MARY STEPHENS
Mary Stephens was born and raised in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Her mother owned and operated the Phoenix Youth Hostel in the Garfield District for over 25 years. At a young age, Mary lived near and with people from all over the world. This inspired a deep appreciation for dialogue and diverse perspectives.
Mary is currently an arts producer and community advocate whose work bridges grassroots activism with institutional change. Her practice engages civic engagement and cultural citizenship through the arts, with demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with diverse communities locally, nationally and internationally. Mary's work advances visibility, representation, and power-sharing between local, state and national artists and organizations. Key to her method is leadership development, building strong partnerships, and intersectional approaches to institutional community engagement. Her curatorial work focuses on bi-national relationships between Mexico and the United States, and curating site-specific artistic experiences that address social issues. Mary has leadership experience in curation, cultural equity, placekeeping, community engagement, arts management, programming, board development, and organizational development.
Mary received her B.A. in Theatre from Arizona State University, and an M.A. in International Peace & Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington, DC. She completed her doctoral coursework focused on Theatre and Performance of the Americas, but did not complete her PhD. Previous work includes international development in Uganda and Rwanda, and in Peru and Ecuador.
Mary Stephens was born and raised in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Her mother owned and operated the Phoenix Youth Hostel in the Garfield District for over 25 years. At a young age, Mary lived near and with people from all over the world. This inspired a deep appreciation for dialogue and diverse perspectives.
Mary is currently an arts producer and community advocate whose work bridges grassroots activism with institutional change. Her practice engages civic engagement and cultural citizenship through the arts, with demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with diverse communities locally, nationally and internationally. Mary's work advances visibility, representation, and power-sharing between local, state and national artists and organizations. Key to her method is leadership development, building strong partnerships, and intersectional approaches to institutional community engagement. Her curatorial work focuses on bi-national relationships between Mexico and the United States, and curating site-specific artistic experiences that address social issues. Mary has leadership experience in curation, cultural equity, placekeeping, community engagement, arts management, programming, board development, and organizational development.
Mary received her B.A. in Theatre from Arizona State University, and an M.A. in International Peace & Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington, DC. She completed her doctoral coursework focused on Theatre and Performance of the Americas, but did not complete her PhD. Previous work includes international development in Uganda and Rwanda, and in Peru and Ecuador.
SERVICES
Developing arts programs Artistic networks and practices Intersectional approaches to Arts Organizing Curatorial vision Audience cultivation Project Management Undoing Racism and White Allyship Training Social Media Branding
TEACHING
Socially Engaged Practice (HDA 310) – Teach theory and practice of arts, community, and arts engagements with undergraduate students.
Theatre Culture and History (THE 322 Online) – Theory and history course addressing the cultural histories of performance globally and in the Western canon.
Performance and Citizenship (THE 494) – Taught graduate theory seminar examining borders, performance, and cultural citizenship in postmodern societies with strong focus on MX/US border politics and art.
Arts Curation as Activism (THE 396) – Undergraduate course focusing on the ways arts production is used as a tool for activism/justice movements.
Developing arts programs Artistic networks and practices Intersectional approaches to Arts Organizing Curatorial vision Audience cultivation Project Management Undoing Racism and White Allyship Training Social Media Branding
TEACHING
Socially Engaged Practice (HDA 310) – Teach theory and practice of arts, community, and arts engagements with undergraduate students.
Theatre Culture and History (THE 322 Online) – Theory and history course addressing the cultural histories of performance globally and in the Western canon.
Performance and Citizenship (THE 494) – Taught graduate theory seminar examining borders, performance, and cultural citizenship in postmodern societies with strong focus on MX/US border politics and art.
Arts Curation as Activism (THE 396) – Undergraduate course focusing on the ways arts production is used as a tool for activism/justice movements.
