Manchester International Festival

Manchester International Festival is a biennial international arts festival held in Manchester, featuring a wide range of performances and events, including theatre, music, dance, and visual arts. The festival was founded by Alex Poots in 2007 and has since become a major event in the UK's cultural calendar, attracting visitors from around the world, including London, New York City, and Paris. The festival has featured performances by renowned artists such as Björk, Kraftwerk, and Marina Abramovic, and has collaborated with institutions like the Manchester Museum, The Lowry, and The Whitworth.

● History

The first Manchester International Festival took place in 2007, with a programme that included performances by Lou Reed, Gilbert and George, and Steve Reich. The festival was launched with the aim of showcasing Manchester as a vibrant and culturally rich city, and to provide a platform for innovative and experimental art, similar to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Venice Biennale. Since its inception, the festival has grown in size and scope, with each edition featuring a diverse range of events and performances, including collaborations with The Royal Exchange, The Hallé, and The BBC Philharmonic. The festival has also played host to a number of high-profile premieres, including works by Karlheinz Stockhausen, Thomas Adès, and Akram Khan.

● Festival Programme

The Manchester International Festival programme is curated by a team led by the festival's artistic director, and features a wide range of events and performances, including theatre productions, music concerts, dance performances, and visual arts exhibitions. The programme has included works by artists such as Gerhard Richter, Anish Kapoor, and Tacita Dean, as well as performances by companies like the Royal Shakespeare Company, The National Theatre, and The English National Ballet. The festival has also featured a number of large-scale public events, including the Manchester Street Parade, which has been performed by artists such as Goran Bregovic and Femi Kuti, and has collaborated with events like the Glastonbury Festival and the Notting Hill Carnival.

● Venues

The Manchester International Festival takes place across a range of venues in Manchester, including The Lowry, The Bridgewater Hall, and The Manchester Museum. The festival has also made use of non-traditional venues, such as the Manchester Town Hall, The John Rylands Library, and The National Football Museum. In addition, the festival has commissioned a number of large-scale public art installations, which have been displayed in locations such as Piccadilly Gardens, Spinningfields, and The Castlefield Gallery. The festival has collaborated with institutions like the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and the Royal Northern College of Music.

● Notable Performances

The Manchester International Festival has featured a number of notable performances over the years, including the world premiere of Kraftwerk's The Catalogue, which took place at the Manchester Velodrome in 2009. The festival has also hosted performances by artists such as Björk, who premiered her Biophilia project at the festival in 2011, and Marina Abramovic, who presented her The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic at the festival in 2011. Other notable performances have included The Chemical Brothers' Further, which was performed at the Manchester International Festival in 2010, and The xx's The xx Live, which took place at the festival in 2012. The festival has also featured performances by Elbow, New Order, and The Fall.

● Organisation and Funding

The Manchester International Festival is a registered charity, and is funded by a combination of public and private sources, including Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, and a number of corporate sponsors, such as The Co-operative Group and Bruntwood. The festival is led by a board of trustees, which includes representatives from The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and the Royal Northern College of Music. The festival's artistic director is responsible for curating the programme, and is supported by a team of producers, curators, and administrators. The festival has also collaborated with institutions like the British Council, the BBC, and Channel 4. Category:Arts festivals in the United Kingdom