A group of 20 emerging creatives from across Manchester and the North West will transform Aviva Studios’ North Warehouse with a new exhibition exploring music, identity and human connection.
Common Frequency will run from October 3 to 6 at the Manchester venue, combining moving image, visual installations, a zine and two films with an immersive soundscape of words and memories recorded by the group.
The free exhibition and accompanying event series have been created by the 2026 adidas Originals Creator Network North cohort following a six-month programme supported by Factory International and adidas Originals.
Responding to a brief inspired by the transformative power of music, the cohort has explored its relationship with community, identity, resilience and release.
Pelumi Fatayo, a member of the adidas Originals Creator Network North, said: “Being part of OCN North has allowed me to develop creatively. Being in the cohort of 20 talented multifaceted creatives, I have learnt so much from all of them. Through the six months, we’ve grown as individuals and as a collective. Being able to collaborate and cultivate this exhibition, from ideation to release, has been an immersive experience and I’m forever grateful for the creative community that we’ve built.”
On selected days, the exhibition will also become a live event space.
The programme opens on October 3 with an evening of music and poetry featuring musicians from Manchester Camerata. A hands-on workshop on October 4 will invite visitors to explore music, identity and transformation by designing album artwork and personalised merchandise before taking part in a photoshoot.
The final event on October 6 will give audiences the opportunity to meet the cohort and hear about their experience of creating Common Frequency. It will include a contribution from DJ and broadcaster Mary Anne Hobbs and a networking session.
Cohort member Phoebe Bonser said: “Working on Common Frequency as part of a group of 20 emerging creatives has been an incredibly exciting experience. What makes this exhibition so special is not just the number of artists involved, but the genuinely collaborative nature of the work. Rather than presenting a collection of individual pieces, we have created something together, shaped by shared ideas, conversations, and creative processes.
“Throughout the exhibition, we invite visitors to engage with ideas of music, transformation, identity, community, resilience, release, and memory. If you’re looking for an exhibition that encourages reflection, participation, and a sense of shared experience, I believe Common Frequency is one not to be missed.”
The Originals Creator Network North was established by adidas Originals and Factory International in 2024, building on the OCN South programme founded in London two years earlier.
Based at Aviva Studios, the Northern programme offers emerging talent masterclasses, mentorship and practical experience intended to help participants develop their skills, networks and creative-industry careers.
Scott McVittie, executive commercial director at Factory International, said: “The best way to support emerging creatives is to trust them with something real. Through our partnership, Factory International and adidas Originals have brought together their expertise, networks and resources to give 20 young creatives the chance to respond to a live brief and produce an ambitious exhibition for the North Warehouse. Common Frequency is an impressive achievement, but the impact goes beyond the exhibition. The cohort leaves with practical experience, greater confidence and industry relationships that will directly strengthen their future employment prospects.”
Common Frequency is free to attend at Aviva Studios from October 3 to 6. Visitors can find out more about the exhibition and events here.
More information about the 2026 Originals Creator Network North cohort is available here.
