UK events: January 2018
North West
Pelé: Art, Life, Football
8 May 2017 to 4 March 2018
National Football Museum, Manchester
The great Pelé is a player like no other. A global soccer superstar who helped define what it meant to be one of football’s elite.
In his era, no player was as revered for his ability on the pitch or as closely-studied for his moves off it. From a teenager with the world at his feet to a three-time World Cup winner sitting pretty in New York; the biggest star of the (NY) Cosmos.
Pelé: Art, Life, Football looks at the stages of the Brazilian icon’s life; from Santos to New York via four World Cups, through the eyes of artists and photographers around the world. In addition to a superb collection of art inspired by the man, the National Football Museum has brought together iconic items from their own collection and those owned by private collectors to illustrate the life and career of the first man to truly transcend the global game.
Robots
19 Oct 2017 to 15 Apr 2018
Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
The robots are coming.
In fact, the robots are already here.
We think of robots as a modern invention, but we’ve been harnessing the power of robotics for more than 500 years.
Get close to a unique collection of over 100 robots, from a 17th century dancing wine goblet and an animatronic baby, to Maria from 1927 film classic Metropolis and a news-reading android from Japan.
Go behind the scenes and discover recent developments in robotic research, and learn how robots are being built to resemble us, interact with us and think like us.
Robots at the Museum of Science and Industry explores our obsession with recreating ourselves in human form, and what it truly means to be a human in a robotic world.
Scotland
Historic Tours of Glasgow University
Throughout January 2018 – check dates on website
Glasgow University
Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. Originally located on High Street in the city centre near Glasgow Cathedral, in 1870 it moved to the stunning collection of buildings perched upon Gilmorehill today, where it continues to watch over the bustling city and picturesque tenements of Glasgow’s West End.
The University of Glasgow tours, run by the Glasgow University Students’ Representative Council, will take you on a fascinating journey around some of the university’s most significant spots – from philosopher Thomas Reid’s tombstone and the atmospheric cloisters, to the very same staircase Lord Kelvin would take from his house to his laboratory – whilst discovering the connections of James Watt, Adam Smith, and Isabella Elder whose names are inscribed on the university’s Memorial Gates.
Wales
Cardiff Tasting Tours
Every Friday from 10:30 to 14:30
Cardiff
Enjoy Cardiff’s delicious food and drink while visiting our beautiful capital city and discovering its people, culture, and traditions. This is a walking and tasting tour including six tasting stops showcasing Welsh and Cardiff’s cosmopolitan food.
Tastings include Welsh cheeses, cockles and laverbread, Welsh beers and cider plus much more. Along the way we pass beautiful parks, majestic buildings, and key landmarks including Cardiff castle, and Principality Stadium: ‘the home of Welsh rugby’.
North East and Yorkshire
The Hogwarts Curriculum Lectures: Defence Against The Dark Arts with Christopher Frayling
22 January 2018
Leeds Central Library
Join us for a live screening broadcast from the British Library in London. History contains no Death Eaters, but plenty of vampires. Cultural historian Christopher Frayling explores the history and myths surrounding these bloodsucking fiends over the centuries and gives a lesson on the various methods of protecting ourselves. How has their appearance changed? What are their weaknesses? And how have they been appropriated by the Gothic imagination?
Christopher Frayling was until recently Rector of the Royal College of Art and Chair of Arts Council England. A cultural historian, critic and award-winning broadcaster on television and radio, he has published over twenty books on art, design, film and popular culture. We are also pleased to welcome Jonathan Ferguson, curator of firearms at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. He will talk about the real life ‘vampire killing kit’ that they hold in their collections, before the screening begins. Jonathan has a particular interest in the folklore and mythology of arms and armour as well as popular culture and the supernatural.
The event is part of the Harry Potter: A History of Magic season at Leeds Central Library.
South East
Jane Austen by the Sea
Until 8 January 2018
Prince Regent Gallery, Brighton
Jane Austen by the Sea will paint a picture of the fashionable resort of Brighton in the early 1800s, when it was a thriving garrison town featured in novels like Pride and Prejudice.
George IV, who created the Royal Pavilion and spent long periods living there when he was Prince Regent, was a high-profile fan of Austen’s – and although she seemed not to approve of his lifestyle she was encouraged to dedicate Emma to him in 1815.
Highlights include:
- The manuscript of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel, Sanditon, set in a seaside town in Sussex.
- Examples of Regency costume and accessories, including a wedding dress that has never been on show before and a dress in the style of the ‘Brighton Walking Dress’ featured in a London fashion magazine in 1817.
- Letters from Jane Austen to the Prince Regent’s librarian, James Stanier Clarke.
South West
Somalis in Bristol: Where Are We From and Who Are We Now?
Until 11 Match 2018
M Shed, Bristol
Produced in collaboration with Black Southwest Network and members of the Somali community, this new display explores the diverse experiences of Somalis living in Bristol today.
Hear personal stories from Somalis and discover the rich heritage of one of the city’s fastest growing communities. Somali identity is a fascinating subject. Loyalty to clan, nation, region, and religion all create a rich assortment of personal identities in a new land.
From teenagers who were born in the city, to those who have adopted it as a place of refuge, discover individual stories through striking photography and intimate oral accounts. Whether you’re a Somali wanting to explore your own identity, or you’re simply interested in finding out more about Somali culture, there is much to discover.
Ireland
Game of Thrones Tapestry
Until 4 March 2018
Ulster Museum, Belfast
See Game of Thrones immortalised in a giant, Bayeux style tapestry, exceeding 77 metres, at the Ulster Museum. From Winterfell to the Iron Islands, this epic tapestry brings to life the infamous events, locations, and story of the most popular television series of all time.
Weaving the story from seasons one to six, this impressive tapestry gives Game of Thrones fans the perfect chance to reminisce over all the action that led to season seven. With new sections then added each week as season seven airs, it’s a unique way to experience the trials and tribulations of the very latest episodes.
Local craftmanship
Designed by hand but weaved by a state-of-the-art machine and hand finished in Northern Ireland, the linen used to form the background of the tapestry has been sourced from Ferguson’s Irish Linen, one of the last surviving linen mills in Northern Ireland.
The delicate hand embroidery completed by a team of 30 stitchers at the Ulster Museum and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum replicates a look consistent with such traditional hand-woven cloth. With blood red weddings, golden Lannister hair, emerald green wildfire, cold-blue White Walkers and jet black ravens, admire their chain stitch, split stitch, back stitch, running stitch and seed stitch as you stroll along the tapestry.
From King Joffrey’s golden crown to Daenerys’ shimmering white and silver hair, threads of metallic, cotton and silk yarns bring vibrancy and lustre to the most popular television series of all time.
Admission is free.
Midlands
Stratford Town Fun Quiz Trail
27 January 2018
Stratford upon Avon
This old market town offers a fascinating setting for a 90-minute quiz trail with its 15th century timber-framed buildings and historical influences of playwright William Shakespeare permeating throughout.
Meet up with your Trivia Trail host at a pre-booked hotel, gastro pub or tearoom in Stratford-upon-Avon before setting off in teams of up to six. Follow the quiz sheet directions, taking in the architecture, the RSC, the canal basin with its colourful barges, and the Old Town to find the answers to the questions.