Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Generic

JESSICA E. TURNER

Belleville

Summary

As an emerging independent curator in Canada, I am dedicated to curating art exhibitions and experiences that immerse audiences in the pressing realities of our changing climate. My work focuses on critical themes such as water preservation, biodiversity loss, and the broader environmental impacts reshaping our world. I aim to craft engaging and thought-provoking exhibitions to inspire hope and to encourage reflection on our roles in these global challenges while providing actionable steps towards fostering greater resilience. My research integrates theoretical frameworks and practical methodologies to create a comprehensive approach to curating exhibitions on environmental issues. My theoretical foundation includes eco-criticism, Anthropocene studies, and affective ecologies, which provide deep insights into the cultural and emotional dimensions of human-environment interactions. Complementing this, my practical research involves participatory practices, multisensory design, and community engagement, which allow me to translate these theoretical insights into dynamic and interactive exhibition experiences.

Overview

7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Independent Curator

Self-employed
04.2021 - Current
  • Conceptualize and develop thematic exhibitions focused on climate change, environmental issues, and social impact.
  • Conduct research on emerging artists and contemporary art practices that align with curatorial themes.
  • Plan and manage all phases of exhibitions, from initial concept through to installation and deinstallation.
  • Coordinate with artists, galleries, and institutions to secure artwork, exhibition spaces, and necessary resources.
  • Facilitate community outreach programs and public engagement initiatives to broaden the reach and impact of exhibitions.
  • Write and apply for grants and funding opportunities to support exhibition development and programming.
  • Create marketing strategies and promotional materials to attract diverse audiences to exhibitions.
  • Collaborate with designers and installation teams to create visually compelling and thematically cohesive exhibition layouts.
  • Write critical essays, exhibition texts, and curatorial statements that contextualize the artwork and themes.
  • Assess the impact and success of exhibitions through audience feedback, visitor statistics, and critical reviews.

Digital Archivist and Website Designer

Restoration Services Inc.
06.2018 - Current
  • Created and maintain website which provides project explanations of significant historical restoration work completed, as well as past, present, and pending restoration projects
  • Maintain digital photography archive for past, present, and pending projects
  • Photographer and video editor for restoration project processes.

Coordinator, OCAD Graduate Exhibition (GRADEX)

OCAD UNIVERSITY
03.2024 - 05.2024
  • Hired 40+ students to work for the annual graduate exhibition (GradEx)
  • Organized call for GradEx employees, and collected responses
  • Assigned and communicated roles and shifts to student employees in a timely manner
  • Distributed and collected all student employee Finance and Human Resources documents required to hire students and process payments
  • Maintained detailed schedule of GradEx shifts and assigned student roles
  • Lead mandatory training session for all GradEx student employees.

Coordinator, OCAD Graduate Exhibition (GRADEX)

OCAD UNIVERSITY
03.2023 - 05.2023
  • Hired 40+ students to work for the annual graduate exhibition (GradEx)
  • Organized call for GradEx employees, and collected responses
  • Assigned and communicated roles and shifts to student employees in a timely manner
  • Distributed and collected all student employee Finance and Human Resources documents required to hire students and process payments
  • Maintained detailed schedule of GradEx shifts and assigned student roles
  • Lead mandatory training session for all GradEx student employees.

Student Assistant, Research Department

OCAD UNIVERSITY
06.2019 - 11.2020
  • Archiving researcher awards and applications in research ROMEO portal system
  • Editing of the Office of Research Manual and Structures of Procedures document
  • Research Department PULSE newsletter development
  • Printing, editing, design, and distribution of research project posters
  • Updating research department website
  • Collaborating with researchers to provide support through grant application system software.

Coordinator, OCAD Graduate Exhibition (GRADEX)

OCAD UNIVERSITY
03.2019 - 05.2019
  • Hired 40+ students to work for the annual graduate exhibition (GradEx)
  • Organized call for GradEx employees, and collected responses
  • Assigned and communicated roles and shifts to student employees in a timely manner
  • Distributed and collected all student employee Finance and Human Resources documents required to hire students and process payments
  • Maintained detailed schedule of GradEx shifts and assigned student roles
  • Lead mandatory training session for all GradEx student employees.

Curatorial Assistant, Art Toronto International Art Fair

OCAD University
04.2018 - 10.2018
  • Curation of OCAD University’s booth at Art Toronto International Art Fair
  • Artist studio visits which included documentation of artwork, and shortlisting artists to participate in exhibition
  • Assisted in the development of artist statements and bio’s
  • Art docent
  • Assisted with data collection, documentation, data compilation, processing, entry and reporting
  • Assisting with the promotion of research activities such as studio visits, artist consultation, and curatorial conceptualization for four (4) rotations.

Community Outreach & Events Assistant

Toronto Arts Foundation
05.2018 - 08.2018
  • Coordination of marketing and outreach activities, volunteer supervision and event support for the Toronto Art Foundation 'Arts in the Parks' program for summer 2018
  • Distributed marketing collateral (digital and print) and arranged cross promotions with partners
  • Acted as an ambassador for the initiative with the general public
  • Assisted with the training of volunteers
  • Provided on-site training (at events) for volunteers
  • Taking phone calls/inquiries from artists and volunteers as needed.

Student Assistant, Digital Print Centre

OCAD University
10.2017 - 05.2018
  • Provided full print and copy service to students, faculty, and public
  • Printed small-, and large-scale projects for art galleries and exhibitions
  • Performed saddle stitch and spiral book binding
  • Formatted documents to be printed on specific machines (OCE, Inkjet, Plotter)
  • Regular use of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator
  • Cash handling.

Education

Master of Arts (MA) - Art History & Visual Culture

Lindenwood University
12.2024

Graduate Diploma - Arts Management

Queens University
Kingston, ON
01.2021

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) - Art Criticism and Curatorial Practice

OCAD University
Toronto, ON
05.2021

Business Administration Diploma -

Loyalist College
Belleville, ON
06.2015

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) -

Centennial Secondary School
Belleville, ON

Skills

  • Exhibit preparation and design
  • Art handling
  • Visual analysis/visual literacy
  • Art history knowledge
  • Cataloguing and documentation
  • Networking and Collaboration
  • Public Engagement
  • Oral communication
  • Relationship Building
  • Written Communication

Certification

EF Nobel Prize Museum Global Citizen Certificate

Languages

English
Native or Bilingual

Timeline

Coordinator, OCAD Graduate Exhibition (GRADEX)

OCAD UNIVERSITY
03.2024 - 05.2024

Coordinator, OCAD Graduate Exhibition (GRADEX)

OCAD UNIVERSITY
03.2023 - 05.2023

Independent Curator

Self-employed
04.2021 - Current

Student Assistant, Research Department

OCAD UNIVERSITY
06.2019 - 11.2020

Coordinator, OCAD Graduate Exhibition (GRADEX)

OCAD UNIVERSITY
03.2019 - 05.2019

Digital Archivist and Website Designer

Restoration Services Inc.
06.2018 - Current

Community Outreach & Events Assistant

Toronto Arts Foundation
05.2018 - 08.2018

Curatorial Assistant, Art Toronto International Art Fair

OCAD University
04.2018 - 10.2018

Student Assistant, Digital Print Centre

OCAD University
10.2017 - 05.2018

Master of Arts (MA) - Art History & Visual Culture

Lindenwood University

Graduate Diploma - Arts Management

Queens University

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) - Art Criticism and Curatorial Practice

OCAD University

Business Administration Diploma -

Loyalist College

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) -

Centennial Secondary School
JESSICA E. TURNER