This document presents the evaluation of the Northern Carnival Against the Nazis: 40th Anniversary Exhibition project, delivered by Abigail Ward for Manchester Digital Music Archive with the support from Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Northern Carnival Against the Nazis, a rally and concert held on 15 July 1978 in Moss Side, Manchester, was a defining moment in establishing anti-racism in the city and beyond.

Dubbed ‘the day that it became cool to be anti-racist’, the Carnival galvanised Manchester against racist groups including the National Front, with a rally of 15,000 people marching all the way from Strangeways to Alexandra Park joining a further 25,000 for an afternoon of music, dancing and unity.

Co-organised by the Anti Nazi League and Rock Against Racism, the Carnival featured incendiary live performances by pop-punk superstars Buzzcocks and Steel Pulse, the UK’s leading reggae band of the period. Support came from Moss Side’s Exodus and China Street from Lancaster.

Our project comprised a physical exhibition held Mon 3 September to Sat 22 September at NIAMOS, Chichester Road, Hulme; a digital community exhibition; and two large launch events.

 

John Sturrock © 1978 The crowd at the rally before the Northern Carnival Against the Nazis
Exhibition launch night at NIAMOS
Carnival attendee MC Kwasi Asante and friend at the launch