Relax and let your creativity flow in an historic setting at the heart of Ancoats.

Two local artists – Gemma Hemingway and Joe Ford – have come together with the Hallé’s Archive Team to offer two fantastic creative workshops for adults this autumn. Taking place in the centre of Ancoats, participants will learn the art of paper marbling and bookbinding, inspired by materials from the Hallé archive.

Get together with friends and neighbours in the relaxing environment of the Victoria Wood Hall at Hallé St Peter’s to create something beautiful you can take home. If you have a love of history, art, music and creative activities, these are the workshops for you!  Whilst these are two standalone events, f you book on both activities, you can use the marbled paper you produced in the first workshop to create your unique book in the second.

The first Art Club session – Paper Marbling – takes place on Thursday 20th  November, 7-9pm. Led by illustrator and artist Gemma Hemingway, participants will explore beautiful colours and heritage craft through paper marbling. As an ancient technique, with roots in Japan and Turkey, marbling is now considered an endangered craft within the UK.  Referencing these traditional techniques, this session will provide you with a more accessible introduction to this colourful world, as well as the knowledge to carry forward on your creative journey

The second Art Club session – The Art of Bookbinding – takes place on Saturday 22rd November 2-4pm, and will be led by Joe Ford, a multi-disciplinary creative practitioner, who loves to work with traditional crafts and first learnt to book bind many years ago at Manchester School of Art.  Traditional bookmaking uses linen, cotton and paper, bringing them together to create story and connection. In this session you will be able to use the marbled paper you created in the previous session, or Joe’s own beautiful papers, and bind them into a beautiful eco-book, using a modified Japanese bookbinding stitch.

Tickets for these workshops cost just £30 for each two-hour session. The ticket price includes all materials and complimentary refreshments. Thanks to the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, there are a limited number of discounted tickets for Ancoats residents. It’s a great opportunity, especially if you are new to the area, to meet your neighbours whilst trying something creative.

Tickets for both events can be purchased at https://HalleArtClubAutumn2025.eventbrite.com