BLETHER

Blether began in London as a response to the growing closure of ‘third spaces’ - places outside of work and home where people from different backgrounds can gather without the pressure to perform or impress. In an increasingly online and competitive arts landscape, entering creative spaces can feel like a scramble for visibility, recognition and metric-driven success. Current systems often prioritise spectacle and productivity over the connection, play and care that art is meant to foster.

Blether takes its name from a Scottish word meaning to talk at length without making much sense, and embraces a deliberately silly, DIY approach to art-making and space-curation. At its core, Blether is about creating environments where people can unmask, step away from the pressures of neoliberal culture, and reconnect with more instinctive urges to listen, share and be together.

Now based at Levenshulme Old Library in Manchester, Blether is co-run by a collective of artists working across arts education and community engagement. We host regular events and workshops that centre care, joy and mutual support, creating spaces where people can exist together as part of a shared network - united by the soft, playful and imperfect parts of themselves.

Our events invite artists, poets, musicians and activists to share their work, alongside participatory happenings that blur the boundaries between audience and performer. These gatherings prioritise equality, collaboration and collective storytelling.

Alongside events, Blether hosts clubs for writers, performers and craft-makers, offering welcoming spaces to experiment, learn new skills and build community through shared creative practice.

Find out more about Blether on our Instagram.