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Working Class Movement Library

@wcmlibrary.bsky.social

Putting class back on the agenda.

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Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 4mo ago

🔥 KEEP THE FLAME BURNING: CLOSING SOON 🔥 Last chance to see our landmark exhibition, ‘Keep The Flame Burning’, which presents our material of the libertarian socialist group, Big Flame (1970-c.1985), and was co-curated by our wonderful project volunteers, the Little Flames.

Slide 1: Keep The Flame Burning: Leaving Soon! A collage of Big Flame photographs and ephemera, as well as some film photographs of the Little Flames.
Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 4mo ago

We’re delighted to announce that the initial spaces for our Keep The Flame Burning Closing Party and zine/badge making workshop next weekend are FULL! We’ve added a final couple tickets and popped a waitlist option on Eventbrite, so do continue to register your interest! Keep the flame burning ❤️‍🔥✊

A collaged image of a man on a stamp raising his fist, surrounded by a Big Flame logo, an eight-pointed star, an exclamation mark and a badge that says ‘the spirit of freedom’. The text reads: FULLY* BOOKED. *join waitlist on Eventbrite.
Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 4mo ago

🔥 KEEP THE FLAME BURNING CLOSES, BUT THE LEGACY CONTINUES 🔥 Join us on Sunday 12 April from 2pm until 4pm for an unofficial closing party for the exhibition, and a zine/badge making workshop to close out the Big Flame project. Expect cake (Ve/GF), and chats with our project group ‘Little Flames’.

Slide 1: A collaged and hand-illustrated poster which says: KEEP THE FLAME BURNING CLOSING PARTY. Cake! All ages! Make badges/ zines! 12.4.26 14.00 - 16.00. Exhibition open 12-2! The illustrations comprise doves, a faceless woman wearing a party hat, flames, and various collaged photographs from 70s/80s publications and protests. A duotone version of slide 1, edited to be pinkA duotone version of slide 1, edited to be blue and purpleA duotone version of slide 1, edited to be yellow and orange
Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 5mo ago

On Sunday 22nd March the library welcomed a record-breaking number of guests to its 2026 International Women's Day celebrations, attendees enjoyed keynote speeches from Vicky Holmes, Professor Mary Davis and Vicky Knight and a banner presentation from Joanne Kelly, in memory of her mum Jane Loftus.

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Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 5mo ago

It was our final Inflammatory Material Reading group over the weekend! 😢 Though we can't quite believe time has gone so quickly, we're so thankful to anyone and everyone that's turned up to a Big Flame event while the exhibition's been on Keep the flame burning 🔥

Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Today is International Women's Day - a day celebrating the achievements of women globally. This year, the library is focusing on the work of three women: Jayaben Desai, Ellen Wilkinson, and Isabel Brown. Photograph of Jayaben Desai copyright: Angela Phillips

A black and white photograph of Jayaben Desai giving a speech, with posters in the foreground - both posters are about the Women's Rights Rally.A black and white image of Ellen Wilkinson, sat among a group of men.
Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 6mo ago

As part of our project which revisits the Grunwick Strike, our co-curators took part in an 'Ask an activist' session. Panelists included (left to right in pic 1) Sashwati Mira Sengupta, Celestino Pereira, Georgia Montague-Nelson, and Dan Edmonds. Keep an eye out for posts as this project progresses!

Towards the back of the photo, there are two tables organised in an 'L shape', one with three people on it, our panelists, Sashwati Miri Sengupta, Celestino Pereira, and Georgia Montague-Nelson. On the table to the right, panelist Dan Edmond is sat, with a powerpoint on the interactive board behind him. At a table, there are four people, panelist Celestino Pereira, and three of our co-curators. They are having a conversation.This is a photograph of the entire group. The co-curators are split into four different groups, with a panelist sat with each group. Everyone is having conversations.
Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#OTD in 1987, activist Mark Ashton passed away. Mark Ashton was born in 1960. He was an activist, involved in the Communist Party of Great Britain, the Young Communist League (YCL), and co-founded Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), which is what he was known for primarily.

Mark Ashton wearing a 'Pits and Perverts: Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners' t-shirt, holding two banners, a white one with red writing (the writing is cut off), and a pink banner with black writing 'Pinko commie queers COMMUNIST PARTY', which also has an outline of an upside down triangle. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 6mo ago

We are working with eleven young people to co-curate our next exhibition, the Grunwick Strike Revisited. The exhibition, being delivered in partnership with University of Manchester, will explore the legacy of the Grunwick Strike 1976-1978 and will open this summer.

BildEleven people sit and stand around large tables to look at archive material at the Working Class Movement Library.
Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 7mo ago

#OTD in 1891, Antonio Gramsci was born – one of the most original political thinkers of the twentieth century and a founder of the Italian Communist Party. Gramsci became a Marxist and a leading figure in the working-class movement in Turin, a rapidly industrialising city after World War 1.

A black and white sketch of Gramsci, with a red border
Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Merry Christmas to all our users and supporters! We have had a fantastic year here at the Working Class Movement Library, celebrating working class history and inspiring the next generation of class activists. None of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers and supporters. Thank you!

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Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Join us tomorrow from 11am for the Engels Memorial Lecture, which is this year being delivered by Dr. Manfred Sohn. The event is online, follow the link to book your spot. wcml.org.uk/event/engels...

Engels Memorial Lecture: ‘Engels and Historical Optimism’ with Dr. Manfred Sohn - Working Class Movement Library

Attend the 2025 Engels Memorial Lecture, “Engels and Historical Optimism,” with Dr Manfred Sohn of the Marx-Engels Foundation. Explore the evolution of Marxist thought and its relevance to modern Brit...

wcml.org.uk

Working Class Movement Library@wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 9mo ago

just over a week away until our annual fundraiser, Radical Readings. Follow the link to book your ticket and help us put class back on the agenda! wcml.org.uk/event/radica...

Radical Readings 2025 - Working Class Movement Library

Step into an afternoon of inspiration and resistance with Radical Readings, which brings together powerful performances, traditional folk music and bold storytelling that shine a light on working clas...

wcml.org.uk