Mary Genis is the Artistic Director and Founder of CultureMix Arts. She is a visual and performance artist, a musician, writer, designer and producer devising and delivering projects, activities and digital content that celebrate the arts by drawing inspiration from different cultures.
Mary started out as a fashion and theatre costume designer and a touring freelance musician. In 1997 she set up a community steel band Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra – RASPO, winning a British Association of Steelband (BAS) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 in recognition of her sustained and continuous work over many years promoting steel pan, and inspiring and leading others.
Mary joined Reading Borough Council in 1997 and Arts Council England in 2001 as the first African Caribbean Arts Development Officer for Cultural Diversity following the Macpherson enquiry into the Stephen Lawrence murder calling for reform of local governments to address issues of institutional racism.
She is a Clore Fellow and Kings College London alumni, a trustee for arts charity Jelly and London Notting Hill Carnival organiser Carnival Village Trust. Mary is also a cultural commentator and public speaker advocating positive perceptions of Black culture and creativity on BBC Radio.
Today CultureMix Arts is one of the UK’s leading lights in professional Black music entertainment, education and arts development fulfilling Mary’s vision to offer vocational training and realistic employment opportunities in a growing creative industry.
‘I believe everyone has the right to take part in the arts, we create employment and with performance opportunities artists can fulfil their creative ambitions whilst earning a living doing something they love.’
