EDUCATION
2009 – M.A Contemporary Art (Merit) – Manchester University (Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London)
Dissertation title: “Re-envisioning the Counter-Monument. Participation as Commemoration and the New Invisible Monument”
2004 – B. Art Theory (Honours II) – The College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney
2003 – B. Arts (History) – University of New South Wales, Sydney
MAJOR AWARDS
2018 - Churchill Fellowship - “To investigate different models of informal learning and youth-led engagement in arts institutions - North America”
ROLES
2025 (Sept)/ - Creative Projects Officer, North Sydney Council
2024 - Publications Editor, Biennale of Sydney
2022/2024 - Project Lead, National Young Writers Program, National Gallery of Australia
2022/2023 - Youth Engagement Specialist, ‘Things I Want To Say’, The Condensery - Somerset Regional Art Gallery, Qld.
2022/2023 - Consultant researcher, National Gallery of Australia - National Summer Art Scholarship Program
2021/2023 - Senior Researcher, ABC Arts, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
2017/2021- Young Creatives Producer, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
2016 – Creative Strategy Manager, Australian Design Centre
2014/2015 – Regional Youth Engagement Manager, Kaldor Public Art Projects
2015 – Education consultant, People Like Us, UNSW Galleries (touring nationally 2015-2019)
2015 – Exhibitions Officer, Sydney University Archives
2014 – Project Officer, Beyond 1914, The University of Sydney (digital social history project)
2012/2013 – Board Member, Art Licks Educate, London
2011/2013 – Young People’s Online Editor, South London Gallery
2010/2013 – UK Contributing Editor, Artlink magazine
2006/2008 – Editor, Design and Art Australia Online (then Dictionary of Australian Artists Online)
2005/2006 – Online Editor & Arts Content Manager, iMedia Australia (State of the Arts)
MAJOR PUBLICATIONS
Collecting: Living with Art, Kym Elphinstone with Jo Higgins, Thames & Hudson Australia, 2025
Jo Higgins, “Heartbreakers & Troublemakers: How to navigate, survive and ultimately embrace disruption,” Museum Teen Programs How-To Kit, ed. S. Zappas, N. Mackie & Y. Majors, Walker Art Center Minneapolis, 2023, pp.396-410
Jo Higgins, Churchill Fellowship 2018 Report: To investigate different models of informal learning and youth-led engagement in arts organisations - USA, Canada, 2019
Higgins, J., Palmer Williams, T., Boyce, B., & Davis, C. By young people, for young people: A report on the impact of GENEXT at the MCA, 2019.
J. Higgins & S. Coffils, “Collaboration or cooperation: Peer-led learning and institutional partnerships through two case studies.” Beyond Community Engagement: Transforming dialogues in art, education and the cultural sphere, ed. K. Snepvangers & D. Matthewson-Mitchell. University of New South Wales / Common Ground Publishing, 2018, pp.161-192
21st Century Portraits, foreword by Andrew Graham-Dixon, introduction by Sandy Nairne & Sarah Howgate, written by Jo Higgins. National Portrait Gallery, London, 2013
PUBLIC SPEAKING & LECTURING
2025 - Co-presenter with Yäel Filipovic, “Navigating Museums & Young People… When it does go wrong”, Connected Audiences Conference 2025: Culture & Young People - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?, Berlin, 21-23 May 2025
2023 - Panel chair, “Speaking up: Reflecting on the National Gallery of Australia’s pilot program supporting critical young voices”, Australian Museums & Galleries Association National Conference, Newcastle, 16-19 May 2023
2021 - Guest panellist, A New Approach: Enduring Foundations, Bold Ambitions, 19 October 2021
2021 - “Trusting the leaders of tomorrow, today: On the importance of youth-led arts learning programs”, Australian Museums & Galleries Association National Conference, Canberra, 7-10 June 2021
2020 – Guest panellist, Sydney Arts Management Advisory Group (SAMAG) “Bringing it home: innovation and ideas from the Churchill Fellowship”, 15 June 2020
2019 - Panellist, The International Conference on Theatre & Innovative Education (Australia Council for the Arts grant), October 2019, Shanghai, China
2017 – “Peer-led learning”, Te Tuhi Talks Series, August 2017, Auckland New Zealand
2014 – “This is not what I’m looking for in a book of portraits!’”Fresh Faces: New Thinking on Portraiture Symposium, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 9 August 2014
2013 – “Online networking and the value of digital content”, Chelsea College of Art and Design, Artsmart Graduates Festival, London
2012/13 – Guest speaker, BA Criticism, Communication, Curation, Central St Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London
2012 – Guest speaker, Association for Cultural Enterprise, Picture Library Symposium, London
2012 – Goldsmiths College of Arts Careers Forum: ‘Jobs in Museums and Galleries,’ London
2011 – Guest speaker, Building Digital Capacity for the Arts: Rights and Intellectual Property, Arts Council England, London
2008 – Guest Lecturer, National Institute of Dramatic Arts, Sydney
GRANTS
2025 - Creative Australia International Travel Fund
2025 - Create NSW Next Steps - Professional Development Funding
2023 - Create NSW Small Projects Grant (Quick Response)
2018 - Churchill Fellowship