Joining MIF in April 2022, Kee Hong will work alongside John McGrath, Artistic Director & Chief Executive and MIF’s 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.

Currently Head of Theatre, Performing Arts at West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong, Low Kee Hong has been responsible for formulating its artistic direction and strategies for Contemporary Performance, Dramatic and Theatre Arts. His previous roles include Artistic Director and General Manager of Singapore Arts Festival and Founding Director and General Manager of the Singapore Biennale. Kee Hong has also won awards for his work in lighting design and performed on the international arts festival circuit touring extensively in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, and Indonesia.

Low Kee Hong says: "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 in the extraordinary and transformative experience of the arts for our communities as we build towards futures we all want to be part of."

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.”