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Behind every vibrant arts scene lies a network of individuals who tirelessly dedicate their lives to fostering creativity and enriching our communities. This interview delves into the remarkable journey of Mark Walmsley, Founder and Director of ACN, the Arts and Culture Network, a visionary who has significantly shaped the landscape of arts and culture in the UK and abroad. We explore his passions, the challenges he has overcome, and the enduring impact of his work
How long have you got? The only one of those that was planned was playing the triangle at Carnegie Hall. I was a member of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for many years. It was Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite with a famously difficult first horn entry (it’s not easy to play high quiet notes through 22 feet of brass tubing), and it had a triangle crescendo at the end. To the intense disappointment of our first horn player … I got the mention in the New York Times.
After leaving college I set up an event organising company and was asked to turn the Warner Brothers store in London into the Bat Cave for the launch of a video game and plan the event. The highlight was to be the arrival of Batman through a fake ceiling in the two-storey stairwell. Sadly, the stunt man failed to show up and the only person who could fit in Val Kilmer’s suit from the film was … me. I escaped with my life and kept the suit.
As an event organiser, I was asked to arrange entertainment for a banquet at The Guildhall in the City of London. The guest of honour was HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Unfortunately, the toastmaster booked for the evening was taken ill and I had to step in, to the fury of the Guild of Toastmasters, of which I was not a member.
These and other similar events have taught me to be unafraid of the unexpected and to step up with confidence and humour when the spotlight falls on you.
I consider myself to be more of a collaborative facilitator than a leader. My superpower is connecting people, and my passion is music, arts, and culture. This role aligns perfectly with my strengths and interests. I also live by the motto that it is better to regret things you tried rather than those you did not.
Our motto at The ACN is “Choose people who will say your name in a room full of opportunities.” With over 150,000 members across our 8 LinkedIn groups, it appears to be working.
Wow! How the tables have turned. My language skills are not great, but I have some French, so it would probably be best to start in an English-speaking country. I did a project on Canada at primary school but have never been there. So, I’d start my fantasy cultural year in Vancouver.
I’m a big fan of the English artist Sir Grayson Perry. He was asked to design a home based on the life story of an Essex girl born in the 1960s. The result is A House for Essex which sits at the tip of rural north Essex close to The River Stour. It’s my favourite building. Full of his work, imagination, and storytelling skill. My wife and I had the rare pleasure of staying there for a weekend and I’d love to do so again. Do please Google it.
The book that comes to mind is “The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared” by Jonas Jonasson. It’s a comedic novel about Allan Karlsson, an elderly man in Sweden who escapes his care home on his 100th birthday and embarks on an unexpected and adventurous journey. Along the way, Allan encounters a colourful cast of characters, accidentally acquires a suitcase full of money, and becomes entangled with criminals.
The story alternates between Allan’s present-day escapades and flashbacks to his incredible past, where he played a surprisingly significant role in historical events of the 20th century. The novel is full of humour, wit, and absurd situations, making it a delightful read.
If I live to be 100, I’m climbing out the window too. (My second choice would be “The Adventures of Goodnight and Loving” by Leslie Thomas. Can you spot a theme here?)
The fantasy concert is a very difficult question for a musician. Unlike my members, (who are asked to pick just one) I’m going for three.
The first would be the premier of Stravinsky’s ballet “The Rite of Spring” in Paris in 1913. It caused a riot but over 100 years later it is now mainstream orchestral repertoire. I’d like to be there to see what all the fuss was about.
The second would have to be a return to Ronnie Scott’s Club in 1972 for drummer Buddy Rich and his Orchestra. I was there (aged 9) and met Buddy at the interval. He gave me a pair of drumsticks, and that moment was the inspiration to become a professional percussionist.
And the third would have to be Bob Marley at The Rainbow in 1977. I was 14 years old and my father bought us tickets. He was called away on business, so we weren’t able to go. My father died in 1985 at the age of 50. I was 23. Before he died, he told me that missing the chance to go to that concert with me – in favour of an automotive convention in Germany – was one of the biggest regrets of his life. I remain a huge fan of them both.
I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in May 2022. We caught it early and I got the all-clear in July 2022 after surgery. That was a significant moment for pause and reflection and consideration of a legacy I might like to leave.
It’s my aim to turn the Arts and Culture Network into a global arts and culture support foundation by the end of this decade. A bit like The Arts Council of England but with no application form, hurdles, or red tape. I call it democratic collective philanthropy.
While our membership revenue currently is modest, we have already started donating. For example, we contributed to the fundraiser for one of our young members who moved from South Africa to Canada with her husband and young son, effectively negating her medical insurance, only to find that she had a rare form of breast cancer.
We’ve also supported another member (who was left unpaid by an unscrupulous promoter) with funds to pay for legal support.
I frequently thank our paying full members and let them know that a small amount from many can have a big impact for one.
I know from my own experience that how people perceive you, your brand, or your business becomes their reality. It may not always align with your vision, but it can be strategically engineered. “Who the hell do THEY think you are?”
My workshop is based on my own formula for successful branding (DBR = NRT). Different, better, and remarkable = Noticed, remembered, and talked about.
The 121 workshop is conducted over two 90-minute sessions, it captures what is special and provides an identifying characteristic and an operator word that goes before the word they understand that provides differentiation and gets them asking more questions. I call that the “Wait … what?” moment. E.g. “I’m a preventative Osteopath”
The output is a completed brand board that becomes the blueprint for everything subsequently created for marketing. More can be learned here (https://markwalmsley.co.uk/)
In all honesty, I changed my approach. Over the last few years, I spread my resources too thinly. I pursued too many ideas, targeted too many audiences, and tried to reach them through too many channels.”
While my family and friends are always uppermost, I have embraced the concept of minimalist marketing that provides me with the focus I needed to make The Arts and Culture Network take off as it has.
My watch words for communication are clarity, brevity, and wit. Achieve that and you are well on the way. We remember stories more than facts so at our free networking events on Zoom we incorporate a 10-minute speed webinar called The TAD Talk (The Arts Debate). It is often story-based. I’d also like to think I host our events with elements of humour. We always acknowledge upcoming birthdays, and I encourage guests to keep their cameras on, unless they are on the beach or in their pyjamas.
My grandparents worked in the same cotton mill in the north of England all their lives. My parents worked for decades for the same companies; we are now averaging 4.2 years working in full time employment at the same company. It doesn’t take a genius to realise that our children and grandchildren may choose to be portfolio freelancers.
Be different, be good at it, and have a hook that serves as an aide memoire.
To learn more about The Arts and Culture Network and its initiatives, please visit:
Connect with Mark Walmsley on LinkedIn:
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