Social Experiment
A new gathering for Live Art
and contemporary performance.
→ artists · entry · access · apply · credits Updated 15 May 2025
Presented by Word of Warning + Contact as a semi-regular evening event.
Social Experiment is a new gathering at Contact for anyone interested in Live Art and contemporary performance to meet, chat, and try ideas out…
A free and informal, semi-regular evening event with the next on Thursday 22 May from 6pm to 9pm. Subsequent dates are Thursdays 17 July and 27 November. The first event was held on Thursday 6 February, see some images.
If you’re a Greater Manchester artist — this is your chance to test out a short performance, intervention, or durational work, in front of an informal audience.
If you’re an audience member looking for something a little bit different — this is your chance to take a few risks & meet some artists in our social experiment.
(And if you’re an HE Student artist based in the North West — there’s an extra Student Edition on Thursday 5 June at Contact, please go here for info.)
Artists
22 May
Ben Hodge · Bitterroot · Joely Mae Greally & Jasmine Naila Burt · Julie Burrow · Lizzy Owen · Paper People Theatre · Secret Location Theatre Company
Participating artists subject to change.
NB participating artists are announced about a week before each event — the call for proposals is open on a rolling basis at socialexperiment.posthaven.com
Entry
FREE: there’s no ticketing… just turn up!
Dates: Thursdays 6 February, 22 May, 17 July, and 27 November 2025.
Time: 6pm onwards (each event ends by about 9pm).
Location: Contact (space 0 & bar), Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6JA.
Access
Age Advisory: 16+ (aimed at adults, parent/guardian/carer discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may involve interaction and/or participation; specific warnings will be listed here about a week before each event.
Features: a small number of Live Art & contemporary performance works with varied content — to be confirmed about a week before each event.
NB works will occur on Contact’s step-free ground floor in space 0 & bar, and will vary in format — they could be immersive, participatory, roaming, seated, standing, spoken word, visual, etc.
Queries: please contact Contact via boxoffice@contactmcr.com
Apply
Greater Manchester artists (aged 18+) are invited to submit proposals of: short performances, interventions, or durational works, for inclusion in these events.
For details & to apply please go to socialexperiment.posthaven.com
(Direct link to proposal form is here in case of issues with posthaven.)
Proposal Deadline: open on a rolling basis, closing a fortnight before each event — i.e. deadline for 17 July is 3 July, 5pm; deadline for 27 Nov is 13 Nov, 5pm.
Credits
Social Experiment produced by hÅb; supported by Contact and using public funding by Arts Council England.