Sarah-Jane Mason (she/her) is a Creative Practitioner, Facilitator & Educator who specialises in using mixed media approaches to personal and participatory arts projects. She believes that creativity is the key that unlocks learning and that play and experimentation are important parts of the creative process. Sarah-Jane is passionate about the importance of creativity for everyone and as such places an equal importance on her roles as a Creative Educator and Facilitator and a practicing Artist.
Sarah-Jane comes from a traditional Fine Art background. She studied for a BA (Hons) Fine Art at Liverpool John Moore's University (UK) and DipCipris (a postgraduate degree) in Fine Art at the Cyprus College of Art (Cyprus). Continuing her studies, she focused on creative education, completing a PGCE (Art & Design) at the University of Leeds (UK) and a Post-16 Teaching Certificate at Cyprus College of Art (Cyprus).
Sarah-Jane has a proven track record of quality creative practice having received funding from Leeds Inspired, Leeds West Indian Carnival, Arts Council England and Creative Europe amongst others. Her practice uses mixed media approaches to encourage dialogue around uncomfortable but important topics, question societal norms and compare and contrast people’s experiences of a particular space or place. Her work often includes elements of mass media, questioning the impact these sources have on our worldviews and everyday lives. Humour and colour are also of importance in her work, bringing warmth and openness to more provocative elements.
Currently Sarah-Jane splits her time between the UK and the South of Spain. In the UK she works as an Artist Educator for spaces such as Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds University College and Yorkshire Sculpture Park and facilitates for charities including Skippko. She enjoys working with all ages and abilities but, as a qualified and experienced former school teacher, particularly enjoys working with children and young people.
As part of her work in creative education, Sarah-Jane plans and delivers participatory arts projects, often aimed at those for who there may be significant barriers to engagement. In addition, Sarah-Jane runs a publishing company, Next Generation Publications, that publishes visual books created by and for children and young people, teachers, artists and activists. Past publications are held in the British library collections as well as in local libraries, schools and community centres.
Her role as co-director of an international, contemporary art festival is an important aspect of her arts practice. This position allows Sarah-Jane the opportunity to create and hold a space where artists and audience members can interact, question, share and otherwise meaningfully engage with each other. To find out more about Lacuna festivals click here. Recently, development has begun on The Lacuna Studios, an artist residency on an ecologically regenerative olive grove in southern Spain. She is supported in her work for Lacuna Festivals and The Lacuna Studios by co-director and land artist Simon Turner. To find out more about The Lacuna Studios click here.