Do Manchester residents have to live surrounded by rubbish?
Or can we change it? #GMTalkingRubbish
In 2018 we inspired the Manchester Museum to host a unique community-led exhibition and event to call time on the Manchester mess, and say “we need to talk about rubbish“.
- to identify the multiple causes of the rubbish in our streets and alleys,
- to challenge the simplistic blaming of residents and communities for the mess,
- to use the systems, and question the policies, to deal with it,
- to work together to make a practical difference.
The exhibition had over 100 displays by over 40 contributors, and occupied the beautiful top floor of Manchester Museum. Over 200 attended the evening event. Given its success, the exhibition continued for a further two weeks, with family activities on the Saturdays.
‘A Rubbish Night at the Museum’ brought together residents, community groups, artists, businesses, social enterprises, students, waste professionals and others across GM and across cultures, to say it’s time for action, and it’s time for a policy that works:
The aim is to inspire the universities, the council departments, the contractors and other professionals, to work together with residents to rekindle the famously ambitious and pioneering spirit of Manchester – to build the capacity to address the global problem of rubbish on our doorstep.
Major thank you to Esme Ward, who as the incoming Director of the Manchester Museum engaged with the ideas and challenge, made discussions inspiring, and ultimately made this event possible.
Event funded by the University of Manchester ‘Engaging our Communities’ fund. Inspired by the research and report ‘Talking Rubbish in Moss Side‘, funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).
A Rubbish Night Contributors
Click to view credits
Coordination and networking
Simon Pardoe, Mossimpact / Upping It.
Dr Sherilyn MacGregor, University of Manchester SCI.
Esme Ward, Director of Manchester Museum
Anna Bunney, Manchester Museum.
Rubbish Night discussions
Chairs:
Dr Sherilyn MacGregor, University of Manchester.
Phil Barton, former CE of Keep Britain Tidy.
Invited discussants:
David Taylor, Director of Contract Services, GM Waste Disposal Authority.
Mark Atherton, Director of Environment, Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Christine Mathewson, Rochdale Env Act Network.
Sophie Walker, COO of Dsposal.
(Manchester City Council declined)
Readings
Clive Layode Asgill, Writer, performer.
Alison Jeffrey, Lecturer in Applied Theatre, University of Manchester.
Georgina Davidson, Daisy Williams, Ethan Fox, UoM Drama students.
Hussain Jafri, Jay Din, Urooj Arsalan, Moss Side residents.
Research
Dr Sherilyn MacGregor – Research lead
Anne Tucker
Jay Din
Luke Nolan
Pete McCabe
Rosalind Wilding
Simon Pardoe
Ulka Gaitonde
Graphic design of displays
By the display contributors, plus:
Simon Pardoe, Mossimpact.
Rachel Harper, PomPom.
Catering
Real Junk Food – Chris Haydon.
Video
Film of the event: direction, filming and editing: Zoe Parker Moon.
Puppet video: filming with children: Luke Nolan. Editing: Tim Wilding.
Creators of the 100 displays
– Individual residents:
Claudia Alonso Puebla, artist – 11 artwork displays including entrance. The event poster.
Phil Barton, artist – 2 artwork displays.
Carlos Vicente, artist – 1 artwork display.
Hussain Jafri – 1 display
Urooj Arsalan – 1 display
– Community groups:
Upping it:
Rosalind Wilding – 17 displays.
Anne Tucker – 4 displays.
Simon Pardoe – 17 displays.
Rochdale Environment Action Group: Christine Mathewson and REAG team – 3 displays.
Leithers Don’t Litter, Edinburgh: 4 displays from their Crapitalism event.
Old Trafford: THE BACK gallery: Lynda Sterling – 4 artwork displays.
Rusholme & Fallowfield Civic Society: Sue Devlin – 1 display.
– University of Manchester:
Dr Sherilyn MacGregor – 2 displays.
Sustainable Consumption Inst. – 2 displays.
Manchester Museum – 2 displays.
– Companies, CICs and Charities:
Dsposal: Sophie Walker & Tom Passmore – 5 displays.
Recycle Bees: Luke Nolan – title display board with primary kids.
Furniture Poverty Hub: Helen Middleton – 2 displays.
Manchester repair café: – 1 display.
Displays with exhibits or workshops
Julia Kasmire, UoM – e-waste.
Bryony – Stitched Up Cooperative.
Naomo Kashiwagi, MM – waste origami.
Rosy Wilding – Upping It, Painted bins.
Mark Haig – Gismobots from e-waste.
Chris Haydon – Real Junk Food.
Volunteers on the night
Lucy Tomlinson, interviewer, Mcr Confidential.
Raphael Charles, Julia Loginovich, Joe Jorgensen, UoM students.
Assembly & disassembly
Claudia Alonso Puebla, Carlos Vicente, Anne Tucker, Lynda Stirling, Pete McCabe, Rosalind Wilding.
The reviews: A Rubbish Night on Twitter
