Mara Brown

Director (Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre); (Co-Chair Administrative)

Mara Brown is the inaugural Director of the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, where she leads the development and growth of Carleton University’s downtown Arts, Performance and Learning Centre. She brings extensive experience in arts management, production, venue operations and community engagement, having worked with independent artists, non-profit organizations, educational institutions and community partners both nationally and internationally. 

Brown’s expertise centres on cultural leadership, multidisciplinary collaboration and the creation of inclusive spaces that bring together diverse communities. In her current role, she oversees initiatives designed to connect universities, artists, community organizations and members of the public through shared learning, creative practice and community-focused programming. Her work emphasizes relationship building, accessibility and opportunities for meaningful collaboration across sectors. 

Throughout her career, Brown has focused on fostering environments that encourage participation, dialogue and creative exchange. She has developed and supported programming that strengthens connections between institutions and communities while helping ensure that cultural and educational spaces remain vibrant, welcoming and responsive to community needs. 

As a member of the Towards Carleton@100 strategic visioning process, Brown brings expertise in cultural leadership and community-centred engagement, supporting efforts to strengthen collaborative relationships and meaningful partnerships.