Factory International

Disabled People's Creative Exchange Guide

Schedule

6–7pm: Access Rider with the Factory Academy team in the Lab

6–8pm: Organisation stalls and Workshops open in the Social and Hall Foyer

6–8pm: Quiet space with Chill Out space in the Hall Foyer

6.30–7.30pm: Talks on the Social Stage

7–8pm: 1-to-1 Mentoring Sessions in the Lab

Mentors (7–8pm, the Lab)

Twenty-minute 1-to-1 mentoring sessions can be booked at the desk stationed outside the Lab from 6pm on the night. The slots will be first come first served. 

Headshot of Katy Egan-Daynes

Katy Egan-Daynes

Job Role: Programme Manager of Factory Academy, Factory International

Description: I work with the fantastic Factory Academy Team to develop and manage free courses for people who want to work in creative roles. I manage specific courses and spend time looking for opportunities for Factory Academy to expand its offer and work with different organisations to make new opportunities.

Areas of Knowledge:

- Project Management

- Education/Facilitation

- Working with young people

- Identifying transferable skills

- Being a working parent

- Lived experience of neurodiversity, mental illness and chronic health conditions.

Paddy Nicholls headshot

Paddy Nicholls

Job Role: Neighbourhood Organiser at Factory International, Freelance Workshop Leader, Event Host and Writer-Director (Film & Theatre)

Description: Working within North Manchester connecting with a diverse range of community organisations, focusing on raising awareness and participation of FI’s development, creative learning and Academy programmes, and the growth of artistic representation and development from people and organisations in the area. Writer-Director of Short Films and Theatre, as well as Workshop Leader for Mental Health & the Arts.

Areas of Knowledge:

- A lot of experience discussing mental health, my own neurodiversity and my experience dealing with those while navigating a career in the arts

- Writing for Film, Theatre and Spoken Word, as well as areas of Filmmaking

- Working in the TV/Film Industries

- Community work and my experience of the arts in Manchester

Headshot of Rosemary Millbank

Rosemary Millbank

Job Role: Executive Support Manager at Factory International

Description: My job is all about making sure people have the information, processes and time to do the things they need to do - I do this on a one to one basis for our Executive Director, Sheena. Other parts of my job are around creating consistency - clear processes for doing things, such as creating regular updates between teams to help everyone stay up to date with what’s going on.

Areas of Knowledge:

  • Time management
  • Prioritisation of tasks
  • Creating systems to stay on top of your to do lists
  • I’m a trained coach and able to support people work out problems for themselves, which can be much more interesting than just being told the answer!
  • I’ve worked hard to understand my support needs as a disabled person and advocate for adjustments for myself, and have some experience supporting others through this.

Headshot of Kee Hong Low

Low Kee Hong

Job Role: Creative Director at Factory International

Kee Hong oversees the Curatorial team at Factory International and alongside John McGrath, develops the artistic programme for Factory International and leads on the programme for Manchester International Festival 2025 onwards. 

Kee Hong oversees the Public Engagement team, leading transformative programs that connect with communities and organisations across Greater Manchester and the North. This includes Artist Development, supporting local talent to reach international audiences, and managing Factory Academy, which offers training for careers in the arts and creative industries, particularly for those facing economic and cultural barriers. Kee Hong also manages the International department, collaborating with global cultural organisations, whose financial and creative input helps to make MIF and Factory International projects possible, and helps to ensure that projects made in Manchester are seen worldwide.

Headshot of Laura Nathan against a brick wall

Laura Nathan and Katherine Long

Laura Nathan (pictured) role: Artist and Venture Arts artist facilitator

Katherine Long role: Head of Creative development at Venture Arts

Talks (6.30–7.30pm, the Social stage)

6.30–6.55pm: Venture Arts Artists and Staff in Conversation

Sally Hirst (artist), Laura Nathan (facilitator), Michael Beard (artist), Jacenta Sellars (facilitator) and Katherine Long (Head of Creative development) will be discussing Michael and Sally's practice, their journey and career as artists and the importance of their relationships with facilitators and the support they are given. 

7.05–7.30pm: Working in Access with Q&A

Jay Millard is the Access Manager at Factory International. She joined the organisation in July 2024 and leads on the planning and delivery of a holistic access strategy that embeds accessibility as a core principle across the programming, visitor experience, and venue operations teams at Aviva Studios and MIF. 

Workshops (6–8pm, the Social)

Collaborative Accessible Synthesizers by Weather Systems and SOAND

Presenting a selection of bespoke, interactive communal instruments that allow anyone to communicate through the shared language of sound.

Draw with Leslie Thompson

Drop in for a drawing workshop on our heroes, inspired by his series of illustrated action figures New Favourite Shop. Create your own action figure drawing and packaging using templates and materials such as blister packs, stands and hanging loops.

Stalls (6–8pm, the Social)

Graeae Theatre Co

We create radical theatre, placing access at the heart of our work.

Arc: Arts for Recovery in the Community

One of the UK’s leading arts and mental health charities providing arts programmes and services to improve people’s mental wellbeing and public programmes.

DANC

The Disabled Artists Networking Community is a community of just under a thousand people, the great majority of whom are disabled artists working in TV and the arts. DANC works with and brings together professional disabled artists and key decision/change makers in the industry to take a solution-focussed approach.

Venture Arts

Collaborating with learning disabled artists in visual art and culture

Growth Company: GM Business Growth Hub

Pre and post start up business support

Factory International and Factory Academy

Find out about job roles, artist development, free training courses and ask any questions to our HR team

DADA Fest

Celebrating disability and Deaf arts. Creating Art, Challenging Attitudes, Changing Lives. Delivering DaDaFest International.

Access Rider 1 to 1s (6–7pm, the Lab)

An Access Rider is a document that outlines a person's specific access needs and requirements, particularly in the context of work or creative projects. It's a way to communicate how to ensure equal access and participation for individuals with disabilities, neurodivergences or long-term health conditions.

Drop in and have a 1 to 1 with The Factory Academy Team to create or update your Access Rider!

Sign up ↓