The Labour of Care, a new exhibition at the Whitworth, shares the learning and artwork that has emerged from Still Care, a three-year creative health project developed with midwives and maternity healthcare professionals. Since 2023, more than one hundred practitioners have taken part in artist-led workshops at the gallery, creating space for reflection, connection and wellbeing alongside the demands of clinical practice.

The exhibition brings together artwork, documentation, participant voices and research, highlighting the emotional, relational and often unseen work of care. It offers a powerful example of social responsibility in action, showing how long-term collaboration between artists, cultural organisations, researchers and healthcare professionals can support reflection, professional connection and conversations about care.

A year-long programme of workshops, events, talks and tours will run alongside the exhibition, opening up the project’s themes to healthcare workers, students, researchers, artists and wider public audiences.

Two upcoming events offer opportunities to engage more deeply:

Care-led Co-Creation Friday 23 October 2026, 11am–3pm

A one-day gathering sharing learning from Still Care. Through talks, conversations and shared reflection, contributors including artists, healthcare partners, participants, researchers and producers will explore how care-led, co-created work can be developed across cultural and healthcare settings.

Book here

Midwifery Today Saturday 24 October 2026, 2pm–4pm

Practising NHS midwife, activist and bestselling author Leah Hazard will host a panel discussion exploring the realities, pressures and possibilities of midwifery today.

Book here

• Find out more about The Labour of Care exhibition and full public events programme.