Mark Ball is Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre in London, the UK’s largest arts centre and home to the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Hayward Gallery. Since joining in January 2022, he has led the Southbank Centre’s entire artistic programme across music, visual art, literature, dance and performance, including the launch of the Multitudes festival and the landmark 75th anniversary season in 2026.

Before the Southbank Centre, Mark was Creative Director at Manchester International Festival (now Factory International), where he shaped the artistic programme for the new cultural venue The Factory. He was also Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT), Head of Events and Exhibitions at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Artistic Director of Fierce Festival in Birmingham. He is known for bold, international and inclusive arts programming.