Manchester Jewish Museum presents its first-ever Festival of Belonging.
From March 7-14th – featuring one-off events and nights of comedy, theatre, storytelling, films and visual arts to examine how we assimilate in new places, explore what makes us feel that we belong and question what happens when we do not.
Taking place at different venues across the city including Manchester Central Library where the Jewish Museum is currently in residency during its ‘wandering’ phase, the Festival is inspired by and features the stories found in the Museum’s collection.
Through the diverse and creative Festival programme, the events will tell the history of the Jewish people who came to Manchester and how they attempted to assimilate – to celebrate and foster a sense of belonging.
Some events will also connect and link with contemporary stories of migration to Manchester within both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities across the city.
Running throughout the Festival is visual art installation – Dark Room by artist Helena Tomlin – a free exhibition at Central Library exploring the anonymous photographs in the Manchester Jewish Museum’s collection.
The darkroom is a place to come face to face with the people in its archive about whom nothing is known. It also offers visitors the opportunity to create a caring response to those whose stories have been lost.
All other Festival events are one-off. Highlights include: Good Appetite with theatre chef Leo Burtin whose ticketed event at Manchester Art Gallery fuses storytelling, food and film to present a unique and tasty evening inspired by the Jewish kitchen. Stories are sifted into dishes, history is stirred with spices and cultures from around the world are sprinkled on top. Come with an appetite for food and for life.
“We are really thrilled to curate and launch our very first Festival of Belonging. In such changing and often challenging times of political and social unrest, it seems a festival to celebrate unity, diversity and belonging is both timely and needed. We are delighted to bring together so many talented and creative people, many with their own stories to tell and many who will so beautifully bring our own to life.
We are extremely grateful to Manchester Central Library for the use of their space and for their continued support offering us a temporary home, and place of belonging whilst major work continues on our permanent site in Cheetham Hill.” (Max Dunbar, Manchester Jewish Museum Chief Executive)
Full festival listings are below. Booking and festival information can also be found via the Manchester Jewish Museum website.
