We know the Christmas season isn’t quite upon us yet, but we have a whole raft of activities planned, some of which are intended to get you into the festive spirit – workshops where you can create cards, decorations and gifts – as well as our flagship Ghosts at the Old Library performances.
Festive Lino Print Card Making Workshop
2pm-5pm, Sunday 20th November
What better way to get get prepped for the yuletide season than treating yourself to a top notch Christmas card workshop.
Facilitated by We Inhabit, as well as teaching you how to create unique, striking cards and crafts for friends and family this Christmas, this session is also an opportunity to find some mindful, creative calm amid the festive hubbub.
Ghosts at the Old Library
8pm-10pm, Saturday 3rd December
8pm-10pm, Saturday 10th December
8pm-10pm, Saturday 17th December
This Christmas, Levenshulme Old Library has commissioned new ghost stories from four writers who join us for this run of atmospheric winter readings.
Featuring Adam Farrer, Richard V. Hirst, Melissa Wan and Marie Crook.
The building will be dimly lit by lantern light and the audience will be led from one space in the building to the next, hearing each story read in full.
LOL Art Club Special – Macramé Workshop
7.30pm-9.30pm, Monday 5th December
Each Monday, we run a free creative session at the Old Library. The LOL Art Clubs are for anyone to drop in and learn a new skill and share their knowledge. This Christmas we’re staging a special one-off with Aggie from CuteThingsByAggie, who can often be found at Levenshulme Market and beyond selling handmade items made using epoxy, jesmonite and macramé.
Macramé is the art of knotting threads and cords into lace using geometrical patterns to create plant hangers, wall hangings and other beautiful items which would make the perfect handmade gifts for friends and family this Christmas.
Attendance is free, no booking is required and everyone is welcome.
Life Drawing with HOP – Christmas Special
7pm-9pm, Tuesday 6th December
One of the most popular regular events we host here at the Old Library is the regular Life Drawing with HOP classes.
These are relaxed arty social sessions which are ideal for both the novice and the more experienced artist. It’s a chance to use your chosen medium to capture the ultimate subject: an actual human person!
This will be a seasonal special, with a hefty cheesboard on hand to lubricate your artistry. With a festive tipple in one hand, charcoal in the other, this creative, mindful and utterly relaxing experience is also a perfect antidote to the impending Christmas frenzy.
These sessions make a fantastic gift too – if you want to buy a voucher for a future session to give to someone this Christmas, drop a message to Lisa at HOP and she’ll make it happen.
Watercolour Wreath Workshop
7.30pm-9.30pm, Thursday 8th December
We’re very excited to welcome Just Janie Creates to the Old Library for a special watercolour wreath workshop, for you to create a unique hand-painted greeting card for that special someone this Christmas.
This is a guided session is suitable for all levels with a festive theme – ideal for those looking to add a new skill to their practice through to those who have never even picked up a paintbrush!
All materials are provided, along with lashings of mince pies – you’re also welcome to bring your own materials and festive refreshments 🍾
Hullabaloo Christmas Special
10am (toddlers), 11am (babies), Friday 16th December
We have a number of baby and toddler groups who meet here in the Old Library – all of whom do fun and fantastic sessions for local parents and carers of young children and many of which will be giving a festive twist to their sessions this Christmas
But we thought we’d throw a spotlight on our newest group: Hullabaloo is a music group for babies and toddlers with an emphasis on singing, bouncing, dancing, tickling and all round musical mayhem.
For this session you can come down to the Old Library for some festive fun and also learn some winter songs to sing to your little ones over the Christmas break.
Keep Warm Club
Each Monday, 9.30am-2.30pm
Each Monday our Studio space is open as a place for anyone at all to come in, warm up, charge their devices, have a cup of tea and generally get on with their life without having to worry about it costing them anything.
There’s no charge, no booking required, no questions asked and everyone is welcome.
The Keep Warm Club will be closed on Monday 26th December and Monday 2nd January.
Find out more.
Donate the Old Library This Christmas
Levenshulme Old Library is a charity led by a group of local residents working to maintain and restore our wonderful building and create a cultural programme for the whole community.
We’re a tiny team fuelled by enthusiasm for what we do and an unwavering belief in our neighbourhood and folks who live here, but any support we can get means more activities, more improvements to our building, and more more people in our community being reached.
If you’re able to make a donation of any kind this Christmas, please consider making Levenshulme Old Library your cause of choice. Thanks!