Factory International

Meet the Young Curators 2024

Meet the first cohort of Young Curators, who are joining Factory International for 12 months to help redefine curation.

Composite image of the Young Curators 2024 cohort. Top row (L–R): Jack Clarke, Anita Ezeh, Fauziya Johnson. Bottom row (L–R): Otega Ajuchi, Rachel Morgan, Madison Marcantonatos. Composite image of the Young Curators 2024 cohort. Top row (L–R): Madison Marcantonatos, Anita Ezeh, Fauziya Johnson. Bottom row (L–R): Otega Ajuchi, Rachel Morgan, Jack Clarke.

About

Curation, from Latin: cura, meaning 'to take care of, look after’.

Noun: the process of selecting artistic/creative work, performers or performances to be shared as part of a show, exhibition or event.

The Young Curators are six young creatives working with leading industry professionals and artists to explore curation and work towards a commission at Aviva Studios in 2025. As Young Curators, they will develop knowledge, skills and networks as future leaders in the arts. This programme seeks to address underrepresentation and supports creatives who have little or no experience in curation.

The Young Curators will explore what Factory International should be doing for younger audiences. They will research what they want to see commissioned here and have the opportunity to shape the future of programming for young people at Factory International.

Meet the Young Curators here.

Black and white square headshot of Jack Clarke stood on stone steps wearing a black zip-up jacket

Jack Clarke

Jack is a Salford-born producer, artist, and curator whose working-class roots fuel his mission to reshape cultural narratives. Hailing from Kersal, Jack works to bridge communities and the arts, exemplified by his work on short film For God’s Sake with the HOME Young Film Collective and the award-winning indie feature Nobody Loves You and You Don’t Deserve to Exist. A champion of Greater Manchester’s boroughs, his storytelling pulses with the spirit of underrepresented voices, pushing back against cultural gatekeeping. Jack’s work is a spark, igniting a wider movement to reclaim creative spaces and illuminate the stories often left in the shadows.

Instagram

Black and white square photograph of Otega Ajuchi wearing a short-sleeved shirt and smiling

Otega Ajuchi

Otega Ajuchi is a multidisciplinary artist and service designer whose work bridges education, technology, creativity, and mindfulness. Rooted in his Nigerian-British heritage, Otega uses various mediums to create spaces for open dialogue and human connection. A passionate advocate for inclusion and diversity, including neurodiversity, Otega draws from his own experiences with ADHD to champion meaningful representation and understanding.

Linkedin / YouTube / Instagram

Square headshot of Anita Ezeh wearing a purple top and glittery eyeshadow

Anita Ezeh

Anita is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice revolves around visual storytelling through graphic design, digital media, poetry, prose and film. Her work investigates human experiences, inter and intrapersonal relationships and the relationship between people and the world around them. She explores themes of neurodiversity, social connection and isolation, mental health and environmental factors that affect our mental wellbeing such as climate anxiety, and various forms of injustice – sometimes drawing inspiration from her lived experiences as well as listening to the lived experiences of others.

Instagram / New Writers


Square headshot of Fauziya Johnson stood outside wearing a black top. The background is blurry.

Fauziya Johnson

Fauziya Johnson is a curator, artist and producer based in Manchester. Fauziya creates with a focus on current social and political issues through community-centred art projects and exhibitions. Her work creates thought-provoking, engaging and trusted spaces for communities to engage in, making collective care, deconstructing harmful systems, and activism the core of the work for marginalised groups, in particular Queer, Black and disabled communities. Fauziya's vision for her work is to create vibrant thought and engagement with audiences. She extends her practice by doing workshops to develop community collaboration and expand on collective care. 

Instagram / Website

Square headshot of Rachel Morgan smiling and wearing a purple striped top

Rachel Morgan

Rachel is a passionate and detail-oriented arts and culture professional with extensive experience in curating and project management. She specialises in organising exhibitions, managing complex initiatives, and delivering strategic projects. Her expertise includes designing and installing art displays, implementing decolonial practices in museum representation, and understanding public perceptions of art. Committed to innovation and excellence, she aims to contribute to the success of arts institutions through thoughtful and impactful project management.

Instagram / LinkedIn

Square headshot of Madison Marcantonatos against a cream wall, wearing a black hooded jumper

Madison Marcantonatos

Madison specialises in illustration, fashion design, airbrushing, tattooing and creative writing/art theory. Unapologetically herself, she is particularly interested in counter and subcultures, identity, anthropology, alongside local and ancient history relating to her ancestors. She runs workshops encouraging young people from similar backgrounds to have a go at creating themselves no matter the odds. She has worked with the likes of the Tate and has been featured in British Vogue, The Face magazine, Dazed and Confused and Bricks Magazine.

Instagram

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