John Whall
Derby
Digital Participation Artist, Producer and Consultant
Links
John Whall is a Digital Participation Artist, Curator and Producer who uses digital tools and materials to creatively engage audiences with arts and contemporary culture. His work is a fusion of digital and participatory practice, through collaborative and co-creative processes, with a focus on creating together. This involves the developing of processes that translate complex digital practice into accessible creative activities, which inspire and empower audiences in the creation of immersive experience.
John’s work also includes exploring participatory practice through our conscious experiences of online and offline immersive creative spaces. Aligned with phenomenological philosophies and the basic intentional structure of consciousness. He is intrigued by how our first-person perspectives of collaborative physical and online spaces can allow us to explore our individual conscious experiences and their relationship to others.
John is passionate about developing high quality digital experiences that champion the diverse creative expression of our communities. He also provides specialist sector support through digital skills, knowledge and experience, to help participatory, learning and socially engaged organisations to realise their digital ambitions.
John supports the collective approaches to sector development and is the Specialist Interest Representative in Digital for Engage Visual Arts, Digital Champion for ArtWorks Alliance (AWA), as well as East Midlands Participatory Arts Forum (EMPAF).
John Whall – Digital Participation Artist
Personal Profile
- Leading developing practice in Digital Participation in Arts and Culture
- Passionate about participatory practice, cultural and creative democracy
- Experienced at delivering projects within a variety of arts, performance, and digital media
Education
2014 - PG Certificate (Dis), Visual Communication, University of Derby, UK
2014 - Lv3 Award in Education and Training, Derby College, UK
2013 - UG Credits in Computer Games Modelling and Animation, University of Derby, UK
2003 - BA (Hons) Performing and Media Art (II-1), University of Derby, UK
Awards, Grants and Residencies
2023 - Marsh Award for Excellence in Visual Arts Engagement
2023 - Digital Project of the Year - The Stage Awards (MBD Limited)
2021-2022 - LEVEL Residency Lab, LEVEL Centre, Rowsley, UK
2021 - Arts Council England – Developing Your Own Creative Practice (DYCP)
2020 - Digital/Creative Ambassador of the Year - Mainframe Awards, UK
Exhibitions and Festivals
2024 - Solo Exhibition, PlayLAND, LEVEL Centre, Rowsley, UK
2023 - PlayLAB, Frequency Festival, Lincoln, UK
2023 - Solo Exhibition, PlayLAB, LEVEL Centre, Rowsley, UK
Press and Publications
2022 - Action Learning Resource, To Blend or Hybridise: The Spectrum of Phygital Participation, AxisWeb, UK
Projects
2022 - VR Audio Play, Odyssey, Derby Theatre, UK
2021 - Online Immersive Festival, FORMAT Online, FORMAT International Photography Festival, UK
2021 - Online Immersive Exhibition, Citizens of Robot World, Institute of Engineering and Technology/Derby QUAD, UK
2020 - Digital Stage Management, SAN LDN Digital Meet Ups, Social Art Network, UK
2020 - Online Immersive Exhibition Design, Newcastle University APL 2020 Virtual Degree Show, V21 Artspace, UK
2020 - Digital Artist, Lock-down the Line, Barrow Hill Roundhouse & Growth Activities, UK
2018-19 - Research Programme, Digital Participation Expedition, East Midlands Participatory Arts Forum (EMPAF), UK
2018 - VR Gallery Experience, Anim18 VR Gallery, Derby QUAD, UK
2015 - Mixed Reality Game, FORMAT Detect, FORMAT International Festival, UK
2015 - Mixed Media Participation Exhibition, The Grand Space Tour, Derby QUAD
2013-16 - Multi-film Participation Project, Shine A Light, Derby QUAD, UK
2009-11 - Large Scale Puppetry Project, Imagination: Our Nation, Kinetika, UK
Professional Experience
2021 – Present Participation and Outreach Lead – MBD (Metro Boulot Dodo),UK
2021 – Present Creative Mentor – Derby Theatre, UK
2020 – Present Creative Digital Producer and Consultant – Freelance
2019 – Present Specialist Interest Rep – Digital (Previously EM Area Rep) – Engage Visual Arts, UK
2020 – 2023 Digital Participation Mentor, AxisWeb, UK
2020 – 2022 Trustee – Evolve Music, UK
2020 Artist Mentor, International Teaching Arts Conference (ITAC5), UK
2014 – 2021 Digital Participation Curator – Derby QUAD
2018 – 2021 Project Trustee – Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Partnership, UK
2013 – 2016 Sessional Trainer in Game Development - Derby College, UK
2010 – 2014 Puppeteer and Workshop Leader - Freelance
2009 – 2011 Lead Artist/Technical Coordinator (Puppetry) - Mandela Arts Project, UK
Become a member
We support our members with: insurance, networks, space, opportunities, R&D awards, profiling, advice and mentoring.
Become a member