Founded in 1806, The Portico is an independent subscription library, open free to the public six days a week. The unique collection reflects Manchester’s Boomtown society and spans over 450 years, with a series of contemporary and historic exhibitions by international artists complementing the library’s diverse outreach and events programme. Hosting a range of collaborations and research projects, The Portico is also home to the prestigious biennial Portico Prize for Literature.

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