Inspired by a chance conversation between Alex Poots, then MIF’s CEO and Artistic Director, and Professor Brian Cox, one of the guiding forces behind The Age of Starlight, Interdependence brought together a disparate array of personalities to discuss creativity in all its myriad stripes and flavours. Figures as diverse as artists Olafur Eliasson and Jeremy Deller, physicist Kostya Novoselov, filmmaker Peter Strickland, the FlexN Manchester dancers, Dr Maria Balshaw of the Whitworth and incoming MIF Artistic Director John McGrath were all present for two days of conversation, provocation and performance at Old Granada Studios that gave audiences plenty of food for thought.

‘A real complement to the rest of the Festival programme – a chance for people to understand and discuss the ideas and issues that go into conceiving and rolling out such a huge undertaking’ Manchester Confidential

Sat 4 July 2015
Arca Musician
Maria Balshaw Director of the Whitworth & Manchester Art Gallery
Tamara Chalabi Chairman of the Ruya Foundation
Jeremy Deller Artist
Reggie ‘Regg Roc’ Gray FlexN dancer & choreographer
Olafur Eliasson Artist
Jesse Kanda Artist
Benjamin Millepied Director of Paris Opera Ballet
Azu Nwagbogu Director of the African Artists’ Foundation
Hans Ulrich Obrist Co-Director of the Serpentine Gallery & MIF Artistic Advisor
Alex Poots CEO & Artistic Director of MIF
Sacred Sounds Women’s Choir

Sun 5 July 2015
Ed Atkins Artist
Jeremy Deller Artist
Douglas Gordon Artist
Juergen Maier Chief Executive of Siemens plc, UK
Professor Sir Konstantin (Kostya) Novoselov FRS Scientist
Veronica Gonzalez Peña Author
Mark Simpson Composer & clarinettist
Peter Strickland Director & screenwriter
Clare Sutcliffe Co-Founder & CEO of Code Club
The Sonic Catering Band

Commissioned by Manchester International Festival and Guardian Live. Produced by Manchester International Festival. With special thanks to Steve Morrison.