Mike Pony

Artistic Director

Mike is a Manchester-based curator, producer and artistic director of Submerge. He is known nationally for his cultural work developing brands, festivals and events which collide live music, digital arts, performance, installation, queer culture and clubbing.

Mike was part of the 2021 Clore Leadership cohort, and is also an accredited personal and professional development coach trained by RD1st. He holds a Master of Philosophy in one-to-one performance from University of Bristol and a BA in Interdisciplinary Performance from Middlesex University London.

Mike is the director Eat Sleep Drag Repeat, presenting forward-thinking alternative, political and challenging drag alongside headline artists from RuPaul’s Drag Race. He is also a co-producer on The Big Drag Pageant, a touring community drag competition showcasing the talent, diversity, creativity and confidence that makes drag so special.

Mike often works in collaboration with producers, designers, artists, performers, festivals and venues to realise and cultural events and festivals. He has previously worked as an associate producer for organisations such as In Between Time, Christmas Spiegeltent and the Bristol Harbour Festival.

Former Projects

Mike formerly produced Horseplay, a queer-art-disco-club with a positive vibe and a fine dusting of glitter and sleaze, described by The Guardian as “Bristol’s best gay dance party”.

Get In Touch

Mike often works in collaboration with producers, designers, artists, performers festivals and venues to realise events and festivals. He has worked as a producer for organisations such as Brighter Sound, Bristol Pride, In Between Time, Christmas Spiegeltent and Bristol Harbour Festival.

To get in touch, please use the details in the contact page.