31 March 2010

New curator of exhibitions for Duncan of Jordanstone

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design has appointed Sophia Yadong Hao as its new Curator of Exhibitions.

Ms Hao is an experienced artist, curator and writer who will take up her post at DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee, in June having spent the past three years working at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle. She will be responsible for curating, managing and promoting an ambitious programme of exhibitions and events for DJCAD galleries and Centrespace, located at the Visual Research Centre in Dundee Contemporary Arts.

The programme includes student-led activities and serves as a platform for critical engagement with contemporary cultural production, practice-based research and educational activities.

Ms Hao obtained an MA in Visual Culture with distinction from Manchester Institute for Research and Innovation in Art & Design in 2005. Prior to working with the Laing Art Gallery, she was based in Manchester and London, and established herself as a freelance curator and project manager. She is also widely active as an artist, both in the UK and internationally. In addition, she has published articles, interviews and poetry in the UK, Canada and China.

Edwin Janssen, Academic Leader of the Visual Research Centre & Exhibitions, said DJCAD were delighted to welcome Ms Hao as their new Curator.

'Her experience and curatorial vision will significantly contribute to the realisation of an ambitious and innovative programme of exhibitions and events,' he said. 'This programme will be of national and international significance and will reflect DJCAD’s established and emergent research in art and design.'

Last year, 20 exhibitions took place at DJCAD’s five gallery spaces. The Exhibitions team is also responsible for organising the annual Dundee Degree Show, where graduating students display the fruits of their undergraduate labours. The event is one of the highlights in Dundee’s cultural calendar.

In addition, a number of other events and projects are undertaken, an example of which is the Nine Trades of Dundee initiative. The project was initiated by Exhibitions at DJCAD, and aims to increase arts access and encourage more participation for non-arts audiences by bringing art activity and creativity to the heart of the workplace.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
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