About Jade French
I am an artist-facilitator, museum professional and academic whose research interests emerge from practical experience of running inclusive and community-led projects in museums and galleries. My work broadly examines access and participation within arts and museology, and over the past three years this has focussed on devising applied methods to enable public participation in the curating of exhibitions, collections and artist commissions.
I have a deep interest in the work of learning disabled artists and curators. Beginning my career in self-advocacy and social care roles, I have since practiced as an artist-facilitator for over ten years supporting a range of learning disabled and neurodivergent artists, inclusive arts organisations, and supported studios internationally to create artwork, programmes, exhibitions, research and policy.
In 2018 I was appointed a Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Fine Art, History art and Cultural Studies where I currently teach across fine art and museum studies. In addition to my academic work, I facilitate community engagement at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum and undertake freelance projects such as producing Easy Read translations for cultural sector organisations. I have also undertaken independent research and evaluations for organisations such as DASH, Artlink and Hull City of Culture 2017. In 2018 I undertook The Firestation Artist Studio's International Curator Residency in Ireland and in 2020 was awarded Metal's Remote Artist Residency with learning disabled artist Leah Jones.
I have a deep interest in the work of learning disabled artists and curators. Beginning my career in self-advocacy and social care roles, I have since practiced as an artist-facilitator for over ten years supporting a range of learning disabled and neurodivergent artists, inclusive arts organisations, and supported studios internationally to create artwork, programmes, exhibitions, research and policy.
In 2018 I was appointed a Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Fine Art, History art and Cultural Studies where I currently teach across fine art and museum studies. In addition to my academic work, I facilitate community engagement at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum and undertake freelance projects such as producing Easy Read translations for cultural sector organisations. I have also undertaken independent research and evaluations for organisations such as DASH, Artlink and Hull City of Culture 2017. In 2018 I undertook The Firestation Artist Studio's International Curator Residency in Ireland and in 2020 was awarded Metal's Remote Artist Residency with learning disabled artist Leah Jones.