'Ai Weiwei: Button Up!'

'Ai Weiwei: Button Up!'

Thursday 20 August 2026

You are invited to join an exclusive tour, led by Kee Hong, Creative Director at Factory International of 'Ai Weiwei: Button Up!', a major new exhibition in Manchester from the world-leading artist and activist Ai Weiwei. This exhibition has been described as where history, power and empire collide  as Weiwei turns  his critical gaze to the last 200 years of global history.  Monumental in scale and ambition, 'Ai Weiwei: Button Up!' is the artist’s most expansive presentation in the North to date.

This is a fantastic exhibition and we are very privileged to be able to gain a further insight into Ai Weiwei’s thinking.

Further Details:

This is a free event

Booking deadline: 06/08/2026

When: Thursday August 20th at 2pm

Where:  Aviva Studios (home of Factory International) Water St, Manchester M3 4JQ. The nearest train station is Salford Central followed by a 10 minute walk or Deansgate station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram, with a 12 minute walk. 

Details of exactly where to meet to follow!

Places: 20

No cost!

This tour is for members of FoW only. It is likely to be very popular and so, we recommend you book early through our website: www.friendsofthewhitworth.org.uk [friendsofthewhitworth.org.uk] 

If it is already full when you try to book, you can be added to a waiting list if you email: [email protected]