MIF25: Venture Arts, Michael Beard
Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor
MIF25 and Venture Arts invite you to the lively pop-up studio of Michael Beard where vibrant art-making is taking place before our very eyes. The project allows audiences to peek into an artist’s studio but it also asks questions about the working environment’s impact on creativity and how different art forms can impact one another’s output.
Hosted in the Lab at Aviva Studios, the space is an experiment in pushing the boundaries of creativity when different disciplines joyfully come together in the same place.
Local artist Michael Beard is best known for his colourful works made using quick, expressive marks. He works across painting, illustration and ceramic sculpture in a recognisable style that’s rooted in abstraction and often includes handwriting. The artist incorporates names of cities, famous sites and signage within the pieces, inspired by his passion for travel. In the MIF25 pop-up studio, he’s working on large-scale works before a live audience, allowing us a glimpse of his creative process.
On 6, 8 and 15 July, the space is taken over by Venture Arts: Experiments in the Lab where Beard will be joined by dancers from Company Chameleon and chamber musicians from Manchester Camerata, all responding to each other’s work. The result is a spontaneous collision of disciplines, free and experimental, with a new outcome every time.
Venture Arts is an award-winning organisation that works with neurodivergent and learning disabled artists in Manchester. On days when Beard is not working in the Lab, the space will be used by other creatives from Venture Arts, so come and take a look at the magic taking shape there and then. You can also watch a film about the project to learn more about how it came about and the artists involved, or join a bookable workshop.
The workshops range from training sessions like an introduction to neurodiversity and exploring accessible leadership to drawing sessions with artists Leslie Thompson and Andrew Johnstone. You can also join Horace Lindezey in making porcelain flowers or create digital stories with Liam Ashworth. Take alook at the website to see the programme and book your place.
The Lab is a relaxed part of MIF25, so if you need a moment away from the other festivities or you’re just curious about what really happens in an artist’s studio, pop in and take a look around.
