Manchester's Factory International Opens with £9.9M Annual Funding, Featuring Kusama and Boyle

This summer, Factory International will debut at the former Granada Studios in Manchester, designed by Ellen van Loon. It will serve as the permanent venue for the Manchester International Festival (MIF), which has been held every two years since 2007. The initial funding of £78 million was provided by the UK government, supplemented by support from Manchester City Council and Arts Council England. For the period of 2023–26, Factory International has secured £9,908,150 in annual funding from the Arts Council. Its opening aligns with the 2023 MIF, taking place from June 29 to July 16, featuring artists like Yayoi Kusama and Janelle Monáe. The first production, Free Your Mind by Danny Boyle, is set for autumn 2023, part of the St John's renewal project, which faces a £25 million budget gap addressed by Manchester City Council.