Visual arts takes over studio in a whirl of colour

AWARD-WINNING visual arts organisation Venture Arts transform Aviva Studios' The Lab space into a popup open studio with artist in residence Michael Beard for Manchester International Festival 2025.

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A great opportunity to see artist Michael Beard at work, creating bold, large-scale artworks in a popup open studio from Venture Arts.

Artist-led sessions including collaborative painting, dance and music performances, plus a programme of free talks and creative workshops.

Venture Arts work with neurodivergent and learning disabled artists in Manchester.

Michael Beard’s work covers painting, illustration and sculpture, and features layered handwriting, referencing his immense passion for travel.

Visitors to the open studio will witness Michael creating bold, large-scale artworks before their eyes, plus live performances and a programme of talks and workshops.

On select days Experiments in The Lab will see collaborative performances featuring Michael live painting, dance from Company Chameleon, who return to Aviva Studios after their mass performance Deep Flow in 2023, and music from one of pioneering orchestra Manchester Camerata’s musicians.

These performances will explore and offer a unique insight into how the three artforms interact with each other and develop through collaboration.

When Michael is not at work, The Lab will host a series of talks and workshops from other Venture Arts artists.