Exhibition on Manchester's Cotton and Slavery Links

A major exhibition is set to open at Manchester's Science and Industry Museum in early 2027, focusing on the links between cotton, transatlantic slavery, and the city's development. This landmark project, produced in partnership with The Scott Trust Legacies of Enslavement programme, aims to deepen public understanding of how slavery influenced Manchester's growth and its ongoing impacts today. The exhibition will feature new research and engage with African descendant and diaspora communities, marking the first time these historical connections are highlighted in the museum's displays. In addition to the exhibition, a city-wide events program and permanent educational resources will be established. The project is part of a 10-year restorative justice initiative launched in 2023 in response to the Guardian's founders' ties to slavery. Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of the Guardian, emphasized the importance of community involvement in shaping the exhibition.