ade French is a researcher, curator and facilitator based in Liverpool, UK.
Jade is a Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds and Director of Development at The Royal Standard, an artist-led gallery and studio complex. Jade has worked extensively alongside learning disabled people to explore the intersection of contemporary art, disability and social change, with a focus on issues of intellectual access and inclusion within museums and galleries. Her research currently explores inclusive approaches to curating and commissioning art and their role in initiating broader conversations around democracy and diversity in cultural spaces.
RESEARCH ON INCLUSIVE CURATING
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Art as Advocacy explores the potential for curatorial practice by learning disabled artists to act as a site for self-advocacy. Via a practice-led research approach, it brought together members of self-advocacy group Halton Speak Out and members of Bluecoat's inclusive arts project Blue Room, to curate a visual arts exhibition titled Auto Agents. These curators developed an exhibition theme, collaborated with artists, commissioned new artwork and designed accessible interpretation for audiences. This attention to the curatorial process resulted in curating not only becoming more usable by more people, but also more transparent and rigorous. By achieving this, this research delineates to understanding the processes and practices by which our cultural spaces can be democratised READ MORE
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NEWS
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RIGHTS IN FOCUS: A 2-DAY EXCHANGE EXPLORING
THE POLITICS OF ENGAGEMENT "Join us for a 2-day exchange, aiming to start a conversation about the models and methods, which could constitute a rights-focused approach to arts participation. We will explore how the incorporation of social justice agendas and the upholding of ‘rights’ can shape, and challenge, the way arts engagement work is designed, produced and delivered." Book Here
Image by Jason Wen. Courtesy of Migrants' Rights Network |
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NEWS
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AWARDED INTERNATIONAL CURATOR RESIDENCY AT FIRESTATION STUDIOS In June 2018 I am delighted to be undertaking a residency at Dublin's Firestation Artist Studio. During my residency I shall be exploring inclusive studio models for disabled artists with the help of Arts Disability Ireland, as well as sharing my own work on inclusive curating alongside learning disabled artists. I will be giving a public talk during my residency on my recent research Art as Advocacy.
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