Bringing Together the People of Manchester to Celebrate the Histories of Manchester - The Original Modern City
The first ever Manchester Histories Festival took place at Manchester Town Hall on 21 March 2009. The event saw over 60 organisations and societies and 40 schools exhibiting their work, 18 talks by high profile speakers including Tristram Hunt, Sheila Rowbotham and Michael Wood, opportunities to ask questions of experts, more than 20 guided walks around the city, archive film shows and performances from costumed interpreters, musicians and schools.
Over 4,000 visitors came on the day and their response was overwhelmingly positive with a particular enthusiasm for the diversity of histories and personal stories shown, in many cases for the first time in public.
This free Festival was a collaboration between Manchester University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester City Council, Manchester Primary Care Trust and The Wellcome Foundation all of whom share the same intentions to reveal and celebrate the extraordinary histories that make Manchester what it is and to increase the pride people have in this, the World’s first truly modern city.