International Curator Talk with Harriet Cooper

Join us on Wednesday 12 April, 5-6 PM, for the visiting international curator talk with Harriet Cooper.

Harriet is the second visiting international curator of 2023 and will be in residence at FSAS throughout April. Her talk ‘Growing Works’ will discuss commissioning processes, asking the question ‘What does good commissioning look like?’ through the lens of artist development and curatorial collaboration. It will include an overview of her previous work with artists before discussing specific strategies and resources she uses, also touching on research she is hoping to develop further during her residency.

The talk will take place in the project space at FSAS. As spaces are limited, please email artadmin@firestation.ie to reserve your spot.

Biography

Harriet is an independent curator, writer and advisor from Manchester, who lives on the South East coast of England. Her current curatorial work focuses on early-career artists and commissioning in the visual arts, with a particular interest in sculptural practices. More widely, her research and projects consider the conditions, care and collaboration that can support development for creative practices across art, writing and curating.

Harriet is Programme Director for Jerwood Curatorial Accelerator, a curatorial and leadership development programme for early-career curators; and Jerwood Survey III, a major touring exhibition of new commissions by early-career artists. Alongside these freelance projects she is an Independent Member of the Wales in Venice Advisory Committee 2020-2024, a member of the Arts Council Collection Acquisitions Committee 2022-2024, and regularly works with artists on mentoring and project development.

From 2018 – 2022 Harriet was Head of Visual Arts for independent funder Jerwood Arts, leading their developmental work with early-career visual artists and curating their exhibition programme of new commissions across the UK. She has previously held roles at Firstsite, Colchester; the British Council, London; Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield; Tate Liverpool, Liverpool; and The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester; as well as developing independent curatorial projects including a recent exhibition of new work by Susie Green for JW Anderson’s flagship Soho store. In 2017 she was co-curator of Phyllida Barlow’s commission folly for the British Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale alongside Delphine Allier.