Interview With Mark Walmsley, Founder of the Arts and Culture Network

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INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.

Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, welcomed Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes to provide another commentary in a series.

The Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes Commentaries

In this lively Coaches Corner interview, Benjamin Barnes aka Bencasso chats with Mark Walmsley, founder of the Arts and Culture Network—a global community of over 150,000 creatives. They discuss Walmsley’s unique journey from triangle player in the symphony to digital arts connector, the growth of the Network from a forgotten LinkedIn group to a dynamic online hub, and how it’s fostering collaboration across artistic disciplines. Walmsley also announces Barnes’ induction as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, spotlighting the spirit of mutual support that fuels their shared creative mission.

Bencasso: Ladies and gentlemen, art lovers and culture connoisseurs, please put down your prosecco and prepare to meet the man who’s connecting creatives faster than you can say “networking soiree with a side of surrealism.” He’s the founder of the Arts and Culture Network—a global hive buzzing with 150,000 artists, performers, producers, poets, and people who still know how to use a semicolon. Whether you paint with oils or pivot tables, this one’s for you.

By day, he’s a brand and marketing strategist. By night, he’s matchmaking cellists with cello designers, playwrights with photographers, and even the occasional confused accountant who really loves opera. Part impresario, part instigator, and full-time champion of the cultural renaissance, please welcome Mark Walmsley.

Mark Walmsley: Thank you, Ben! That was a wonderful intro—and just to clarify, I pick up my grandchildren’s clothes, not my grandmother’s. Although, I did pick hers up once upon a time! It’s an absolute pleasure to be here, and thank you for being a full member of the Arts and Culture Network.

Bencasso: You also nominated me for the Royal Society of Arts. I just want to give you your flowers for that.

Mark: I did! And I’m thrilled to say they accepted you. You are now officially a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London. I was more than happy to nominate you.

Bencasso: That’s pro. Much appreciated. Hopefully we’ll get to meet there one day in person.

Mark: That would be wonderful. Now let me give your audience some background. I’m Mark Walmsley, founder of the Arts and Culture Network. I’m a musician by training—played triangle in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the UK for about 12 years after studying music in London.

But while I was still in college, I read Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. It lit a business fire under me. So I thought, “Hey, I’m in music college, why not start a music agency?” That agency grew into a pretty sizable entertainment company.

Bencasso: A triangle player turned entrepreneur—I love it.

Mark: Around the early ‘90s, I started tinkering with email. My first email was sent in ’93—I waited a week for a reply. Those were the days. Then I taught myself web design in ‘94 and proposed a website for the orchestra. From there, I made a detour through med-tech and pharma marketing.

In 2010, I started a LinkedIn group for artists and forgot all about it. Fast-forward to the lockdown era—it had grown to 18,000 members. No one had really connected yet, so I started hosting random Zoom networking events. Those calls became the heartbeat of the community.

Bencasso: Serendipity and speed-networking!

Mark: Exactly. What was my side hustle is now my full-time gig. We’re at over 150,000 members across eight LinkedIn groups, ranging from visual to literary to performing arts, heritage, tourism, architecture—you name it.

We host six networking events a month, and there are three levels of engagement: our free LinkedIn groups, our free events, and the optional full membership program, which is just $12 or £10 a month. Full members get perks to boost their visibility, grow their network, and promote their work.

Bencasso: It’s a great model. I love your motto, too.

Mark: “Choose people who will say your name in a room full of opportunity.” That’s how we roll.

Bencasso: And roll you do. Thanks again for being here on the Coaches Corner, and congratulations on the amazing momentum you’ve built. Kevin Price will be airing this soon, and we’ll have a newsprint and a SoundCloud version up—in perpepitude.

Mark: That’s fantastic. Thank you again, Ben. It’s been a joy.

Benjamin Barnes, also known as Bencasso, is a violinist, guitarist, educator, author, and creative entrepreneur. A former rock star turned cultural leader, he is the founder of Bencasso LLC and The Culture Scholar Corporation. With over 1,200 music recordings, multiple books, art exhibitions, and a syndicated podcast segment called The Coaches Corner, Bencasso empowers artistpreneurs through education, storytelling, and performance. A true Renaissance figure, his mission is to uplift others through art, music, and connection.

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