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150th Anniversary Celebration
OUR BUILDING REACHES A MILESTONE BIRTHDAY
Saturday 22nd April 2023
Manchester Craft and Design Centre’s Victorian market building reaches a milestone 150th birthday this year!
We hope you can join us on Saturday 22nd April 2023 to celebrate our building’s sesquicentenary. There will be free clay workshops with Katherine Lees from 11am – 2pm and complimentary food & drink from BQ Bitesize. Visitors can also expect to see the brand-new exhibition Entomagical by ceramic artist Anna Collette Hunt.
Our building first opened its doors in 1873 and was part of the bustling Smithfield Markets. The majority of the markets were demolished in 1978 and the remaining disused retail fish market was converted into Manchester Craft Village in 1982.
Two of the original fishmonger booths are still here today. These original shop fronts belonged to market traders and housed their offices. The fishmongers would set out their produce on stalls below the booths.
The celebrations continue on Sunday 23rd April as we welcome back Kantos Chamber Choir with two performances of Sea Change at 2.30pm & 5pm. Their performance takes a deep dive into the age-old folklore of the ocean, featuring nautical-inspired songs by Judith Bingham, Vaughan Williams, Mäntyjärvi and more, alongside sea shanties including Haul Away Joe & viral sensation The Wellerman. Tickets are on sale now, find out more and book your tickets here.
