معرفی
Dr. Julia Johnson is a Senior Lecturer in Photography at Anglia Ruskin University's Cambridge School of Art, part of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. She serves as the AHESS Faculty Co-chair for the research ethics panel and has course led BA Photography at Cambridge School of Art between 2019-2024. Her work bridges academic research, NHS collaborations, and community-based photographic practice.
Johnson completed her PhD research with the University of the Arts London, London College of Communication, and collaborated extensively with the National Health Service. Her educational background includes a PhD Research Degree, MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography, Certificate of Higher Education, and BA (Hons) Photography and Digital Media.
Her research focuses on the therapeutic applications of photography in mental health settings, with particular attention to participatory methodologies, visual research methods, and work with marginalized communities. Johnson designs photography products that support ethical research and treatment in public services, developing a participatory photography toolkit for ethical practice in collaboration with the NHS. She has pioneered the use of photovoice and interpretative phenomenological analysis in mental health contexts, creating innovative approaches to patient engagement and therapeutic interventions.
Johnson's scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on arts and health intersections, with recent publications exploring participatory photography as therapeutic practice, the value of participant-led visual research methods in mental health settings, and co-design approaches with healthcare institutions. Her work shows increasing emphasis on translating research into practical healthcare applications, including a recently prototyped participatory photography healthcare app for research and treatment.
- London Doctoral Design Centre Scholarship (2016)
- Arts and Humanities Research Council funding
- 'Head to Toe' Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust CPFT, NHS Charity Fund (2016)
- Ormiston Children and Families Trust (2011)
Johnson has secured significant research funding from multiple sources including the National Health Service, London Doctoral Design Centre, University of the Arts London, and ARU's Research and Innovation Department. She serves as Principle Investigator for NHS studies and has developed the MA Art, Health and Wellbeing course at ARU. Her supervision work includes mentoring Cambridge University PGR Pathology researchers and Cambridge School of Art MA alumni during the Sensory Science project.
Johnson leads the Performance, Arts, Health and Wellbeing forum and is actively involved in the AI Working Group at ARU. Her community engagement includes facilitating photography workshops with diverse marginalized communities including Eastern European migrant workers, Refugee communities in the Calais 'Jungle', Slovakian Roma communities, and UK soldiers who experienced homelessness or entered the criminal justice system. She has developed participatory photography programs for NHS Recovery College East and various community organizations.
