Inside Manchester’s 11 Million Pound Library Transformation

On this episode, we step inside The Portico Library in Manchester with Thom Keep and Carol Ann Whitehead to explore how a £11 million transformation is reimagining a 220-year-old institution for the future.From improving access and inclusion to finding new ways to tell stories from historic collections, Thom and Carol share how community, advocacy and creativity are helping shape a more welcoming cultural space. They discuss the role of leadership in driving change, the importance of co-creation, and why joy remains at the heart of building meaningful connections with audiences.You'll hear: • Thom's move from academic history into bringing archives and collections to life • The vision behind The Portico Reunited project and creating step-free access throughout the building • Using artists and community co-curation to explore difficult histories responsibly • Insights from public consultation and what people want from cultural spaces today • Creating an environment that welcomes families, students, researchers and first-time visitors • Programming that shines a light on women's stories and suffrage history • Why advocacy is an action and how leaders can create space for others • The role of joy, belonging and community in building lasting engagement • Book recommendations, from an extraordinary illustrated volume on Egypt to graphic novels celebrating powerful womenFind out more about We Are PoWEr here.  💫