EVENTS

Our events are designed to celebrate the diverse interests and passions of our community, offering something for everyone. From informative workshops to lively panel discussions, from networking opportunities to art exhibitions, our calendar is constantly abuzz with exciting happenings.

What sets SEESAW's events apart is our commitment to collaboration. We believe that the best ideas come from a collective effort, which is why we actively involve our members in the event creation process. By listening to your suggestions, interests, and expertise, we ensure that each event truly reflects the vibrant spirit of our community. Whether you are a long-standing member or someone new to the SEESAW family, our events offer you a chance to connect with like-minded individuals, expand your knowledge, and discover new horizons. 

SEESAW's events also extend their reach beyond our immediate community. We embrace the opportunity to collaborate with external partners, inviting industry experts, thought leaders, and innovators to join us in delivering enriching experiences. This ensures a diverse range of perspectives, stimulating conversations, and opportunities for mutual learning that go beyond our walls.

So, whether you're looking to broaden your network, gain new skills, or simply engage with an incredible community, SEESAW's events are here to make it happen. We invite you to explore our dynamic programme, mark your calendars, and join us!

Mind The Gap - Alison Lam

From April to November, Lam worked closely with neurodivergent communities across the UK, hosting art workshops to explore these themes. The collaborative works created during these workshops became the foundation for the exhibition. Through this process, overwhelm emerged not just as a challenge but as a nuanced experience with the potential for growth and transformation.

The title, Mind the Gap, refers to the space between chaos and calm, between neurotypical and neurodivergent experiences and how these forces coexist. It invites the audience to reflect on how we navigate overwhelm and find meaning in these in-between spaces.

This exhibition is fully funded by Arts Council England National Lottery Grants.

Opening 20th February until 2nd March, 10am-4pm Every Day, except 11am opening on Sundays.

The Waiting Line - Bobbie Wilson

Bobbie Wilson is an artist and curator based in Manchester, she currently works from DMZ Studio in Ancoats.

Bobbie creates emotionally charged depictions of her personal history, where simple moments are embedded with themes of grief, memory and mental health.

‘The Waiting Line’ chronicles a chapter of the artist’s life, a diary of works responding to the changes in her mental health, oscillating between illness and healing. Bobbie invites us to peer at her inner world, her flitting fixations, where paintings of the peaceful Yorkshire moors sit alongside anxiety ridden self-portraits.

The exhibition launches on Friday 21st Feb 6-9pm, and continues until March 21st.

Spill The T x Catalog: Creative Conversations.

Welcome to "Spill the T"; a series of talks designed to inspire, educate, and foster meaningful discussions among the vibrant community of creatives in Manchester. Join us as we dive into expert-led insights, share experiences, and learn from one another's journeys.

Catalog is an independent bookshop that comes out of a transformed cargo bike. The idea for a bookshop on wheels was born back in 2020, due to a combination of factors - my love for the printed world; inspiration taken from the independent shops that I have come across my travels; as well as by the Scandinavian indie scene and way of living.

An Aladdin’s Cave of independent magazines, journals, books, and stationery; an oasis for the lovers of the printed page.


Topics to be covered:

• The Power of Independent Bookshops

• The Philosophy of Curation: What Goes on the Shelves

• Building a relationship with local community

• Managing an Independent Business

• The Future of Independent Bookstores and Magazines

• Q&A, engaging with the audience

Ladies Wine and Design: Accelerate Action

Come join us at SEESAW for an evening of creativity, conversation, and connection that will bring together women in design, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries in a panel discussion to consider how we can take action to push for progress.

Expect inspiring discussions, shared experiences, and a supportive community committed to making an impact.

We are thrilled to have an incredible lineup of speakers who are making waves in the creative on our panel:

  • Karen Hughes and Khadija Kapacee - Founders of EDIT

  • Liz Newell - Head of Design at Creative Concern

  • Leyya Sattar - Founder of Other Box

Join us in raising a glass to progress and purpose. Let’s come together to Accelerate Action and make a difference – because collective efforts drive real change.

Coffee and Poems Club

For people who like coffee but want to try out poetry. ☕🖊️

Coffee and Poems Club is all about coming together in cafes and trying out something new. It's about making writing poetry more simple. You come and enjoy a coffee, hear some poems, and then we write some poems together. If 2025 is your year of trying out something new, this event is for you. 

The session will be hosted by Louis Glazzard at SEESAW. Louis Glazzard is an author and coffee lover. His poems have been published nationally and he released his debut poetry collection Human Men in 2021. He started Coffee and Poems Club in 2024 when he realised he spent so much of his own time writing in cafes and wanted to offer a relaxed event for people to try out writing and connect.

Tickets for this event include a coffee in the cafe at SEESAW.

The Neurodivergent Gals Creative Club

Welcome to The Neurodivergent Gals Club! They host in person social events for ND gals & LGBTQIA+ pals every second Thursday of the month. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with like minded people. The creative club runs differently every month, featuring knitting workshops, bring your own craft and more. Don't miss out on this opportunity to unleash your creativity and connect with fellow crafty enthusiasts. See you there!

Other People’s Poetry

A Spoken word evening, a little differently. Artists from around Manchester will be performing poetry that has inspired their creative process, sharing their passion and context for their works whilst performing other people's poetry.

This event is hosted collaboratively by Joseph Conway and SEESAW. (Other People's Poetry will be recurring on every third Tuesday of the Month)

The event is a Pay What You Can Event; this ticket fee is to pay the artists and all money paid will be distributed evenly between all performers.

The bar will be open, do buy a refreshment to support the venue!

Doors open 6:30pm
Event Start 7pm
Line Up TBC

Manchester Society of Architects Talk: New Practice

Marc Cairns is Managing Director at New Practice, experts in place working across the UK and Ireland. The practice exists to develop the community, creative and cultural capacity of places and to connect people with the decision making processes that underpin lived experiences.

The practice is committed to embedding social value in place-based projects across the UK and beyond through community engagement, meanwhile use, retrofit & reuse and strategies for community; ensuring that community-centred briefs and shared decision making shape the future of the built environment.

New Practice, a RIAS and RIBA chartered practice, became part of Civic in Autumn 2024 through a shared commitment to the design and delivery of places that have a positive impact on the environment and enable people to lead healthier, happier lives.

High Peak Linguist French Conversation Club

Welcome to French Conversation Club!

Join us for a fun and interactive way to practice French at SEESAW. Aimed at those who can already speak a little (or a lot!), this event is perfect for anyone looking to improve their French conversation skills.

Our club provides a casual and supportive environment where you can meet new people, practice conversational French, and learn about French culture. The hour will be well-structured and gently guided by Lucy; an experienced private tutor and language specialist, harnassing texts and audio/visual material on a range of engaging topics, aiming to inspire lively discussion.

Immerse yourself in the language and perhaps make some new friends in the process. However rusty, we're here for you!

Join us at SEESAW for our next meeting. À bientôt!

SHADE Yoga Club

Come escape the hustle and join us for our weekly yoga club meet-up and discover how transformative the power of yoga has on dealing with stress in a supportive and welcoming community! Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just starting your journey, our meet-ups offer something for everyone. Immerse yourself in an hour of mindful movement, guided by experienced instructors who will help you deepen your practice and explore new techniques.

Catalog Pop-up: A Bookshop on Wheels

Pete from Catalog will be parking his book bicycle in SEESAW's Foyer Area. Catalog is a mobile independent bookshop where quality is valued over quantity. A speciality magazine space with a focus on high-quality publications of both local and international magazines and books.

Treat yourself, grab a read and a coffee - warm out of the rain.

Catalog will be matching the coffee shop opening hours of 8:30am-4pm.

ClayLife.

Looking for something completely unique to do? Look no further! The perfect occasion to spend a fun couple of hours with a friend, family member or a date. Also, a fabulous solo-date you will meet and mingle with like-minded creatives

Join our Nude Model Sculpting Sessions and learn the art of sculpting a figure out of clay under the expert guidance of Nina, specialist figurative ceramicist.

Don't worry if you're a beginner, Nina will provide step-by-step instructions to help you create a stunning sculpture that you'll be proud to take home, all the materials are provided.