Dab Hands at Manchester Museum

Dab Hands is an art exhibition on Manchester Museum's top floor which celebrates the extraordinary relationship that we have with our hands. It reveals the value of the skills that can be acquired by repetition and practice, whilst acknowledging the grief and frustration that can disrupt that relationship when illness, trauma, or old age affects our dexterity. Human hands are remarkably sophisticated and adaptable tools, unparalleled in the natural world for the breadth of their capability. Whatever use we put them to, they act as our primary connection with the physical world and with each other.

In spring 2020 Lucy Burscough became Manchester Museum’s Artist in Residence. Throughout the pandemic and while the Museum has been closed for renovation, she has been meeting collaborators, making artworks for the Dab Hands collection and planning a stimulating programme of crafting activities and workshops which will be available to take part in during spring and summer 2023. The workshops explore both our collections and themes of Lucy’s exhibition and will be an opportunity to talk to the artist, learn crafting skills and feel renewed pride and satisfaction in what we can do with our hands.

Highlights of the Dab Hands programme include a series of ‘Become a Dab Hand at...’ evening workshops for adults which will introduce the basics of a range of crafts including felting, embroidery, still-life drawing and crochet; a day-long greenwood spoon-carving workshop with heritage craft expert, Steve Tomlin; several artist tours and family workshops and an evening of Dab Hands themed activities and performances to celebrate the opening of the exhibition on the 8th of March.

Upcoming (0)

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Past (7)

The Dab Hands Studio Seminar primary image

The Dab Hands Studio Seminar

Mon, Jul 17, 10:00 AM

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Become a Dab Hand at...Macrame : One in a series of one-off workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at...Macrame : One in a series of one-off workshops

Wed, Jun 28, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Wet Felting: One in a series of one-off workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Wet Felting: One in a series of one-off workshops

Wed, Jun 21, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Drawing Still Lifes:One in a series of one-off classes primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Drawing Still Lifes:One in a series of one-off classes

Wed, Jun 14, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Printmaking:One in a series o primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Printmaking:One in a series o

Wed, Jun 7, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Embroidery: One in a series of one-off craft workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Embroidery: One in a series of one-off craft workshops

Wed, May 24, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at...Crochet: One in a series of one-off craft workshops. primary image

Become a Dab Hand at...Crochet: One in a series of one-off craft workshops.

Wed, May 10, 6:00 PM

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The Dab Hands Studio Seminar primary image

The Dab Hands Studio Seminar

Mon, Jul 17, 10:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Become a Dab Hand at...Macrame : One in a series of one-off workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at...Macrame : One in a series of one-off workshops

Wed, Jun 28, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Wet Felting: One in a series of one-off workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Wet Felting: One in a series of one-off workshops

Wed, Jun 21, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Drawing Still Lifes:One in a series of one-off classes primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Drawing Still Lifes:One in a series of one-off classes

Wed, Jun 14, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Printmaking:One in a series o primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Printmaking:One in a series o

Wed, Jun 7, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Embroidery: One in a series of one-off craft workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Embroidery: One in a series of one-off craft workshops

Wed, May 24, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at...Crochet: One in a series of one-off craft workshops. primary image

Become a Dab Hand at...Crochet: One in a series of one-off craft workshops.

Wed, May 10, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Dab Hands is an art exhibition on Manchester Museum's top floor which celebrates the extraordinary relationship that we have with our hands. It reveals the value of the skills that can be acquired by repetition and practice, whilst acknowledging the grief and frustration that can disrupt that relationship when illness, trauma, or old age affects our dexterity. Human hands are remarkably sophisticated and adaptable tools, unparalleled in the natural world for the breadth of their capability. Whatever use we put them to, they act as our primary connection with the physical world and with each other.

In spring 2020 Lucy Burscough became Manchester Museum’s Artist in Residence. Throughout the pandemic and while the Museum has been closed for renovation, she has been meeting collaborators, making artworks for the Dab Hands collection and planning a stimulating programme of crafting activities and workshops which will be available to take part in during spring and summer 2023. The workshops explore both our collections and themes of Lucy’s exhibition and will be an opportunity to talk to the artist, learn crafting skills and feel renewed pride and satisfaction in what we can do with our hands.

Highlights of the Dab Hands programme include a series of ‘Become a Dab Hand at...’ evening workshops for adults which will introduce the basics of a range of crafts including felting, embroidery, still-life drawing and crochet; a day-long greenwood spoon-carving workshop with heritage craft expert, Steve Tomlin; several artist tours and family workshops and an evening of Dab Hands themed activities and performances to celebrate the opening of the exhibition on the 8th of March.

Events

Sorry, there are no upcoming events
The Dab Hands Studio Seminar primary image

The Dab Hands Studio Seminar

Mon, Jul 17, 10:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Become a Dab Hand at...Macrame : One in a series of one-off workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at...Macrame : One in a series of one-off workshops

Wed, Jun 28, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Become a Dab Hand at Wet Felting: One in a series of one-off workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Wet Felting: One in a series of one-off workshops

Wed, Jun 21, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Drawing Still Lifes:One in a series of one-off classes primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Drawing Still Lifes:One in a series of one-off classes

Wed, Jun 14, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Become a Dab Hand at Printmaking:One in a series o primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Printmaking:One in a series o

Wed, Jun 7, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Embroidery: One in a series of one-off craft workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Embroidery: One in a series of one-off craft workshops

Wed, May 24, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at...Crochet: One in a series of one-off craft workshops. primary image

Become a Dab Hand at...Crochet: One in a series of one-off craft workshops.

Wed, May 10, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

The Dab Hands Studio Seminar primary image

The Dab Hands Studio Seminar

Mon, Jul 17, 10:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Become a Dab Hand at...Macrame : One in a series of one-off workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at...Macrame : One in a series of one-off workshops

Wed, Jun 28, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Become a Dab Hand at Wet Felting: One in a series of one-off workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Wet Felting: One in a series of one-off workshops

Wed, Jun 21, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at Drawing Still Lifes:One in a series of one-off classes primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Drawing Still Lifes:One in a series of one-off classes

Wed, Jun 14, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Become a Dab Hand at Printmaking:One in a series o primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Printmaking:One in a series o

Wed, Jun 7, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Become a Dab Hand at Embroidery: One in a series of one-off craft workshops primary image

Become a Dab Hand at Embroidery: One in a series of one-off craft workshops

Wed, May 24, 6:00 PM

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Become a Dab Hand at...Crochet: One in a series of one-off craft workshops. primary image

Become a Dab Hand at...Crochet: One in a series of one-off craft workshops.

Wed, May 10, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event