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A new competition is encouraging Manchester primary school pupils to share the reasons why they love the city - with a chance to become part of posterity.
Pupils aged seven to 11 in schools citywide are being invited to think what they love most about Manchester and then choose an object which represents it. The 10 winning suggestions will be buried in a time capsule underneath Central Library together with a copy of the Jubilee Brochure, commemorating the royal visit to Manchester in March this year, signed by the monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh. Central Library was opened in 1934 by the Queen’s grandfather George V. The competition is part of the Town Hall Transformation project, which is seeing the Central Library and Town Hall extension extensively refurbished to deliver state-of-the-art services while preserving both gems for future generations.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "The transformation of the Central Library is a project of historic significance which will create a world class modern library which will be cherished for decades to come in this fine Grade II listed building. "The work brings together past, present and future so it’s only fitting that today’s children are given a chance to share their enthusiasm for Manchester with future generations. "We’re keen to hear their imaginative ideas about what makes Manchester great. It could be something in their community, a building, a park, an invention, or something to do with sport or music for example.” The town hall extension reopens next year. When Central Library reopens in 2014, some 70 per cent of the building will be open to the public – a huge increase on the previous 30 per cent, with improved access to the historic treasures it houses.
A new underground walkway will link Central Library and the town hall extension, making it easier to get from one building to another, and it is underneath this that the time capsule will be buried. As well as having their suggestions placed in the time capsule, the 10 winners will each receive £50-worth of vouchers and each winner's primary school will also win £100-worth of books. They will be VIP guests at a ceremony to bury the capsule later this year and entries will go on display in the re-opened Central Library. The closing date for entries is Friday 8 June. For more information, visit www.manchester.gov.uk/timecapsule |
