Hi, my name is Rachel Jones- I moved to Newport in 2018 with my young family. I have a Masters degrees in Fine Art and Curatorial Practice, and work primarily freelancing with project-based visual arts projects and event curation. My practice and research centres around the role of art in the struggle for social justice and the intersections of art and activism. I first connected with UCN via volunteering with BLM Gwent during 2020’s direct actions.
I have recently co-curated an extended online conference with Bath Spa University, exploring indigenous and Global South perspectives on environmental justice. And am currently curating a public mural installation celebrating community contributions from Newport residents of colour and editing a collection of recipes and poems in a forthcoming UC publication that aims to use creative practice to fortify inter generational, social connections in the Gwent area.