Word Central & Library Live

A popular open mic poetry evening hosted by Tony Curry and held at Manchester Central Library, typically taking place on the first Wednesday of the month from 6pm onwards with free entry.

The format features a combination of open mic slots and special guests – who have in the past included poet and playwright Gerry Potter and poet Dominic Berry.

It is delivered in association with Manchester Libraries – one of their ‘Library Live’ events – and also Flapjack Press.

Self-described as ‘a semaphore exploding mind flow’, the evening provides opportunity for poets of all abilities to take to the library performance space in front of an audience.

The location of Central Library itself has gained a reputation for increasing engagement with contemporary poetry, as it also hosted the ‘Manchester Voices’ dialect project launch – with a number of local poets reading verse including ARGH KiD and Sid Calderbank.