What’s On’ South Newsletter ‘ June 2021 Compiled by the Community Inclusion Service Volunteers’ Week is about celebrating and thanking those who give up their time to make a difference. Download free resources and templates to help you have a Volunteers’ Week to remember. https://volunteersweek.org/get-involved/resources/ BECOMING A VOLUNTEER Want to volunteer but don’t know where to start? Volunteers’ Week is a great time to find out more. There are all kinds of volunteering roles out there, contributing to many different causes. Volunteers’ Week is an ideal time to get chatting to organisations you’re interested in and find out more about their volunteering opportunities. Volunteering should be open to everyone, and Volunteers’ Week is committed to supporting, enabling and championing volunteering in all its forms. https://volunteersweek.org/contact-us/ While we can’t help you find a volunteering opportunity directly, the links below can help you find something to suit you. VOLUNTEER CENTRES A volunteer centre is a great place to start if you’re unsure where you’d like to give your time. ‘DO-IT.ORG’ VOLUNTEERING DATABASE Search more than one million volunteering opportunities by interest, activity or location and apply online. CHARITYJOB Search for voluntary work on CharityJob, the UK’s busiest site for charity jobs and volunteering opportunities https://www.charityjob.co.uk/volunteer-jobs We are nearing the end of what's been a very quiet and difficult year for many. For the longest time in living memory, Manchester's world-leading music venues and theatres have fallen silent. The city's many festivals - whether for food or for dance music - have been on pause, there have been no crowds dancing until dawn, and no glitter-strewn parades. The year-end doesn't necessarily spell a return to normality, but with the vaccine roll-out underway, the future looks a lot brighter than it has of late. With that in mind, we're turning our attentions to all the big events we're hoping are able to make their return to Manchester this year It's not everyone's cup of tea - but with around 75,000 people flocking to Heaton Park each day of the weekend-long festival, Parklife certainly has its fans. The huge music festival, like many events this year, had to call off its usual party in the park. But it's now confirmed a 2021 return, with new dates while they plan for a celebration that's 'worth the wait'. The festival will now take place on September 11 and September 12, with New Order performing on the same site the night before Parklife starts. Parklife headliners are expected to be announced in the new year, and registration for tickets is open now: https://parklife.uk.com/ Sounds of the City Back to take over Castlefield Bowl after cancelling this year's event, Sounds of the City will once again bring some of the world's biggest musicians to Manchester. Between June 30 and July 11, the likes of Lewis Capaldi, Foals, The Streets, and Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott will hit the stage. The outdoor summer gig series will also welcome Kaiser Chiefs with Razorlight, Crowded House, and DMA's. Hacienda Classical will make their annual homecoming show, performing orchestral versions of classic club records. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/sounds-of-the- city-tickets/ Manchester International Festival - or MIF - only takes place every other year, so was one of the few returning events that didn't have to pull its plans at the last minute. The huge arts festival is now getting ready for its 2021 return, where it will fill the city with music, theatre and dance. MIF 2021's first event has already been announced - The Walk will see a 3.5m puppet, 'Little Amal', walk through the city centre as a representation of displaced refugees. It's back between July 1 and July 18, with the full programme to be announced in the spring. Manchester Pride's Big Weekend Manchester's annual LGBTQ+ celebration took its events online this year, with a massive virtual line-up. It's hoped it will be able to go full steam ahead in 2021, once again filling the Gay Village with live music and partying. The August bank holiday weekend usually sees thousands gather for the Pride parade through the city centre, before some of the biggest names in music take to the stage at Depot Mayfield. In 2019, the festival hosted Ariana Grande's return to the city - now it's a wait to see what the charity's plans are for the next installment. Bluedot Bluedot brings together the worlds of science and music at Cheshire's Jodrell Bank, in a family-friendly fiesta spread over four days. It's a highlight of the country's festival calendar and right on Greater Manchester's doorstep. Bluedot pushed its festival back to July 2021 but the lineup is largely unchanged for now - that means headline performances from Bjork, Groove Armada and Metronomy beneath the awesome Lovell telescope. Tickets are on sale now with Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/bluedot-festival- tickets/artist/ Book of Mormon It's the first bit of big theatre news we've had in a long time, with dozens of touring and local productions cancelled in 2020. The Book of Mormon is on its way back though, following a sold-out summer run of shows in 2019. The hit comedy musical is back at the Palace Theatre between December 7 2021 and January 2 2022 (though if last year's demand is repeated, they'll add more dates). Written by South Park creators, the story follows two missionaries sent from their home in Salt Lake City to preach the Mormon religion to a remote Ugandan village. Tickets are on sale now from ATG Tickets: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the- book-of-mormon/palace-theatre-manchester/ Culture From May 17th culture in Manchester is back and there is going to be so much to enjoy. On this site you’ll find re-opening museums, galleries and libraries, theatre performances and film, music and dance and a special section with events just for families. Whether you’re a regular attender or a first time visitor there’ll be something for you in Manchester’s reopening programme and this summer also sees a packed calendar of events in Manchester’s squares and open spaces. You can rest assured that Manchester’s venues are taking every measure to ensure your safety. Plan ahead, allow extra time for your journeys and travel during quieter times. Find out the latest travel advice at: tfgm.com/coronavirus. Let Culture set you free! #HereforCultureMCR Find your space and reconnect with Manchester – discover what’s on your doorstep to explore right now. https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/find-your-space- in-greater-manchester The Manchester Flower Show Mark the start of summer with Manchester’s first public event of the year. The Manchester Flower Show is back, and bigger than ever. Across the city centre shop windows, doorways, balconies, public squares, fountains and even statues go green (and red, and pink, and yellow). Come back into town for free floral trails, Instagrammable moments, great shopping, and alfresco food, drink and fun at your favourite bars and restaurants. Saturday 29 May – Sunday 6 June 2021 Grayson’s Art Club Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3JL An exhibition of works selected by artist Grayson Perry during Grayson’s Art Club, the popular Channel 4 TV series. All the works on display are very personal visual representations of lockdown, made by the public, well-known artists and celebrities for Grayson’s Art Club. This celebration of creativity in people’s homes chronicled the changing moods of Britain in isolation, providing a unique record of this globally experienced extraordinary time. Open 19th May 2021 – 31st October 2021. Free, booking essential. https://manchesterartgallery.org/exhibitions-and- events/exhibition/graysons-art-club/ Manchester Museum is delighted to reopen from Wednesday 19 May and looks forward to welcoming you back! Explore 3 floors of displays and exhibitions, including objects from all over the world. There are so many fascinating things to discover - from Stan the T.rex to the Vivarium, and newly bred Harlequin frogs. Visit the new exhibition We Are Nature - 19 May to 31 August 2021. Discover Wild Chorus and Voicing Silence, two new artistic responses to the beauty, complexity and decline of wildlife, now on display at the Museum. Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL Digital Nature Course Love being outdoors? Want to improve your digital skills? This is the course for you. You do not need to have digital skills to attend this 6 week course. All abilities are welcome. You must have access to a smart phone, be aged 19+ and live in Manchester. Manchester The course runs from the 8th June – 14th July. Tuesdays 1-3pm in Whitworth Park Adult and Wednesdays 9.30am – 12pm Education at Greenheys Adult Learning. Adult Call Kate on 07814 041432 for more enquiries or to book your place. Education ult Education Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre is reopening its doors on the 23rd June and they have an amazing line-up planned, in particular their popular Elders Mondays programme. ELDERS MONDAYS TAKE PLACE ON THE 1ST AND 3RD MONDAY OF THE MONTH AND ARE THE PERFECT WAY FOR OLDER PEOPLE TO STAY CONNECTED AND REMAIN CREATIVE. While Covid-19 restrictions remain in place, Elders Mondays will continue online.