Staff Profile
Helen Turner
Associate Head of Art
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I have a background in Public Art, with a specialism in Textiles and am experienced in arts project management often including community engagement. I have worked on several Arts and Health projects including work with people who use mental health services, care leavers and elderly patients. I have also delivered participatory arts projects in schools and informal educational settings on behalf of the REP theatre in Birmingham, MAC in Birmingham, ExCathedra Choir and others.
I am also a Natural Voice Practitioner and half of the folk duo ‘Union Jill’. As a performer I use ethnographic elements, which explore discourses from a feminist perspective as well as stimulating experimental pedagogy, including attempting to subvert the researcher (performer)-subject power dynamic through audience participation. I am currently interested in exploring the creation of artefact through participatory performance.
- School – School of the Arts
- Email – h.turner@yorksj.ac.uk
- Phone – 01904 876 816
- Postgraduate Research Supervisor
Further information
Publications and papers
Publications
2011 “Forgetting the Machine: Patients' experiences of engaging in artwork while on renal dialysis.” Journal of Applied Arts and Health, 2(1), 57-72. – research assistant
2009 Enquiry Based Learning project ‘Research Realised - Using Creativity to Facilitate Enquiry-Based- Learning in the Community Arts Curriculum.’
2008 C4C Collaborating for Creativity Fellow - Manifestations Project with students
2007 ‘Constantine Procession – Collaborative Working’ paper given at NALN conference, Tate Britain
Conference papers
Apr 2009 ‘Nothing But Roaring’, EBL Faculty of Arts YSJ, presenting ‘Research Realised’
Feb 2007 NALN Conference, Tate Britain – presenting ‘the Constantine Project’
Exhibitions and residencies
Exhibitions
Mar 2003 ‘What Shall I Wear’ - YOTA project with St. Basil’s Resettlement Centre for young people, exhibited at Houses of Parliament.
May 2001 ‘Dive In’ - exhibited at Hotbath Gallery, Bath as part of ‘The Language of Water’ conference.
Jan 2000 'Dive In' - suspended fabric swimming pool for group exhibition at The New Gallery, Stratford-upon-Avon
January 2000 'DNA' - a rotating sculpture and collaborative work on the 'Urban Forest' both for 'Revolution' - Birmingham City Council at the ICC- then permanently housed in Birmingham Library
Residencies
Feb-May 2001 'A Walking Work of Art’, Community Fashion Show, Stroud.
June 2000-May 2001 ‘What Shall I Wear?’ - Artist led YOTA funded project with St.. Basil’s Resettlement Center for young people experiencing homelessness.
Oct 1998 - 1999 St Martin in the BullRing – Resident Artist.
Commissions (since 2000)
Jun 2012 Secret Tea Party Commission for North Yorkshire Open Studios
Feb 2006 Newland Health Care Centre - Lead Artist on a new build project.
Jan 2005 Westbourne Health Centre –Creating site specific artwork throughout the building.
Jan 2003 ‘Wythenshaw Forum’ - working with a team of artists for Chrysalis Arts to produce public Art for building refurbishment. Plus individual textile panels commission
Sept 2001 ‘College Banner' - Chapel installation for York St. John
Oct 2000 'Artsites' - 2 projects at school and community centers to create permanent site-specific installations, working in collaboration with glass artist Heather Marshall
Jan 2000 Millennium project - translucent time capsule with Counden Court Community School (Y.9) –inverted fabric pyramid suspended from balcony.
Schools and community work
Jan – July 2006 Artistic Producer for ‘The Constantine Procession’. York St John University students and graduates leading a Collaborative Arts Summer School in partnership with The Museums Trust, and 4 secondary Schools.
Jan 2002- Sept 03‘ ArtStart’ Arts and Health residency working with care leavers (age 16-21)
May 2002 - 2003 Contexts photography project with Hull and East Yorkshire MIND (Exhibited in Bridlington - April 2003)
Sept- Dec.2001 ‘Floating Riverbank’ scheme designed for workshops in primary schools for installation in REP Theatre Foyer for ‘Wind in the Willows’
Sept- Nov. 2001 ‘Noah’s Flood’ production with ExCathedra performed at Symphony Hall.
Aug 2000 & 2001 Gallery 37, Birmingham City Council run arts project. A four week intensive project, providing ‘apprentice artists’ (disadvantaged young people 16-24) with arts training. Leading Textiles’ (2001) and ‘Multi Sensory Sculpture' (2000) projects.
Sept 2000 - 2001 Lakefield school, Gloucestershire - new build project with 2 amalgamating primary schools.
Sept 2000 Tiverton Special School: Planning and delivering a week of visual art activities with children with severe learning difficulties. Work produced toured Europe as part of the ‘European Education Project’.
