Low Kee Hong has been appointed as Creative Director for Manchester International Festival (MIF), as the organisation prepares for The Factory, the landmark new cultural space which is due to open in the heart of Manchester in 2023.
As Creative Director, Low Kee Hongwill work alongside John McGrath, Artistic Director & Chief Executive and the rest of the curatorial team on developing the artistic programme for The Factory. He will also lead on the future shape and programme for the festival, which will continue to take place across the city every other year.
Kee Hong is currently Head of Theatre, Performing Arts at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in Hong Kong where he is responsible for formulating the district’s artistic direction and strategies for Contemporary Performance, Dramatic and Theatre Arts. Previous roles include Artistic Director and General Manager of the Singapore Arts Festival and Founding Director and General Manager of the Singapore Biennale.
John McGrath, Artistic Director & Chief Executive MIF & The Factory says, “I am delighted that Low Kee Hong will be joining MIF at this significant moment in our history. Kee Hong is admired by artists, producers and programmers around the world for his passionate, knowledgeable approach to curating festivals and venues. He has worked with many of the world’s great creative figures and is also deeply committed to involving the widest possible range of communities and voices.”
Kee Hong will join MIF in the year before we open The Factory and will be working with me and the curatorial team to develop an exciting range of new projects for the space. Equally importantly, he will be leading on the future programme for the Festival – re-imagining MIF for the years ahead in ways that connect both locally and globally. I look forward to welcoming him to Manchester.”
Kee Hong commented, “I am truly honoured and excited to be given this amazing opportunity to work with Manchester International Festival and The Factory. It is an organisation I have always admired for its visionary and bold take on what tomorrow can look like. I look forward to working with a team of amazing humans who firmly believe the extraordinary and transformative experience of the arts for our communities as we build towards futures we all want to be part of.“
Kee Hong will also oversee the work of the Creative Engagement, Curatorial and International departments as a key member of MIF’s Executive leadership team which consists of John McGrath (Chief Executive & Artistic Director), Randel Bryan (Executive Director & Deputy Chief Executive), Sheena Wrigley (Venue Director) and Hannah Cork (Finance Director).
He will take up the post of Creative Director in April 2022.
