Tonye Ekine

B e c k y S c h u t t

program director, creative spark, strategist and facilitator

for flagship cultural institutions, universities, artists, creative & social enterprises, and governments

with 25 years' professional experience
in 20 countries worldwide

and the aim of pioneering interdisciplinary solutions to economic inequality the climate emergency and existential angst & co-creating spaces, artistic wonders and moments for intercultural connection and quality of life for all

Career highlights include

Establishing and leading the University of Cambridge Judge Business School’s MBA program in arts and cultural management as Cambridge Fellow & Lecturer (2009-2017);
Co-authoring the cultural strategy of Dubai, UAE (2008-9);
Traveling to fifteen states in the USA aboard the Artrain museum, educating children about NASA’s art collection and space travel (2000);
Founding the UK's national Relaxed Performance Theatre Project for people with severe autism (2012), leading to an international movement in theatre access;
Leading a £9m economic development & cultural relations program for the British Council, focused on creative and social enterprise in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa & the UK (2018-2020) - with an exhibit about the program on view at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs opening in 2025;
Through Crossing Borders Education, a film-based, international charity, fostered partnerships with Outrage & Optimism (climate podcast) and Cisco Technology to support scalable intercultural dialogue programs for young people in 15+ countries
Chairing award-winning UK-theatre company Hoipolloi, reworking the business model to reflect the social & artistic mission, raising over £75K for Save the Children, Street Child United & the World Wildlife Fund.The Loose Change Trilogy was performed 220 times, and seen by 16K people across three continents. (Trustee from 2012; Chair 2017-2020);
Serving on the Board of Arts & Homelessness International, a network of 400+ art spaces globally, with 50% of staff and board who are or have experienced homelessnesses (2022+);
Revamping the Venice Art Biennale Fellowship program for the British Pavilion (Sir John Akomfrah, 2024). For the first time in its 125-year history, people who have been homeless or require full-time carers represented Britain at the longest standing art fair in the world alongside fellow brilliant artists, historians and activists from across the UK and 20 other nationalities. Almost 705% of Fellows had experienced barriers to entry into the arts sector prior to Venice due to class, race, dis/ability, gender, nationality, educational attainment, sexuality and/or likely a combination thereof. (2023+)