Seán Ward

A supportive environment

My favourite part of the BA Curating degree was the closeness of the course; the small cohort and the direct access to our lecturers created a real sense of care.

Our course leader, Janna Graham, was consistently available and embedded real-world contexts into everything we studied.

I felt that the structure of the course made room for us to experiment, imagine, and develop our voice as curators and cultural workers.

An impactful experience

South East London has a long history of community organising and cultural resistance, particularly led by diasporic and marginalised communities.

That legacy was very present during my time at Goldsmiths and some of the most meaningful learning happened outside the classroom, during staff-led teach-outs, solidarity actions, and student-organised programming.

These moments taught me what collective care, accountability, and cultural labour can look like when driven by values.

Life after Goldsmiths

Since graduating, I have been lucky to work across artist-led, institutional, and international contexts. I’m excited by work that bridges criticality and accessibility, and I see my future in civic arts engagement, public learning, and supporting others to feel ownership over cultural space.

This year, I completed two years as a Co-Director at Catalyst Arts in Belfast, producing collaborative exhibitions and community-rooted public programming. I am currently the Marketing Coordinator at CCA Derry~Londonderry.

In 2024, I was a Mediator for the Ireland Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, where I led conversations with diverse publics about land, care, and housing.

Since graduating, I have also held positions at National Museums Northern Ireland and Whitechapel Gallery.

Advice for future students

Follow what feels urgent to you and lean into your curiosity. At any university, you’ll find people who will challenge and support you, so take time to explore those relationships!