Antony and the Johnsons to curate Meltdown

Southbank Centre announces that musician / visual artist Antony has accepted the invitation to curate the 19th Meltdown festival, which takes place in August for the first time in 2012.

The avant-garde performer and lead singer with Mercury Award-winning Antony and the Johnsons, follows in the footsteps of previous directors including Jarvis Cocker, Robert Wyatt, Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Ornette Coleman, David Bowie and, most recently, Ray Davies.

Taking over the venues and spaces of London's iconic, riverside arts centre, the artist who emerged from the New York underground art scene of the early 1990s will curate twelve days of music, debate and performance that reflect his interests, influences and passions. Issues close to his heart - ranging from environment and spirituality to gender politics - will be among themes explored through the festival.

Antony's Meltdown is part of the Southbank Centre's Festival of the World with MasterCard, which runs from 1 June to 9 September 2012.