Barbara Touati-Evans

I’m an artist and creative producer with a wealth of experience of founding arts ventures and running arts venues, programmes, events, exhibitions and festivals – with a focus on fun and innovative approaches to animating underused spaces. Most recently I’ve had the privilege of setting up Saint John’s Arts’ Programme, collaborating with a large Education Trust to provide new exciting opportunities for young people to get involved in the arts in Gosport. I’ve also worked as Producer for Journeys Festival International, and held previous roles at ArtSpace Portsmouth, Liverpool Biennial and founded The Royal Standard (gallery, studios and social workspace), and Mighty Oak Creative Agency.

I am a photographer passionate about social documentary, environmental portraiture, and visual sociology. I try to place ethics at the core of my practice, often working in socially engaged ways and via partner negotiation and collaboration. Previously I was a firefighter for 24 years, and then transitioned to event production, working globally with renowned clients like Duke Dumont, Wu-Tang Clan, Pusha T and many others. After leaving the touring life, I earned a BA and MFA in photography (with distinction) at the University for the Creative Arts and now here I am doing what I love.

I am an award-winning visual artist using moving image to create video art and installations, often incorporating multidisciplinary, site-specific and live artworks. The main focus of my work is how art and technology can be used to explore the embodiment of space by the self and other, while challenging notions of absence and presence, real and simulated, and live versus mediated experience. I use specialised equipment and innovative filmmaking techniques to engage audiences, allowing them to bring their own sense of self and experiences to the artworks.