Free! Just turn up.

For the exhibition full detail please visit: https://www.theportico.org.uk/dining-in-portico

Dining In: Exploring Manchester’s histories through our stomachs is an exhibition about the history of dining and food in the Northwest of England, how that’s changed over time, and the future of food and dining through interactive events at the Portico Library.

The Portico Library has been part of this rich and diverse history of food. When the Portico first opened in 1806, minutes from the first committee meeting stated that the Library sold ‘soups, tea, coffee, jellies, ices, orgeat, and lemonade’. Although there is limited documentation on the kitchen in the Library from that time, what exists tells us that we are one of the oldest lunch spots in the centre of Manchester.

Curated by multidisciplinary artist Xhi Ndubisi, Dining In is an invitation to explore cross-cultural food encounters, the ethics and aesthetics of production, preparation, consumption, and preservation of food and dining culture. Through an exhibition of the Portico Library’s collection, artwork from local, regional, and, international artists, and a programme of special events, everyone is invited to join in on the conversations, create art using paint from food, and more.