Mike Pony is a Manchester based curator and producer. 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 is director of Submerge; an international festival of visceral & immersive arts and electronic music with a focus on amplifying the voices of queer, trans*, non-binary and genderfluid artists, communities and audiences.

Mike produces 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”.

Mike is 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. He also produces Eat Sleep Drag Repeat, presenting forward-thinking alternative, political and challenging drag alongside headline artists from RuPaul's Drag Race.

Mike is 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.

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.