Wednesday 24 September 2014

Pankhurst in The Park, Manchester Autumn 2014

This Autumn, Alexandra Arts will be curating Pankhurst in The Park; a programme of free events and activities celebrating Alexandra Park’s rich historical connection to the iconic suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst. 

Pankhurst in the Park takes inspiration from the Park's rich heritage connected to the leader of the Suffragette Movement, Emmeline Pankhurst, who was born and bred only yards from the Park in the neighbouring Moss Side estate.

The local community of Moss Side has hosted its fair share of radical history but Emmeline’s achievements, while volatile and controversial, helped to change the course of women's history, and Alexandra Arts believes this legacy is something to celebrate!

To highlight this historical socio-political heritage, which has until now has left no trace locally, Pankhurst in The Park is taking the opportunity to promote the wealth of talented female artists around the world and to provide a platform for art created by women.

The programme will include the Park’s first International Artist Residency, Go! Push Pops from Brooklyn, New York, combined with a free public programme of artist talks and installations situated in and around the stunning Grade 2-listed Alexandra Park and Pavilion.

The programme is open to all and provides the perfect excuse to nose around the newly renovated park and pavilion*. So, come and join us with friends and family for one or more of our fabulous free events.

4 October, 1-4pm
Free
Big Life Draw[ing]: Katarzyna Jablonska
Join artist Katarzyna Jablonska in the newly opened pavilion for an exclusive viewing and talk about her recent commission for Pankhurst In The Park, followed by a tutored life drawing class.
Acoustic Set: Ríoghnach Connolly & Associates
Singer and flutist Ríoghnach Connolly, while strongly rooted in her trad Sean-nós background, also stirs elements of Appalachia, blues and jazz into the folk archive.
Big Draw Mayhem: Naomi Kashiwagi
Families are invited to join artist Naomi Kashiwagi in our exciting Big Draw activity at the park. The Big Draw is an international drawing festival taking place in over twenty countries throughout October

15 October, 5.30-8.30pm
Free
In Conversation With Dr. Helen Pankhurst
Join us in conversation with Dr. Helen Pankhurst as we discuss our new Pankhurst in The Park programme. Inspired by Helen’s great grandmother Emmeline Pankhurst, the programme celebrates Alexandra Park’s connection to the British suffragette movement and its leader, who was born in Moss Side in 1858. Our conversation will be followed by a question and answer session, so get your questions ready!
Meet Our Artist In Residence: Go! Push Pops
Our first ever, international artist in residence will be flying over from Brooklyn, New York, to talk about their practice and their involvement in our programme.
Talk By Hysteria Magazine
London-based HYSTERIA is a periodical and a platform for feminist activism. With a printed publication and happenings all over the world, this is one story not to be missed.

1 November, 12-5pm
Free
Woodland Exhibition Tour: Sarah Hardacre
Artist Sarah Hardacre will reveal the results of her recent commission for Pankhurst In The Park, with a walk and tour through the park's preserved woodland.
Artist Talk: Lynn Setterington
Join Lynn Setterington for a talk about her collaborative signature cloth, which marks the centenary of the death of Emily Wilding Davison at the Epsom Derby in June 1913.
Zine Mania: The Chapness & Queen of the Track
Feminist zine making workshop with Manchester based The Chapess and Liverpool's very own Queen of the Track.

29 November, 7-10pm
Free
Artist Talk and Film Screening: Nataly Lebouleux
A screening of the stop-motion animation film Illuminate will be taking place with an introduction by Nataly Lebouleux - and her props.
Artist In Residence Performance; Go! Push Pops
All the way from Brooklyn, New York, join our artist in residence for a specially commissioned performance at Alexandra Park.
Installation By Julie Fitzpatrick
In collaboration with students from Manchester University's School of Architecture, Architect Julie Fitzpatrick will be exhibiting her new installation at the pavilion.
Music – Dj set by the Mighty Quinn

Alexandra Park
Alexandra Park has been serving the communities of Whalley Range and Moss Side for 144 years. Covering an area of 60 acres, it is one of the earliest and most complete of Manchester’s Victorian parks. Alexandra Park is regarded as of national importance and is a Grade 2-listed landscape on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens. It has recently reopened following a restoration project funded by Manchester City Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, English Cricket Board, the Lawn Tennis Association and Sport England. Facilities include floodlit tennis courts, a cricket square, lacrosse pitches and buildings with community meeting spaces, toilets and changing facilities. The Serpentine Lake has been restored, alongside new hard and soft landscaping, whilst the raised walk has become a formal zone. It’s beautiful but, don’t trust us, come along and see it for yourself!
Alexandra Arts

Alexandra Arts is an artist-led collective based in Manchester's Alexandra Park and founded in 2010. Alexandra Arts is curating the Pankhurst In The Park programme, which has received funding from the Arts Council of England and Norwegian Embassy in London as well as investment from St Mary's Primary School in Moss Side. Visit the links below to keep up to date with a growing calendar of events and installations.

For further details:
Follow: @AlexArtsMCR

*A café service will be available during events taking place in the Pavilion.