Janine Sykes

Janine Sykes is a Lecturer in Contemporary Art & Illustration at the Department of Media, Humanities and the Arts within the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Huddersfield. She is a curator and art educationalist with expertise at the intersections of communication, new media art, curation, and art education practices.

• Education: MA and MEd in Creative Education, PhD in Blended Curation Practice

Her research focuses on how new media transforms curatorial and learning spaces, proposing blended curation models that integrate online and offline engagement. She explores how occupation in curated projects can address health issues like isolation and inequality, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health and well-being.

Recent publications and exhibitions include contributions to Cultures of Creative Health (2025) and the Town Island series. Her work emphasizes messy rhizomatic assemblages where publics co-create meaning with artists, as seen in projects like Seeding Art Currency (2018) and HOME (2021).

• Scientific Awards: AHRC bursary

Her collaborations span institutions such as East Street Arts, Leeds Asylum Seekers Network, Sisters Hope Academy, and the National Art Education Archives (NAEA). She has disseminated her work globally through papers and exhibitions in the USA, China, Italy, and the UK.