In the countdown to the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Chiang Mai, the presenters who will participate to exchange with about 40 young artistic festival directors from all over the world will be introduced. One of them is Mark Ball, Artistic Director and Chief Executitve of London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT). He previously participated as mentor in the Atelier Edinburgh 2014.

Mark Ball was appointed as Artistic Director and Chief Executive of LIFT in April 2009. Prior to his appointment at LIFT, Mark established Fierce Earth Ltd in 1997, which specialises in the production and presentation of cultural events, festivals and programmes. From 1998 - 2007, he directed Fierce!, an annual international festival of theatre, live art and contemporary dance taking place across the West Midlands which is now widely recognised as one of the UK's most vibrant contemporary arts festivals. In January 2008, he was appointed Head of Events and Exhibitions at the Royal Shakespeare Company, leading a new department responsible for developing the profile of the RSC amongst new audiences by producing and delivering a range of high profile artist-led projects and commissions.

In November 2005, Mark was named the Institute of Director's (IoD) Young Director of the Year and was made a Clore Fellow in 2006/2007. He also holds posts at a number of arts organisations, including Trustee of Frantic Assembly and the Live Art Development Agency. In 2012, Mark was named by Time Out and The Stage as one of the ten most influential people in British theatre.

Renowned mentors from all over the world will guide the participants throughout the seven days of the Atelier Chiang Mai 2016 under the coordination of Hugo de Greef (Atelier Coordinator, former EFA Secretary General, Director European Capital of Culture Bruges 2002m Co-Founder Kaaitheater Brussels – Belgium): Robin Archer, (Artistic Director The Light in Winter Melbourne – Australia), Mark Ball, (Artistic Director and Chief Executive LIFT – UK), Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, (President Lyon Biennal -  France), Nele Hertling, (Member Strategy Group “A Soul for Europe”, Former Vice-President of the Academy of Arts Berlin, Former Director Hebbel-Theater Berlin – Germany), Low Kee-Hong, (Head of Artistic Development Theatre West Kowloon Cultural District Hong Kong – Singapore), Michal Merczynski,(Director Malta Festival Poznań and Nostalgia Festival Poznań – Poland), and Kim Seong Hee, (Artistic Curator and Producer, Professor at the Kaywon Art University – South Korea).

More information about the Atelier Chiang Mai 2016 can be found on the Atelier website.

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