Manchester Jewellery Week to launch City of Suffragettes exhibition

Manchester is set to host its first jewellery festival this September, with the launch of Manchester Jewellery Week and a lead exhibition exploring the city’s feminist heritage through contemporary jewellery.

Co-founded by jewellers Jo Lavelle and Eve Redmond, the event runs from 10–16 September 2026, featuring workshops and talks across Sale, Chorlton and Altrincham.

City of Suffragettes opens at Manchester Craft and Design Centre on 12 September 2026 and runs until Christmas Eve. It features original works by members of the Association for Contemporary Jewellery (ACJ), who were invited to highlight Manchester’s suffragette legacy.

The festival, organised in collaboration with ACJ, intends to introduce contemporary jewellery to new audiences through exhibitions, talks, workshops as well as trails and events, highlighting its role in communicating powerful social and political ideas.

The exhibition will explore themes of equality, protest, resilience and courage, drawing on the legacy of Emilie Pankhurst and her daughters as well as the city’s activists, artists and community leaders.

Eve Redmond, co-director of Manchester Jewellery Week and curator of the exhibition, said: “Manchester has always been a city of radical voices. By challenging ACJ members to create new work inspired by our pioneering feminist history, we explore how wearable art can give physical weight to protest – honouring our roots while directly confronting the socio-political landscapes of today.”

Alongside the flagship exhibition, the programme includes installations and events at selected venues including Manchester Art Gallery, Home Arches, The Portico Library, Fred Aldous and Frog Flowers.