The gallery adopts a more grown-up mood in the evening. Meet friends for a cheeky beer or glass of wine and forget the hassles of your day when you browse our exhibitions and displays.
There’s often something special going on too, from live music to an artist’s talk. Check below or give us a call for details of what’s happening each week.
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7 – 9pm
Home, Land and Sea Art in the Netherlands 1600-1800 special opening night
Manchester City Galleries’ has an exquisite collection of 17th and 18th century Dutch and Flemish paintings that have been brought together in a new exhibition that opens tonight.
From 7pm see evocative paintings of everyday life, stormy seas, calm, peaceful landscapes and still lifes of luxury goods that have been redisplayed to reveal the Netherlands’ great artistic heritage. For the first time, these paintings will be shown alongside works by major contemporary artists: Mat Collishaw, Gavin Turk, Rob and Nick Carter, and 2013 Northern Art Prize nominee Rosalind Nashashibi.
At 7.30pm enjoy an historic music performance by Accordes who will play music by the 17th century Dutch composer and poet Constanijn Huygens (1596-1687) and his circle. The performance includes a lute, theorbo and Baroque guitar. Accordes is a sub group of the larger ensemble Partita.
This exhibition has been curated by Henrietta Ward, The National Gallery Curatorial Trainee supported by the Art Fund.

We're showing a selection of films made between 1936 and 1938, including the experimental animations of Len Lye and Norman McLaren, plus some well-loved classics and less well-known films. The screenings will be followed by a discussion.
Come early and get a drink or snack from the Gallery Cafe, to enjoy during the film showing. The screening will start promptly at 6.30pm in the Lecture Theatre.
This is part of the public programme for our exhibition Between the Wars, which presents a selection of Manchester Art Gallery’s fine art collection that explores and celebrates the diversity of British art from the years between the First and Second World Wars.
Free, booking advised. Book tickets at Eventbrite
6-8.45pm
An Evening of Fashion, Music, Art and Marcel Proust
Join us to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the publication of Marcel Proust's Swann's Way at Manchester Art Gallery in partnership with the University of Manchester.
Enjoy a multi-sensory journey back in time to the late 19th century Parisian salons from which the novel was born, and explore highlighted works from the Gallery's collection that relate to Proust's novel.
Musicians from RNCM will be in the Galleries performing chamber music inspired by late 19th century Paris.
Free, booking advised. Book tickets at Eventbrite
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7-9pm
Pecha Kucha Night
This Summer Pecha Kucha is making a welcome return to Manchester. If you've never heard of us here is a bit of info:
PechaKucha 20x20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. Each speaker speaks for the duration of the 20 images and once they've finished, their time's up!
PechaKucha Nights are informal and fun gatherings where creative people get together and share their ideas, works, thoughts, holiday snaps - just about anything, really - in the PechaKucha 20x20 format.
The night won't be themed so if you would like to do a presentation contact the Manchester hosts Alex Bird and John Mouncey:
Email: a.bird@manchester.gov.uk j.mouncey@manchester.gov.uk
Free, but booking advised. Book tickets at Eventbrite
5-9pm
Between two worlds
Take a closer look at our Between the Wars exhibition with curator Kate Jesson. Join in with some peace-time knitting with artist Jim Giles, weigh things up with a balance sculpture with artist Sarah Marsh. Share stories using the galleries’ Mary Greg collection. Take a closer look at some 20s and 30s fashion and make your own. Get in the mood with our Barbershop quartet and Charleston Dancing.
Between two worlds has been organised by Valuing Older People cultural champions and friends of Manchester Art Gallery and the Gallery of Costume. Come and join us for a great evening, organised by older people for people of all ages.
No need to book. Feel free to bring a much-loved object from the Between the War years to share with others. Exhibition talk will be from 5-6 p.m. Please contact Ruth Edson on 0161 235 8877 or r.edson@manchester.gov.uk for more information.
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6.30-8.30
'An Ideal for Manchester Realisable If -' Talk by Dr Michael Harrison
Art for All: Thomas Horsfall's Gift to Manchester is an exhibition about Thomas Horsfall's remarkable Ancoats Art Museum that he set up in 1886.
An illustrated talk that provides a fascinating insight to Manchester's history, art education, philanthropy, and town planning. There will also be an opportunity to look round the exhibition in the Manchester Gallery
Horsfall’s pioneering work in gallery education and his desire to bring art to the people of Manchester had a significant impact on the city’s poor communities, especially children. Horsfall is responsible for changing the law to allow schools to visit museums as part of the curriculum.
Tickets are £5.99, book at Eventbrite
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6.30pm
Lumière-Liberté: Jewish Artists in Paris c.1910–1939
Monica Bohm-Duchen, author of several books on Chagall, looks at émigré Jewish artists in early 20th century Paris, setting their migration to France in its broader context.
This event is part of Chagall in the North West, in partnership with Manchester Jewish Museum and Tate
Tickets are £6 (Free for Manchester Jewish Museum
Best Friends and Patrons). Book at Eventbrite
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7pm
The Lilac Apocalypse: Anger, Passion and Pathos
Art historian Michael Howard places Chagall’s crucifixion paintings in context with other crucifixion scenes by artists ranging from Michelangelo to Francis Bacon.
This event is part of Chagall in the North West, in partnership with Manchester Jewish Museum and Tate
Free, booking essential. Book tickets at Eventbrite
Meet up with friends, drop in for food and drink, browse the galleries and shop at your leisure. Our cafe offers a special evening menu of moreish snacks and generous sharing platters with a special selection of wines and beers chosen to complement them.
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