Factory International has announced the appointment of Rivca Burns as its new Head of Music.
Rivca will take on responsibility for Factory International’s year-round music programme at Manchester’s landmark new venue Aviva Studios as well as the rich music offer for the biennial city-wide Manchester International Festival (MIF).
For the past 15 years, Rivca has been a freelance creative producer, working as Director of From the Other, home to pioneering new music and art festival Sounds From the Other City in Salford, the experimental Fat Out Fest, and music residency programme Samarbeta. She also co-chairs the Greater Manchester Music Commission and sits on the Board of Manchester Music Cities. Since 2019, Rivca has produced and programmed Festival Square for Manchester International Festival, transforming it into an essential destination for free live music (the 2023 edition featured over 190 performers and drew 83,000 visitors). In 2021 she was recognised as Local Hero for her contribution to Grassroots music at the AIM Awards.
Rivca has been Acting Head of Music for Factory International since January 2024 and has already programmed a range of events at Aviva Studios such as the first show from ANONHI and the Johnsons in ten years, a three-day residency from cultural icon and pop superstar Janelle Monáe, and a two day in-the-round residency with Mercury Prize winner Sampha – his first in the city since 2018 – featuring performances from local artists The KTNA, DJ Paulette and Isaiah Hull.
Rivca will develop a year-round programme across the music spectrum for the unique and versatile spaces at Aviva Studios, including in-house concerts and collaborations with local and national promotors, as well as the biennial festival. Working with teams across the organisation, she will build on the venue’s exceptional welcome for audiences and artists, making the most of what has been widely praised as an acoustically-outstanding new space. Rivca will also lead Factory International’s work supporting emerging artists including talent development initiative Factory Sounds.
Rivca Burns says:
“I’m really excited and honoured to be taking on such a huge role within a thriving musical community that I care so deeply about, and which has supported and nurtured me for nearly two decades. I bring with me an authentic and collaborative attitude, a passion and a drive to really challenge audience expectations of what live music can be. Factory International and Aviva Studios are world-class and working with musicians from across the world, the UK and locally to thrive, experiment and wow audiences is going to be a truly exciting adventure”.
John McGrath, Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Factory International comments:
“I’m so pleased that Rivca is taking on the role of Head of Music at Factory International. Rivca’s passion for music, wider collaboration and Greater Manchester as a hub for culture, has been evident throughout her career. Her invaluable contribution to the organisation through the transformation of Festival Square and through Factory Sounds make her perfectly placed to take forward our vision to further cement Aviva Studios as a new home for innovative music in a city with music at its heart.”
