AnouarKassim, MBE, is the Founding Director of the Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture (MKIAC), which he established in 2002 in response to the 9/11 attacks. Diverse cultural influences have always played a significant role in his life, from his heritage roots in Zanzibar, later moving to the UK as a child.

MKIAC’s annual cultural festival, Art in the Park - for which Kassim drives the artistic vision, fundraises, and recruits key stakeholders - attracts over 20,000 people every year.

As a champion for inclusion and diversity in the Buckinghamshire region, Kassim is a spokesperson for the Arts Council England. He has also spearheaded key curriculum changes in schools to ensure a sense of belonging forevery child is embedded in arts syllabi.