Manchester Jewish Museum

Time Capsule!
Songwriting Group

When

Where

Learning Studio

Fee

Free

Do you love to write? Or have an interest in exploring music? It doesn’t matter if you’ve never written songs before, we are an open group for anyone of any ability!

Our Song-writing Group meet monthly to work with amazing composers, singers, writers and musicians to create new music and poems inspired by the stories in our collection and your own experiences.

In this session we will be working on a new song, inspired by the museum’s historic time capsule! In Spring 2021 during the museum’s renovation, our builders made an astonishing discovery of a time capsule hidden in the historic synagogue’s walls. The glass jar, complete with its wax seal intact, was hidden deep in a wall cavern next to the Museum’s Ark (the holy cupboard which houses the Torah Scrolls). Filled with synagogue documents, newspapers and coins, these original artefacts are dated from around the time when the synagogue was first founded, in 1873.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR TIME CAPSULE DISCOVERY HERE

Image: Alex Cropper, Manchester Jewish Museum’s curator and Eugenie Karen, Conservation Officer from Manchester Central Library opening the 1873 time capsule found in the walls of the museum’s historic synagogue

Using words written by our local communities, we will weave together a ‘Song for the Future’, exploring what people love about Cheetham Hill & Crumpsall and Manchester Jewish Museum. This song will go inside our new time capsule to mark the 150th anniversary of our synagogue. Exciting!

Don’t worry if you’re new to the group, our doors are always open for new members – it’s a supportive space to try something new! No writing or music experience necessary. If you have an instrument you’d like to bring along, please feel free.

What you need to know

The session is open to anyone aged 18 and over, of any level that is interested in exploring music and song writing– beginners and seasoned pros!

The workshop is 2 hours long and there will be refreshments provided.

There is no need to bring anything to the session, but if you’d like to bring an instrument you would be more than welcome to.

Our building includes step free access to the entrance via a ramp, a lift to the first floor, level access throughout the ground floor and accessible gender neutral toilets. We have a wheelchair available to hire, free of charge, during your visit. Please click here for more access information. If you have any additional access needs, let us know by e-mailing gemma@manchesterjewishmuseum.com.

Click here for information on travelling to the museum.

If you require anymore information about the group please email: Gemma@manchesterjewishmuseum.com.

Related Events

Following on from the sold-out 2022 show, Noga Ritter Trio return to Manchester with a newly released album. Come listen to Noga's new songs, tracing influences from her upbringing, travels and encounters and sing-along to the firm favourites. Expect an electric show and get moving to these irresistible sounds!
Join us for the Manchester premiere of this award-winning documentary about the unknown photographer who created iconic images of the 20th century. The film will be followed by a discussion with director Peter Stein and Manchester Jewish Museum's curator, Alex Cropper.