s experience. Covering a wide range of topics, attendees gained valuable insights into important issues, enriching their understanding of Manchester’s history and its global relevance. Author talks encouraged reading and discussion, and archival screenings brought local history to life. These talks sparked dialogue and intellectual exchange, contributing to Manchester’s cultural and educational vitality.
‘Birth Day’ Exhibition Manchester Central Library
The University of Manchester Museum of Medicine and Health joined Celebration Day, showcasing artefacts from Manchester’s medical history. The event featured ‘Birth Day,’ a pop-up exhibition inspired by the University’s anniversary, developed by MA student Zixuan Yang and supervised by Dr. Erin Beeston for Manchester Histories, with curator Dr. Stephanie Seville’s oversight.
Panels highlighted Dr. Catherine Chisholm, the first female graduate of Manchester Medical School and founder of Manchester Babies Hospital in 1914. Digitised maps from the University’s Special Collections displayed birth and baby care sites in Manchester. Visitors marked their birthplaces on maps, fostering community and linking personal stories to Manchester’s medical and social history.
‘ I must just say that the help and communications that I have received about accessibility from you, and the team, are exceptional and are a perfect example of “walking the talk ” when it comes to inclusion. It is very much appreciated’
Audience Member
Manchester Histories Festival 2024
Communications & Marketing
Manchester Histories engaged Stop Pigeon Marketing and PR consultant Lesa Dryburgh, to develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy.
Branding
Imagine Design created a unique graphic visual to mark the Manchester Histories Festival 2024. This visual was consistently used across all campaign materials, including print, online, and outdoor screens throughout Greater Manchester. It was also featured at all Manchester Histories Festival 2024 events.
Digital
The hashtag #MHF2024 was created and used to build ‘threads’ of coverage on social media. All partners, participants, collaborators, artists, companies, and volunteers were sent social media guidelines for use to increase awareness amongst their networks.
A city-wide digital campaign took place from 20 – 26 May 2024 with 14 large screen displays arranged through Manchester City Council Communications Team. The locations included 10 screens on ‘The Loop’, Mancunian Way, Princess Parkway, London Road, and Chester Road. The audience reach of this campaign was in the region of 1.2 million (Source: Manchester City Council Communications Team).
Digital display screens were shown at the entrance in Manchester Central Library from February to June 2024 and the ‘walk-by viewers’ for this duration was in the region of over 570,000. (Source: Manchester Central Library).
A 1.5-minute promotional film was commissioned, created, and distributed on 13 May 2024 to accompany the digital profile-raising campaign.
Professional photography and film of the entire four-day festival was commissioned for legacy and archive purposes. Over 500 photographs and a short 4.34 film now form an integral part of the future promotion of Manchester Histories.
Communications & Marketing
Overall social media data (Manchester Histories)
Facebook facebook.com/manchesterhistories 3.9K Likes, 4.4K Followers
Instagram instagram.com/manchesterhistories 3K Followers
X (Twitter) twitter.com/mcrhistfest 24K Followers
YouTube youtube.com/@ManchesterHistories over 250 subscribers, 95 videos
Histories Festival 2024 social media data
12,300 Up 136.7% from previous six-week
LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/manchester-histories/ over 450 followers X (Twitter) May 2024 Tweets 45 Impressions 102.8k Visits 9,441 Mentions 295
Reach: 3,800 Up 161.3% from previous six-week period
Profile Visits: 431 Up 72.4 % from previous six-week period
New followers: 139 Up 90.4 % from previous six-week period
‘ It’s been amazing to be here today [at Manchester Histories Festival 2024] to celebrate and spend time with other people who are as passionate as we are about what really is the world’s greatest city’
From: Chris Osuh, Yakub Qureshi & Dr. Dean Kirby, participants at ‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza!
2024 and creators of podcast about Manchester History called Everything But a Beach.
https://everythingbutabeach.com
https://x.com/mcrhistfest/ status/1799511085604610397
‘ The plural in Manchester Histories Festival is an essential one. Just as there is no single Manchester, rather a city mapped uniquely by the desire lines of each of its inhabitants, there is also no definitive history, no neat succession of elected and non-elected figureheads, fixing time according to who is on the banknotes. The realities are more elusive than the official record, their relative importance not only a matter of gender, but of class, of race, even of taste’
Desmond Bullen, Northern Soul review https://www.northernsoul.me.uk/intangiblesounds-manchester-histories/
Communications & Marketing
Website Launch
A ‘soft-launch’ of Manchester Histories Festival 2024 took place on 6 May 2024 and the full programme was uploaded and launched on 13 May 2024, including links to book free tickets to capacity-limited activities and events.
Public Relations
Working alongside PR consultant Lesa Dryburgh, we developed and implemented a PR strategy that included four media releases issued between February and May 2024. These releases covered open calls for submissions, programme announcements, and local community involvement.
A bespoke media contacts list of almost 200 contacts was created, including previous media coverage contacts and new contacts locally, regionally, nationally, and sectorally. This PR list now belongs exclusively to Manchester Histories as a legacy of the work.
PR coverage of Manchester Histories Festival 2024 included online and broadcast media previews, live broadcast, interviews, and reviews across around 20 publications and stations. These included ALLFM 96.9, Creative Tourist, InYourArea, Mums&Dads magazine, News4Trafford, Northern Soul, Talking About My Generation, Reform Radio, and Visit Manchester amongst others.
The list of PR coverage generated is here: bit.ly/MediaCoverageMHF2024
Marketing
The festival produced 1,000 programmes (distributed by volunteers over the four-day festival); 50 A3 posters; 500 engagement flyers to attract participants to ‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza! (distributed at pre-festival events and Manchester Central Library); 500 Opening Night Launch programmes (for distribution on 6 June 2024 at the Whitworth); and four new ‘pop-up’ banners which were placed at all events to raise profile and clearly ‘brand’ all events across all sites to audiences in attendance and for photography and film branding for legacy and future promotion materials.
Manchester Histories Festival 2024 partnered with The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, celebrating 200 years in 2024.
Additional programming and marketing partnerships were developed with ALLFM 96.9 community radio station, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Creative Manchester, School of Arts, Culture & Languages, The University of Manchester, Digital Independent Specialist College (DISC) and SendCode, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester City Council, Manchester Central Library, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Poetry Library, and the Whitworth.
These partnerships enabled an increased reach in audience development and profile awareness raising for Manchester Histories through establishing wider networks and information distribution across multiple organisations.
Audience Development
In 2024, there has been a notable shift in audience attendance demographics. We have seen a steady increase in younger attendees. This is due to commissioning and producing events with students and emerging artists, programming choices, partnerships, marketing and PR, have all contributed to a younger crowd attracted to many of the activities and events. For example, from visitor feedback forms this year 31% of attendees were from people under 40 in comparison to the last festival is 2022, where 20% attendees were from this age group.
Volunteers
Manchester Histories volunteers are crucial to the success of each biennial Manchester Histories Festival. In 2024, despite significant last-minute changes, our volunteers rose to the challenge, often increasing their shifts and adapting their roles with exceptional flexibility and commitment.
Our team includes long-term members with over 10 years of experience, new recruits, and University of Manchester students. They provide invaluable support, from assisting attendees and events to handling logistics.
Throughout the year, about 10 regular volunteers support Manchester Histories’ community work. This year, several also contributed to the planning and delivery of the ‘R Histories Open Mic Extravaganza!’, bringing energy and ideas to the event.
A heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers for their unwavering dedication. We could not have done it without you!
‘ I really enjoyed helping at all the events. It was super! Always happy to help & take part. Look forward to the next event!’
‘ It was great working with you planning the ‘R Histories days and I really enjoyed my two shifts at the opening event at the Whitworth and the Sunday festival at The University of Manchester.’
Manchester Histories Volunteer
Snapshot of Engagement
Manchester Histories Festival 2024
Expenditure
In terms of in-kind contributions to the festival, Manchester Histories Volunteers (excluding University of Manchester students) totalled 254 hours and, based on the April 2024 Living Wage rate of £11.44 per hour, amounted to a total value of £2,905.76. The above budget does not include staff time and core costs, which amount to approximately 50K.
Manchester Histories Festival 2024
Accessibility
Manchester Histories are committed to accessibility for all. Events were held in accessible venues, and support staff were available to assist attendees. Digital materials and alternative formats were provided where possible. Attendees were encouraged to contact us in advance with any additional access needs, and we did our best to support them at the festival.
Sustainability
The last Manchester Histories Festival focussed on sustainability and climate change. We wanted to continue with lessons learned and ensure that sustainability was built into the planning and delivery processes of this year’s event and of future Manchester Histories Festivals. Here are a few ways in which we did this in line with the seven core themes of sustainability as set out by Vision 2025 and Manchester City Council.
Governance
Manchester Histories is run by a core group of four who make decisions as a team during weekly meetings, for every decision made, discussions took place as to how to move forward in the most sustainable way in accordance with the principles of sustainability.
Energy
Mains power was used for the entire programme of events. This is the most environmentally sustainable option.
Travel & Transportation
Manchester Histories Festival Team members travelled to work on public transport and bicycle where possible.
Following the initial meeting with The University of Manchester and aside from necessary site visits, 100% of meetings with Universally Manchester and external partners were held online.
Food & Drink
Manchester Histories has a no-meat policy, all catering on site was vegetarian / vegan.
Materials & Waste
• Branded team T-shirts were responsibly sourced and not dated so can be used at future events.
• Branded pens were made from paper and card instead of plastic.
• Stall holders were asked not to bring single use plastics to celebration day.
• Goodie bags were made from paper and contained useful items with no plastic.
• Lanyards were re-used from the previous festival and collected in to use again next time.
‘ I must just say that the help and communications that I have received about accessibility from you, and the team, are exceptional and are a perfect example of “walking the talk” when it comes to inclusion. It is very much appreciated.’
Festival Goer
Water
Manchester Histories Festival 2024
Artists and contributors were asked to bring refillable water bottles, water provided by Manchester Histories Festival was available in cartons instead of plastic bottles.
Positive Influence
We engaged with communities throughout Greater Manchester and gave a platform to many different voices to share their histories, having a positive impact on community cohesion.
What we plan to do next time
• Improve our written sustainability policy.
• Strive from more cohesion with partner organisations on policies including reduction of plastic waste by banning single use plastics.
• Measure energy use if possible.
• Record procurement and continue to buy local and reusable whenever possible.
• Record journeys travelled by Manchester Histories Festival team and reduce vehicle use.
• Results from the new donut tool – being rolled out by Manchester City Council to measure and improve event sustainability. Recommendations will be followed at the next festival. The key need for improvement lies with separating food waste.
Key
Key
Indicates many areas of positive impact. Keep up the good work and consider sharing your best practice story with your local authority.
Indicates some areas of positive impact. No significant changes needed, but could be reviewed to improve.
Indicates many areas of positive impact. Keep up the good work and consider sharing your best practice story with your local authority.
There is some good practice under way but room for improvement.
Indicates some areas of positive impact. No significant changes needed, but could be reviewed to improve.
Indicates some negative impacts can be identified. Review to identify improvements.
There is some good practice under way but room for improvement.
Indicates multiple areas of negative impact. Review to identify possible improvements.
Indicates some negative impacts can be identified. Review to identify improvements.
Indicates multiple areas of negative impact. Review to identify possible improvements.
Insights & Recommendations
• Some people felt that the festival was not promoted enough in local neighbourhoods, and others were unaware of the venue changes for talks and activities on Sunday, 9 June. As a small charity, we struggle with this because we do not have a dedicated team member to manage ongoing activities each year. Instead, we rely on freelancers who, while brilliant, need time to learn our procedures. This limits the time available for marketing and outreach. This is a recurring challenge, and we may need to consider charging for some events so we can employ someone on a permanent contract going forward.
• On the opening night, because of protests outside the building, the welcoming table was moved from outside the Grand Hall to the lower ground floor. This caused confusion for guests, some of whom were turned away and were not told they could enter the lower ground gallery space to view the public performance. We received several complaints, and people felt embarrassed and unhappy about being turned away. In the future, we will work with our partners to prevent this from happening again and ensure clearer communication.
• Our talks were originally scheduled for the Council Chambers lecture room at Whitworth Hall but were moved to Manchester Central Library due to an occupation of the building. This relocation caused challenges, including changes to the programme timings and splitting the talks between the Research Room and the exhibition area outside City Library, with three talks running concurrently in each space. Unfortunately, some attendees were notified late, and a few missed their talks by arriving at the wrong venue. Despite this, they were understanding, and the talks still drew a full audience with positive feedback. To prevent similar issues in the future, we plan to improve communication, provide clearer signage, and offer on-site assistance to ensure all attendees are informed of any changes. This will help us create a smoother experience for festival participants.
• Overall feedback from all festival volunteers was positive, with one volunteer remarking that they felt ‘treated as a member of the team, with no distinction between staff and volunteer.’ A small number felt that the shifts with less activity or interaction with the public were too long. This feedback will be taken on board and in future the level of activity or engagement will be more regularly monitored on the day and roles switched where possible to ensure everyone has a varied experience.
Conclusions
Manchester Histories Festival 2024
While the festival was successful overall, it is important to note the impact of the encampment and pro-Palestine protests at The University of Manchester. Manchester Histories acknowledged this situation’s challenges and expressed solidarity with those affected by the conflict. We aimed to maintain neutrality and understand the perspectives involved, recognising the protests as significant historical moments. However, these events did affect the festival, leading to some participants withdrawing, boycotting, or avoiding certain activities. This impacted on audience and visitor numbers in comparison to other festival years.
Looking ahead to future festivals, Manchester Histories remains committed to inclusivity and honouring diverse perspectives within our community’s history. Moving forward, we plan to enhance communication and contingency planning strategies to better address and mitigate potential challenges. This includes proactive engagement with stakeholders, clearer communication channels during sensitive periods, and adaptable programming to ensure all voices are heard and respected. By embracing these challenges as part of our festival’s narrative, we aim to foster a more inclusive and resilient event that reflects the richness of Manchester’s cultural landscape and its diversity.
Manchester Histories Festival 2024
Festival Team
Karen Shannon, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Manchester Histories. Lead Creative Producer.
Janine Hague, Project Manager Manchester Histories.
Sarah Jones, Cultural Administrator Manchester Histories.
Daisy Lee, Freelance Festival Producer, Leeway Creative Production.
Erin Beeston, Curation of the ‘Birth Day’ Exhibition with Zixuan Yang and Stephanie Snow.
Lesa Dryburgh, Director Stop the Pigeon, Freelance Communications Consultant (Marketing & PR for Manchester Histories Festival 2024).
Maxim Shannon, Audio Visual Technician.
Imagine, Design for Manchester Histories Festival 2024.
Jonathan Keenan Photography.
Belle Vue Productions Film Crew.
Stage Managers Matt Lee and Dave Boardman, Leeway Creative Production.
Special thanks to Manchester Central Library staff and to Hafiz Imran, Manager (Programmes), Malay Heritage Centre, Singapore.
Manchester Histories Board of Trustees:
Manchester Histories Board of Trustees: Hannah Barker (Chair) Melanie Tebbutt, John Williams, Ben Edwards, Kirsty Hutchison, Catherine Flecther, Rob Higginson, Charlotte Wilding, Jahmal Williams-Thomas, Cllr Adele Douglas.
Manchester Histories Patrons: Micheal Wood and David Olusoga.
Manchester Histories Volunteers: Adam Kilkenny, Adam Royle, Adele Taylor, Andrew Mercer, Charlotte Peters Rock, Claire Robinson, Erica Kinniburgh, Helen Eden, Jane Emanuel, Johana Schnug, John Carpenter, Kevin Murphy, Laura Earnshaw, Louise Forbes, Mark Baker, Mark Simmons, Phil Catling, Poppy Beswick, Rachael Gilbert, Rachel Foster, Ruby Keenan, Sia Shin, Zixuan Yang.
Thanks to the following artists and facilitators for making the festival come to life on Sunday 9 June:
Black Liver, Bright Club, Micheal Wood’s Band - Manchester Ballads, The Love Notes, The Old Abbey Tap House, The Retrosettes / Nutmegs, Galivantez, Manchester Skyline – Sam Selley, Henna Fusionz, Weaving Threads – SALC, Eye of Newt (weaving and rag rugs), Many Hands Parade –Ruth Jones’ Dancers, 16 RPM Carpeters – Peter Finnegan, Sandwonka Hula workshop & performance – Danielle De La Wonk, Tea Ladies Tilly and Trixie of Tea Club.
Special thanks:
AHEAD (Arts and Humanities Engagement and Dialogue MMU), Creative Manchester, HOME, Manchester Central Library, Manchester Metropolitan University’s engagement programme, fostering positive impact through research, Manchester Poetry Library, The University of Manchester Music Department & Media Services, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Manchester student volunteers, Universally Manchester Festival 2024.
Manchester Histories would like to acknowledge the generous support of all of the funders, without their support the festival would not have happened. A massive, big thanks.
Also, to all the people who attended the festival as audience members both in person and online, you made it special, and Manchester Histories hopes to see everyone again in 2026.
Funders:
The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority , Creative Manchester.
Support:
BBC Philharmonic, Digital Independent Specialist College, The Whitworth, Manchester Art Gallery, Archives+ Partnership.
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Histories
2024 funded by:
Manchester Histories Festival 2024 in partnership with The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, celebrating 200 years in 2024.
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