Kee Hong Low

Creative Director, Manchester International Festival & The Factory

Kee Hong is currently the Creative Director at the Manchester International Festival and The Factory. Manchester International Festival (MIF) is the world’s first festival of original, new work and special events, staged every two years in Manchester, UK. MIF launched in 2007 as an artist-led festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, visual arts and popular culture. We work hard to guarantee that our work is as sustainable, accessible and diverse as possible MIF has commissioned, produced and presented world premieres by artists including Marina Abramović, Damon Albarn, Björk, Boris Charmatz, Jeremy Deller, Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah, Elbow, Philip Glass, Wayne McGregor, Steve McQueen, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Skepta, Yoko Ono, Thomas Ostermeier, Maxine Peake, Punchdrunk, The xx, Robert Wilson and Zaha Hadid Architects.

These and other world-renowned artists from different art forms and backgrounds create dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking new work, staged in venues across Greater Manchester –from theatres, galleries and concert halls to railway depots, churches and car parks. MIF works closely with venues, festivals and other cultural organisations globally, whose financial and creative input helps to make many of these projects possible and ensures that work made at MIF goes on to be seen around the world.

MIF will also be the operator for The Factory, the new world-class cultural space being developed in the heart of Manchester, designed by internationally-renowned architects Rem Koolhaas’ OMA. The Factory will commission, present and produce a year-round programme, featuring new work from the world’s greatest artists and offering a space to make, explore and experiment. 

Kee Hong was formerly the Head of Theatre at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Hong Kong SAR China. Before joining West Kowloon, he was the Artistic Director and General Manager of the Singapore Arts Festival from 2009 to 2012. Prior to this, Kee Hong was the Founding Director and General Manager of the Singapore Biennale between 2005 to 2009.