Factory International was launched in September 2022 as the organisation behind both Manchester International Festival, and the new Factory International space, which will open to the public in 2023, creating a global destination for arts music and culture in the heart of Manchester.
Our Programme
Factory International commissions, produces and presents an ambitious year-round programme of original creative work, music and special events by leading artists from across the globe at its landmark new venue, online, and internationally through its network of co-commissioners and partners. It also stages the city-wide Manchester International Festival every other year.
The possibilities of digital technology lie at the heart of the vision for Factory International, driving experimentation and innovation in its physical productions and enabling the creation of entirely new experiences for audiences.
Building on MIF’s record of working with communities, Factory International will be a space where local people are actively involved – from participating in flagship commissions, to co-designing programmes of activity, to shaping the organisation through involvement in its public forums.
A laboratory for experimentation and R&D, Factory International is a training ground for the next generation of creators. Artists from Manchester and all over the world will be commissioned to make new work in physical and online realms, while talent development programmes such as the Factory Fellowships will see emerging artists placed alongside international creatives.
The Factory Academy, is a wide-ranging training programme for local people of all ages, equipping them with the skills needed for careers in the creative industries and helping to build the technicians, producers and other talent that will bring the future alive.
Our Space
The design of the landmark new cultural space has been led by Ellen van Loon of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), working closely with the Factory International team. The building is based around large, open, ultra-flexible spaces that can be constantly reconfigured, enabling the creation of large-scale artistic work of invention and ambition that can’t be made in the same way anywhere else in the world. It will offer audiences the opportunity to enjoy the broadest range of art forms year-round: from major exhibitions and concerts, to intimate performances and immersive experiences – including over 80 gigs a year.
Its public spaces, from the foyers to its outdoor areas, will come alive with year-round activities such as family friendly workshops, pop-up food stalls, music, workshops and markets, many of them free, creating a thriving riverside destination for everyone to enjoy.
Rooted in Manchester, Factory International will strengthen the city’s status as a national and international centre for culture, creativity and innovation, as well as a major visitor destination. The economic impact of Factory International will be considerable, creating or supporting up to 1,500 direct and indirect jobs and adding £1.1 billion to the city’s economy over a decade.
The development of Factory International is led by Manchester City Council, with backing from HM Government and Arts Council England.
Our History
Factory International builds on the legacy of Manchester International Festival, one of the world’s leading arts festivals, and the only one entirely focussed on the commissioning and producing of ambitious new work. Taking place every two years since 2007, MIF has established itself not only as a key international cultural event, but as one of the leading producers of bold new work, from some of the world’s most exciting and well-known artists.
Laurie Anderson, Damon Albarn, Akram Khan, Björk, David Lynch, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Skepta, Yoko Ono, Idris Elba, Abida Parveen, Maxine Peake, the XX, Jane Horrocks, Elbow, Carlos Acosta, New Order, Victoria Wood, Kraftwerk and many others have premiered new work at the festival.
Venues range from great theatres and concert halls to car parks, underground tunnels, and the city’s squares and streets.
‘One of the leading worldwide incubators for new, cutting-edge art. Though the festival has an international outlook and reputation, it also showcases Manchester stories and talent.’ New York Times
The Manchester International Team, guided by its board of directors, developed the ideas and programme for the new Factory International space. In recognition of the new balance of its activity, in September 2022, the whole organisation re-branded as Factory International, though it will continue to present Manchester International Festival every two years.
In 2022, the organisation was awarded a National Portfolio Award from Arts Council England of £9,908,150 per year, towards an overall annual budget of over £30m. Key support also comes from Manchester City Council and a range of sponsors and partners.
Factory International: Vision, Mission and Objectives
Our Vision: To Invent Tomorrow Together
Our Mission: Through art, music and culture, in digital and physical space, we will create the meeting points between imagined futures and real lives.
To achieve our goals, and in the context of the opening of our new space, our business plan outlines our strategy and key activities for the years April 22 to March 26 – a period in which we intend to establish Factory International as First Place for Creators of the Future.
We have three strategic objectives for this period:
- To develop new models for thinking about, bringing to life and distributing creative work- through digital experimentation, commercial partnerships, social enterprise, and international collaborations. (Invent)
- To create new possibilities for employment, training, and learning, with a focus on equity for those currently under-represented in our sectors. (Tomorrow)
- To establish The Factory as a sustainable, open and far-reaching space for creative exploration and production, loved locally, and celebrated internationally. (Together)
This work will be undertaken in line with our core values. We aim, at all times and in all ways to be: Open, Inventive, Equitable, International, and Determined.