Factory International

In conversation

Artists in Times of Upheaval: Samson Young

7 Sep 2024

Book tickets
Samson Young in a black top looking to the left
Date
7 Sep 2024
Venue
The Social, Aviva Studios
Tickets
FREE, Pre-booking required

5–6pm

Book tickets

Running time: 1 hour

Accessibility features available for this event: Wheelchair Access

Join multi-disciplinary Hong Kong artist Samson Young as part of our series of talks giving space to artists in times of upheaval

Samson Young works in sound, performance, video, and installation. Based in Hong Kong, Samson Young’s practice centres upon an attempt to re-present and re-interpret lost or overlooked events of socio-political and personal significance.

Young began his career studying for a PhD in Music Composition at Princeton University. In 2017, he was selected to represent Hong Kong at the 57th Venice Biennale, exhibiting Songs for Disaster Relief, which interrogated the cultural phenomenon of the charity single and its history in Hong Kong. 

At MIF17, Young premiered One of Two Stories, or Both (Field Bagatelles) – an audio-visual installation inspired by mythic tales of 17th-century Chinese travellers making their way to Europe on foot. He has also exhibited at venues and festivals worldwide from the Guggenheim Museum in New York to Gropius Bau in Berlin to the Biennale of Sydney.  

Join the prize-winning artist for an exclusive conversation on his practice. Look back on One of Two Stories, Or Both and enjoy a short presentation and discussion on narratives and new technology.

Samson Young will be joining us via video link. He will be interviewed by Ying Tan, Senior Programme Manager, Acquisitions at the Art Fund, who will host the conversation on stage, in person. 

Ying Tan has 14 years of experience working in the arts and culture sector in the UK with extensive expertise focusing on contemporary art practices within East Asia. Previously, she has been a visiting lecturer for Christie’s Education on the MA Art of Asia course as well as the Curating the Contemporary MA course at Goldsmiths, University of London. 

Artists in Times of Upheaval

Samson Young is one of a number of speakers in our free series of talks talking place in the Social across 2024.

Focusing on artists in and from some of the areas most exposed to current global forces, Artists in Times of Upheaval asks what space is there for artists when life ‘as normal’ no longer seems possible? Why do they continue to create art? And how?

Explore the programme →

Tickets

Our Artist Talks are now bookable – please book a free ticket.

Forgot to buy a ticket? Just drop by the Social before the talk and our Front of House team will find you a space.

One of Two Stories, or Both

Access information

Our full address is Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ and the what3words is chop.feeds.chase.

You can approach Aviva Studios along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield). Both entrances to the building have double sets of glass doors.

Once inside Aviva Studios, there is step-free access to all areas of the venue. The flooring throughout the building is smooth concrete.

The Social has a range of seating, including those with arms and backs.

The bars in the Social and Hall Foyer have lowered accessible service points.

Our building is large. We have portable stools available to borrow if you would benefit from resting along the way during your visit.

We have wheelchair spaces and seats at standing events for all events.

There are accessible toilets on all public levels of our building.

Accessible toilets are located inside the main toilets space in the brick arches of the Social.

Here you’ll find a mixture of accessible cubicles with left- or right-hand transfer, towards the back of the space, as well as ambulant accessible cubicles with grab rails, as well as a Changing Places facility.

The toilets in the brick arches of the Social are split into male, female and gender neutral – all of which contain accessible cubicles. There are shared handwashing facilities in each arch – they have soap dispensers under the mirrors to your left and dryers to the right. There are separate handwashing facilities inside the accessible cubicles.

There are additional single-room accessible toilets located in both Hall Foyers, at stalls and circle level.

There are additional single-room accessible toilets located in the Warehouse Foyer.

You do not need a key to use the accessible toilets at Aviva Studios.

Assistance dogs are welcome in our building, and we can provide mats and water bowls on request, just ask a host when you arrive. We can also take care of your assistance dog if you do not want to take your dog into the performance space. Please also refer to our assistance dogs policy.

If you are bringing an assistance dog to a ticketed event, please let us know in advance by contacting access@factoryinternational.org or calling our access phone number: 0161 817 4531 (phone lines are open 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday).

Travel information

Aviva Studios can be approached along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).

Our closest stations are:

Salford Central station: 0.4 miles

Deansgate station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram: 0.6 miles

St Peter’s Square tram: 0.6 miles

Manchester Victoria station is approximately one mile from Aviva Studios

Manchester Piccadilly station is approximately 1.3 miles from Aviva Studios

Click on the links above to find detailed access information for each station.

By Bike

There are 40 bike parking spaces at Aviva Studios including space for two accessible bikes.

National Cycling Route 6 passes close to the venue and this TfGM webpage can help with route planning.

You can also hire bikes from on-street docking stations across the city centre. The closest docking stations to our venue are currently on Deansgate by Liverpool Road and (400m from the building) and by King Street (500m from the building). Take a look at Transport for Greater Manchester’s webpage for advice on cycle hire.

By Walking and Other Active Means

Aviva Studios can be approached along Water Street via Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).

If you're coming from Quay Street, the safest route to avoid construction works is via the cut-through opposite Gartside Street and past Booking.com.

All footways in the surrounding area are well lit and there are appropriate crossings across all main roads.

Pedestrians with visual impairment are recommended to approach the building via Water Street, from Liverpool Road. This route has traditional carriageway and footway design with fixed street furniture which should help with navigation to the entrance.

A footbridge at Left Bank in Spinningfields provides an accessible link across the River Irwell to Salford Central station, and a further footbridge also links Aviva Studios with the Salford area of Middlewood Locks.

Free bus services stop at all city-centre stations, and near to Aviva Studios along Deansgate, Bridge St and Quay St. Buses on these free routes are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus routes, please visit the TfGM website.

There is a car park approximately 0.6 miles from Aviva Studios at Water Street Car Park, New Elm Rd, Manchester, M3 4JH.

There is also a NCP car park (Manchester Spinningfields) approximately 0.5 miles away from Aviva Studios at Spinningfields, New Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3BE. It has 35 accessible bays.

There are a small number of Blue Badge spaces along Water St and Quay St. Otherwise head towards Liverpool Road, Great John St and Lower Byrom St – close to our neighbours, the Science and Industry Museum where there are a small number of additional Blue Badge spaces.

For a list of other parking bays available in the area, visit Manchester City Council website.

Become a Member

Experience extraordinary, all year round by becoming a Member. It’s just £45 for 12 months of benefits including priority booking, discounts, offers and much more. Are you in?

Join now →

Related Content

Sign up ↓