What’s on in February?
03 Feb 2025
Welcome to February’s edition of ‘What’s on?’. Here you will find everything you can get involved in for free each month, ranging from cultural, extracurricular and celebratory events and activities.
Events
LGBT+ History Month 2025
Get involved in our programme of LGBT+ Month History events this February. The theme for this year’s LGBT+ History month 2025 is Activism and Social Change, celebrating the individuals and movements that have driven progress in the fight for equality and human rights.
- Book various events we are hosting this February
Walter Carroll Lunchtime Concert Series
Join trailblazing artist collective, Tangram, on a journey navigating the fragile and destructive relationship between humans and our environment. This concert is brought to you by the Confucius Institute and the University of Manchester Music Department.
- Book your free place on Thursday, 20 February 1.10pm to 1.55pm at Martin Harris Centre
Baroque Opera: An evening with international theatre director Peter Sellars
The University of Manchester is set to welcome renowned international theatre director Professor Peter Sellars this February as part of The British Academy’s Aspect of Art Lecture Series.
- Book your place on Tuesday, 4 February 6pm to 7.30pm at The Martin Harris Centre
International Mother Language Day
This year will be the 9th International Mother Language Day observed in Greater Manchester, a celebration of the cultural diversity and vast number of languages spoken across the city region.
- Book various events from Wednesday, 19 February
Digital Trust and Security Seminar Series: David Kennedy
Join David Kennedy, Director of Arkenox, to explore what makes IPv6 so important, the problems it solves, the security advantages it offers and the challenges it brings, like devices being more easily accessible online and expanded areas for potential attacks.
- Book your place on Thursday, 20 February 2pm to 4pm
Our cultural institutions
Jodrell Bank
All February: Astronomy Photographer of the Year
Manchester Museum
All February: Wild exhibitions
- Tuesday, 4 February (11am to 12.30pm): Wild Shared Reading
- Wednesday, 5 February (1.15pm to 1.45pm): Collection Bites: Herbal Remedies
- Wednesday, 5 February (6pm to 8pm): Wellbeing Wednesdays
- 5, 12, 26 February (2pm to 3pm): Belonging in Wild artist residency
- Wednesday, 5 and 12 February (12pm to 12.50pm): Introductory tai chi qigong sessions
- Friday, 14 February (10.30am to 3pm): Finds ID: With the Portable Antiquities Scheme
- Saturday, 15 February (11am to 4pm): Bird Rave
- Wednesday, 19 February (6pm to 7.30pm): Critical Conversations
- Thursday, 20 February (12pm to 1pm): Not all accents are created equal
- Saturday, 22 February (12pm to 4pm): Meet the Changemakers: International Mother Language Day
Whitworth Art Gallery
Various dates: February half-term at the Whitworth
- Saturday, 15 February 10.30am to 1.30pm): Outdoor Art Club
- Saturday, 22 February (10.30am to 4pm): MACFEST 2025
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Various dates (2.15pm to 3pm): Rare Reads
Various dates (11am to 11.30am): Printing Press Demonstration
Various dates (11am to 11.30am): Rylands Discovery Tour
Our community
Religious celebrations and traditions
Saturday, 1 February: Imbolc (Spiritualist)
Sunday, 2 February: Vasant Panchami (Hinduism)
Sunday, 2 February: Candlemas (Christianity)
Tuesday, 11 February: Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes/World Day of the Sick (Christianity)
Wednesday, 12 February: Māgha Pūjā (Buddhism)
Saturday, 15 February: Nirvana Day (Buddhism)
Tuesday, 25 February: Maha Shivaratri (Hinduism)
Friday, 28 February: Start of Ramadan (Islam)
- Find out more about religious celebrations that some colleagues observe in January
Awareness days
Tuesday, 4 February: World Cancer Day
Thursday, 6 February: Time to Talk Day
Groups and societies
Book club
Our next book is The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi by Elif Shafak. We will also recap Four Seasons in Japan by Nick Bradley.
You don't even need to have finished the book (although there will be spoilers!).
Why not head over to our Viva Engage (yammer) group for more reading inspiration!
- Contact Fiona.Lynch@manchester.ac.uk for the zoom link for Friday, 28 February 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Want to feature your event next month?
If your event is free and open to all colleagues at the University, you can advertise it here next month!
Submit your suggestion to uninews@manchester.ac.uk by 25 of each month to feature in the following month. Please send us a short description (max 30 words) and any relevant links you may have too.
Please note that we unfortunately cannot guarantee your submission will feature, but we will do our best to feature as many as we can.
The deadline to feature in March’s ‘What’s on?’ is 25 February. Any questions, just drop us an email!