‘Smarties’ are a group of children aged 3 to 4 years of age from Cheeky Cherubs Nursery.  Cheeky Cherubs Nursery is situated on the opposite side of the River Irwell from the People’s History Museum so the children enjoy many visits to the museum.  Over January, February and March the children participated in three of our exciting and inspiring interactive story sessions:

• Beeing Special
• Under the Rainbow
• Mr Ordinary’s Prize

The children produced works of art in workshops at the museum and at the nursery.  Their beautiful artworks are now on display at the museum.

Julia Brown, nursery manager said, ‘all of the children and staff of Cheeky Cherubs Nursery have really enjoyed the experience and are very proud to display their work to the public.  Thanks to Catherine, Lisa, Emily and the team at the People’s History Museum for working with us to make this happen.’

The artwork is on display until 10 June 2012.  Please call us on 0161 838 9190 to make an appointment to view the exhibition.

If you would like to bring your group to see one of story sessions, please email learning@phm.org.uk for more information.

We also have public performances of the stories.  Check out our What’s On calendar for full details of events coming up.

Contact Cheeky Cherubs for further information on their wonderful nursery.

Visitors can select which of the 20 audio recordings they want to listen to, to gain more in-depth information about our displays as they progress through the museum’s Main Galleries.

Visitors will be able to use the guides to uncover the symbolism of the ghoulish skeleton painting used at secret meetings in the 1800s, learn more about the Tolpuddle Martyrs, discover the story behind the world’s oldest surviving trade union banner, find out how Keir Hardie revolutionised parliamentary clothing, trace the origins of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and much more!

The simple to use handsets are available for hire from the museum’s reception for just £2 during our trial period between 16 April and 16 July 2012.

Find out more about the Podcatcher and other Guide ID audio tours.

A souvenir fan brought back from the Spanish Civil War bearing the signatures of several International Brigades members has been donated to the museum by Georgia Naish and Baxter Pearson from Wilmslow, Cheshire.

The fan was brought back from Spain by Fred Pearson of Denton who fought in the Spanish Civil War in 1938 in the 15^th International Brigades.  His name is inscribed on one of the slats of the fan.  Georgia and Baxter are Fred Pearson’s grandchildren.

Nearly all the slats on the fan have a name inscribed.  Many of the International Brigades members are from Greater Manchester, including: A. Charlesworth, Oldham; W. Winnick, Fallowfield, Manchester; J. Brannen, Levenshulme, Manchester; F. Borrino, Old Trafford, Manchester; Albert Stubbs, Manchester;  Marcus Harry Brookes, Manchester;  A. Macintosh, Platting, Manchester;  H. Ridings, Manchester;  Sid Silvius, Manchester.  The museum already has several key items in the collection related to the Spanish Civil War and visitors can learn more about British involvement and support for the Spanish people in the Main Galleries.   

Visitors will be able to see the fan on Saturday 28 April as the museum is hosting a Spanish Civil War event, Memories of the International Brigades and Gernika.  The fan will form part of a special display of items related to the International Brigades and the Spanish Civil War, which will be on display for the duration of the event on the 28 April.  Please be aware this event is now fully booked, though visitors can still see the fan on display. 

Visitors are invited to explore the museum during a special late night opening to celebrate Museums at Night on Friday 18 May 2012.  The museum’s story charts the history of protest in the UK over the past two centuries, from the Peterloo Massacre and the suffragettes to more recent strikes and demonstrations.  The museum houses an archive of over 70,000 photographic images, including hundreds of protests in the UK.  Some of these photos will be displayed at this exciting evening event.

Young photographers under the age of 25 studying, living or working in Greater Manchester are invited to become part of the museum’s story by submitting their own protest photography in our Protest Photography Competition.  Entrants must submit an analogue photograph under the theme of ‘Protest’ – it can be modern or past, peaceful or confrontational, creative or absurd.  The only condition being it must be shot on film.

We are thrilled that Lomography Manchester will be partnering with us for this event and have added the challenge that all work must be taken using analogue photography only, just like the fantastic photos in the museum’s collection.  Lomography is an analogue camera company with a worldwide community dedicated to fun, creative and experimental shots.  Their latest UK store opened in Manchester’s Northern Quarter in 2011 and runs a series of workshops allowing people to get a better insight into their cameras.  Special workshops will take place to coincide with this competition in April and May 2012, which include lend of a camera, one roll of film and 10% off film processing.

The competition runs from now until Thursday 10 May at 5.00pm and the winners will be announced on Friday 18 May at our special Protest Photography Evening, with prizes kindly donated by Lomography Manchester and special guests to be revealed.  All shortlisted entrants will have their work displayed at the museum.

Find out more about the Protest Photography Evening, including full details on how to enter the competition.

Though the online poll results were very close, unfortunately the museum was not the winning venue.  Our congratulations go to The Wedgwood Museum, who will enjoy a visit from Martin for their Museums at Night 2012 event.  We are also delighted to congratulate our friends at the Working Class Movement Library in Salford who were successful in their category of the competition to win a visit from photographer Simon Roberts.

Though the museum is disappointed not to have won, we really enjoyed taking part in the competition and are busy planning an exciting photography themed event to celebrate Museums at Night 2012.  The museum houses an archive of over 70,000 photographic images, charting the history of working people and the labour movement – some of which will be displayed at our special event.  We will be running a competition inviting young photographers living and working in Manchester to submit their work on the theme of ‘Protest’.  The winner will be announced at our Protest Photography Evening on Friday 18 May, with special guests and prizes to be revealed.

Find out more about our Museums at Night 2012 event with details of how to enter the photography competition to follow soon.

We are excited to launch our new Community Gallery exhibition, Women and Girls are Strong opening on Thursday 8 March, which includes everything you ever wanted to know about strong women.  Running until Sunday 20 May, this interactive exhibition curated by Feminist Webs invites visitors to add a leaf to the ’Histree’ and enjoy the wall of masks!  Since 2005, the Feminist Webs Movement has been gathering materials and ideas about empowering youth work with girls and young women.  This inspiring exhibition is the culmination of their work.  Feminist Webs would like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund Young Roots Programme for supporting this project.

The museum is also delighted to be displaying Women Like You, the first contemporary portrait of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst by artist Charlotte Newson.  On display until Sunday 1 April, this eye-catching portrait has been created using photo-mosaic, containing 10,000 images of inspirational women sent to the artist by members of the public.  Each photo celebrates the extraordinary lives of ordinary women; from grandmothers, mothers, aunties and sisters to best friends, teachers, colleagues, scientists, politicians and peace-workers – in short, women like you!  Visitors can take the opportunity to meet the artist Charlotte Newson on Wednesday 14 March, 10.30am – 1.00pm and Saturday 17 March, 2.00pm – 4.00pm.  Visitors can also pick up a poster version of the portrait from the museum shop, along with lots of other items celebrating women’s history.  In association with the Pankhurst Centre in Manchester.

In addition, between 1.15pm – 2.00pm come along and watch a Living History performance: The Hard Way Up – A Suffragette’s Story based on the life of suffragette Hannah Mitchell.  This is a free event, suitable for over 9s to adults.  No booking required.  This event has been kindly supported by Manchester City Council.

For more information about International Women’s Day events across the city, please see Manchester City Council’s Diary of Events.

The museum was delighted to hear from the members of the group recently and find out that their trip had proved to be very useful and inspiring, as the group went on to design and create their own banners for the project.  Most of all we were excited to see the fantastic finished banners!

“We had a marvellous time studying the banners including the Ed Hall exhibition, and were interested in all the extra information you gave us.   We were pleased with the accessibility and the space to get around.  We loved the tea and cakes!”

“Your exhibition tour made us realise the importance of colour and good clear shapes in a banner design.”

The banners the group made will be distributed to British Olympic Team Members.  All the St Helens Day Opportunities group members have a physical disability and they have therefore asked that their banners be given to members of the Paralympics’ Team.  Keep an eye out for the banners during the Paralympic Games this summer!  The banners are also on display now on the Quilts 4 London website gallery.

The museum is delighted to announce The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have recently been granted £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards an exciting research project on the history of the Temperance Movement, working with the People’s History Museum.

Led by Dr Annemarie McAllister from UCLan’s School of Education and Social Science, the project will involve volunteers from local communities in collecting memories about Temperance, a movement particularly prominent in the North West that sought to persuade people to abstain from alcohol.  The research project will culminate in the museum’s next Changing Exhibition, Demon Drink?  Temperance and the Working Class, running from Saturday 30 June 2012 to Sunday 24 February 2013.  The exhibition on display at the museum will also be accompanied by an online exhibition that will be available for the public to access via the internet.

Public lectures, family activities, debates, and recreations of Temperance evenings with magic lantern shows are also planned, to show what issues our ancestors were passionate about and what entertainments they would have enjoyed.  Preston is often considered the birthplace of the Temperance Movement, and an exhibition in St George’s Centre will also form part of the Preston Guild celebrations, bringing Temperance history to shoppers, including drinks from Britain’s last surviving Temperance Bar, Fitzpatrick’s in Rawtenstall.

“This massively popular movement in the nineteenth and twentieth century is in danger of being forgotten,” said Dr McAllister.  “Millions of local men, women and children joined societies, signed pledges and excluded alcohol from their lives, and there are people alive today who signed the pledge and went to events in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, for example.  Not only our volunteers, but also thousands of people coming to the exhibitions and events will gain a deeper insight into this previously under-represented aspect of our history. We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable many people to develop new skills and to highlight this neglected aspect of the region’s history.  It might even stimulate debate about attitudes to drink today!”

Find out more about the museum’s forthcoming Changing Exhibition, Demon Drink? Temperance and the Working Class.

This exhibition has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

MHF is a celebration of Greater Manchester’s unique history and heritage, through a ten day programme of events and activities.  With a wide range of activity from talks and walks, to film showings and games to play, there is something to suit all ages and backgrounds.  Visit the museum and enjoy the following events and exhibitions to celebrate Manchester Histories Festival 2012:

Fri 24 February – Sun 1 April
Community Gallery: Women Like You
Created by artist Charlotte Newson, Women Like You is the first contemporary portrait of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst – created by photo-mosaic containing 10,000 images of inspirational women sent in by members of the public.  Each photo celebrates the extraordinary lives of ordinary women:  grandmothers, mothers, aunties and sisters; best friends, teachers, colleagues, scientists and politicians to peace-workers – in short, women like you!
Please note the artwork will not be on display at the museum on Saturday 3 or Sunday 4 March.  It will be on display at Manchester Town Hall for Manchester Histories Festival 2012 Celebration Day on Saturday 3 March.

Fri 24 February
Radical Manchester
Get ready for Manchester Histories Festival and celebrate all things Mancunian on this guided tour of the main galleries of the People’s History Museum.
Suitable for adults.  No booking required.
Free.
1.15pm – 2.00pm

Sat 25 February
Meet the Artist
Meet artist Charlotte Newson who created Women Like You, the first contemporary portrait of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.  Discover how Charlotte created the portrait and how long it took, as well as some of the amazing stories of the women whose photos she used to create the portrait.
Suitable for all ages.  No booking required, drop in activity.
Free.
10.30am – 1.00pm

Sat 25 February
Mirth in the Mill Community Gallery exhibition tour
Join the curators of our Community Gallery exhibition Mirth in the Mill, Alan Fowler and Terry Wyke, of Manchester Metropolitan University, on this fascinating tour. 
Suitable for adults.  No booking required.
Free.
2.30pm  – 3.30pm

Sat 25 February – Sun 4 March
Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society
The museum’s collection includes the archive of the Communist Party of Great Britain.  The Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society have researched the family history of some of the local CPGB members from the 1950s – discover their fascinating findings on display in the museum.  The display will also include relevant materials from our archive.
Family Friendly activity, suitable for all ages.  No booking required.
Free.
10.00am – 5.00pm

Sun 26 February
Clarion Cycling Club and family cycle rides
Enjoy guided family cycle rides from Bolton and Stockport, both arriving at the museum where we will then welcome the Clarion Cycling Club (CCC), arriving on their penny farthings and vintage cycles.  Take the opportunity to speak to riders and see their cycles up close.  Explore the museum displays of Clarion material from our collections, followed by a guided family cycle ride with the CCC riders to the Working Class Movement Library where they will treat us to a Clarion tea!
Family Friendly activity.  Suitable for all ages.  No booking required.
Meeting Points:
- Bolton: Meet at Bolton Town Hall.  Postcode BL1 1RU.  Grid Reference: SJ717092
- Stockport: Meet at junction of A6 (Wellington Road North) and Bowerfold Lane (at the corner of Safestore).  This junction is part of the Trans-Pennine Trail.  Postcode SK4 2LS.  Grid Reference: SJ889908
Times:
- Leaving Bolton at 9.30am (meet at 9.00am)
- Leaving Stockport at 10.00am (meet at 9.30am)
- Leaving PHM at 12.00pm
Free.
10.00am – 2.00pm

Sun 26 February
Living History performance: Moving Stories
Meet Anita Sharma, at school in Manchester in the 1960s, as she describes her summer holiday trip to Bombay with her parents who were born there.  Follow her journey to adulthood as she explores her identity.
Suitable for over 7s to adults.  No booking required.
Free.
12.00pm – 12.30pm

Sat 3 March
Living History performance: Slavery & Suffrage – William Cuffay’s Story
Meet William Cuffay, son of a freed slave, who became a Chartist leader and campaigned for the right to vote. This performance explores the horrors of the slave trade and how it fuelled the Industrial Revolution.
Suitable for over 7s to adults.
No booking required.
Free.
11.00am – 11.45am

To find out more about Manchester Histories Festival 2012, please visit their website.

Members of the public are invited to vote for us, or two other venues, to win a visit from Martin Parr.  We would be thrilled to bring Martin back to his student home of Manchester to talk about his work, inspiring young photographers living and working in the city.  We will also be running a competition inviting young photographers to submit their work on the theme of ‘Protest’. The winner will be announced at our special evening event during Museums at Night, Friday 18 to Sunday 20 May 2012, more details to follow on our website. 

Martin Parr is one of the museum’s favourite photographers and his work links perfectly with the collections and attitude of the PHM.  His subject matter, ordinary people, resonates with the extraordinary story of ordinary people that the PHM displays.  Martin studied photography in Manchester so his connection to the city will inspire young photographers living and working in Manchester. 

The PHM houses an archive of over 70,000 photographic images, charting the history of working people and the labour movement.  Martin’s work continues this tradition of documenting the world from a unique perspective.  During a 30 year photographic career Martin has chronicled the changing face of England, from the sublime and the ridiculous via the mundane and morbid. Martin uses an eye for the acute which saw him inducted into the hallowed Magnum Photographers group at the beginning of the 1990s.

Culture24 has now launched the Connect10 Museums at Night public vote to connect ten contemporary artists with ten museums.   The People’s History Museum is encouraging visitors to vote now!

The Working Class Movement Library in Salford has also been shortlisted, in a different category to the museum, to win a visit from photographer Simon Roberts.  To help our friends there, please vote for WCML as well.

Voting is open until 5pm Monday 5 March.