Every year, throughout August, we explore the art of play with FREE activities opening up our indoor and outdoor spaces to the communities that surround us.

This summer we’re inviting our PLAYTIME visitors to explore ways of ‘doing things differently’ inspired by Economics the Blockbuster: It’s Not Business as Usual.

Visitors to PLAYTIME will be be encouraged to gather natural materials from around the Art Garden and Park to ‘make’ and ‘trade’ with their friends and family in our PLAY Market role-play area.

No money will be transferred, instead creativity and imagination will be applied to disrupt conventional ideas of value. Think mud pies in exchange for pebbles or magic potions for conkers…

As children play they will be exploring notions of re-imagining the economy, collaborating, negotiating, problem solving and learning as they go.

Pentagon Play x Whitworth

All the equipment in our PLAY Market has been kindly donated by our partners at Pentagon Play. Into its fourth year, this Pentagon Play x Whitworth partnership emphasizes the power of collective action and mutual support, reducing the dependence on traditional monetary transactions. Instead, it promotes alternative forms of exchange and champions a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

The following activities form the PLAYTIME programme:

PLAY Market

Drop-in Tuesdays 10:30am–1pm, Wednesdays 1-4pm, Thursdays 1-4pm throughout August, free.

This summer we invite you to explore ways of ‘doing things differently’ inspired by exhibition Economics the Blockbuster: It’s Not Business as Usual.

Make and trade with friends in our market role-play area. What will you make? Mud pies in exchange for pebbles or magic potions for conkers?

Supported by our friends at Pentagon Play.

PLAY Whitworth Minecraft

Available during gallery opening hours

Play our two specially designed Whitworth Minecraft arcade machines in our School of Creativity.

PLAY Baby

Available during gallery opening hours, free.

An open-ended sensory play space for babies and their grown-ups to explore and spend quality time together.

PLAY Tŷ Pawb

Thursdays, drop-in 1-4pm, free.

A free open access playworker supported session in our Economics the Blockbuster exhibition. Facilitated by playworkers from Wrexham.

National PLAY Day

Wednesday 2 August, drop-in 11am – 2pm, free.

On top of our PLAYTIME games and interventions join us as we fill the galleries with song, dance, arts, crafts and circus skills celebrating our partnership with the charity Afrocats.

Everyone Is Welcome

Thursday 10 August 10:15am – 12:15pm, free

A family friendly workshop run by our Venture Arts and School of Creativity artist in residence, Sally Hirst.

For more info and to book visit our website

All the resources as part of this year’s PLAYTIME have been kindly donated by our partners Pentagon Play, the UK’s No.1 School Playground Provider (QR code)

All these activities are free, for more information, http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

Gallery opening times:

Closed on Mondays

Open: 10am – 5pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and until 9pm on Thursdays.

Follow @whitworthfamilie son Instagram for more updates on PLAYTIME 23 or contact our Producer (Early Years & Families) Lucy Turner lucy.turner@manchester.ac.uk.