Discover the fine art exhibition developed by Josie Flynn—one of our lecturers on The Manchester College Visual Arts team—showcasing her research within Things of the Least at Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3JL, UK.

This exhibition forms part of a three-year project exploring how very young children—under the age of three—interact with objects in museum and gallery environments. The project centres voices and perspectives often overlooked in cultural spaces: the imaginative ideas of babies and toddlers, the thoughts and experiences of families rarely represented in the sector, and the significance of everyday objects that may not be considered art but hold powerful stories.

At the heart of the exhibition is the Mary Greg Collection—an eclectic and idiosyncratic assortment of domestic and childhood objects, worn yet wonderfully curious. Inspired by their unique ‘thingness’, six artists created a bespoke play kit used in sessions with families living in temporary accommodation and in community play sessions at Platt Hall.

This exhibition invites audiences to rethink what belongs in galleries and to celebrate how the smallest ideas—often coming from the youngest visitors—can reshape our understanding of art, objects, and collective storytelling.

Exhibitions

Things of the Least: lively exhibition-making with children under-3

October 24, 2025  -  November 30, 2026

Free Admission