Southbank Centre appoints Mark Ball as artistic director

Mark Ball has been appointed artistic director of London’s Southbank Centre.

Currently creative director at Manchester International Festival, Ball will lead the artistic output at the cultural centre.

He effectively replaces Madani Younis, who took up the newly created post of creative director of the Southbank Centre in January 2019.

However, Younis, who was formerly artistic director of London’s Bush Theatre, left the role in December after less than a year. Younis said he was leaving to "pursue new creative opportunities".

Prior to Younis, Jude Kelly was artistic director of the Southbank Centre from 2006 to 2018.

Ball will join the arts centre in January 2022 and work alongside chief executive Elaine Bedell to lead the institution.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the talented and passionate team at the Southbank Centre as artistic director. As we emerge from the pandemic it will be our shared cultural experiences that will help us unite and create a positive and optimistic future together.”

He added: “I’m keen to build on the unique legacy of the Southbank Centre, which emerged from the Festival of Britain, and build a bold, inclusive and collaborative international programme that’s seared with artistic innovation and experiment and that excites the imaginations of artists and audiences across London and the UK."

Prior to Manchester International Festival, Ball held the roles of artistic director and chief executive of the London International Festival of Theatre, head of events and exhibitions at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and artistic director of Fierce!.

Ball is also chair of Belarus Free Theatre and an advisory board member of Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum.

Bedell said Ball would “bring a uniting vision to our mix of music, visual art, literature and performance”.

"He has a clear and ambitious vision for the artistic future of the Southbank Centre, with excellence, digital innovation and international collaboration at its heart,” she said.