Manchester Museum opens new exhibition looking at how we’ve shaped the world we live in. Human Natures, free entry, runs until Sunday 1 November 2026.
Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester, has opened the doors to new exhibition Human Natures, which looks at how we’ve shaped the world around us, taking advantage of nature for everything from food to fashion.
Human Natures explores stories of overconsumption and overexploitation of animals, plants and minerals, looking at the consequences for climate, biodiversity and people. But it also shares examples of individuals and organisations taking action to live in balance with nature, providing inspiration on how we can work together to create a more hopeful future.
The exhibition features a striking installation from the University of Manchester’s Cottonopolis Collective, which has worked with artists and researchers to explore the ecological legacies of cotton, science and trade. Artist Natalie Linney took cotton woven at the National Trust’s Quarry Bank Mill and buried it to reveal the impact of soil, water and air, showing legacies of environmental pollution and waste that are often hidden from sight. These eye-catching, textile artworks are hung within the exhibition, providing a fascinating, visual representation of complex environmental issues.
Human Natures also spotlights Manchester organisations taking action to help people connect with nature and live more sustainably, such as Manchester Urban Diggers (MUD), a community interest company that runs Platt Fields Market Garden and helps to create gardens in urban spaces.
It has been developed as a collaboration between five museums and museum services across England as part of the Museums and Galleries Network for Exhibition Touring (MAGNET) partnership. It has already been displayed in Derby Museum and Art Gallery and will visit Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle upon Tyne and the Horniman Museum and Gardens before finishing its tour at Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery in summer 2028.