alex zawadzki

Alex Zawadzki is a curator, creative producer and Director of The Second Act.

The narrative of her creative practice focuses on contemporary approaches to social phenomena by exploring the unique and idiosyncratic cultural factors that make us who we are; often reflecting on this through comparisons to transient rituals and the future of folklore.

Curious about the undetermined and unresolved areas that leave us contemplating our place in the world, she often works with artists who are influenced by socio-political, psychological and cultural currencies without attempting to fully untangle it. Her exploration of unique cultures has taken her from the North Pole to North Borneo, ultimately leading her back to the field of contemporary art and working with artists to develop their practice into sustainable career paths. 

As Director of The Second Act, Alex piloted a contemporary gallery supporting Northern and working class artists, through advocacy, mentoring while providing opportunities, exhibitions and funding in an effort to reflect the communities and locations she is working in.

Services

Curatorial

exhibition design & planning

Art Advisory & Acquisition management

Creative production & Project Management

artwork Fabrication management

Grant writing & fundraising

Arts & cultural evaluation

creative business consultancy

Artist development & mentoring

Public Realm Safety & Compliance

  • • DYCP Grant - research into the needs of working class, Irish or Roma Traveller and South Asian heritage artists and how galleries can support and represent them. (2021-22)

    • Aggressive Passive - Visual research of the agency of masks across rituals, tribes, art and disguise (2018-19)

  • • Saatchi Gallery Magazine Art and Music, Interview and feature on African arts Collective KoKoKo! on the use of masks in DRC (2019)

    • Rough Trade Books - Parties for the People by the People (2021)

    • Museum of Youth Culture ‘Spit, Sawdust and Spirit’ Google Culture article (2020)

  • • Rough Trade Books. In Conversation with Sheena Patel - author of ‘I’m A Fan’ (2023)

    • National Festival of Making - In Conversation with Jamie Holman ‘70 Years, 70 Voices’ (2022)

    • Manchester Metropolitan University - Speaker at ‘Textiles & Place Conference.’ (2021)

    • Bluedot Festival, Rough Trade Presents, and Sea Change Literary Festival - In Conversation on ‘Flashback’ with Fergal McKinney. (2022).

  • • Alchimia Art Jewellery School Firenze - Design & Technical Courses (Sept - Dec 2014)

    • Manchester Metropolitan University - Fashion B.A - 2.1 (1999 - 2002)

    • Lancaster & Morecambe College - Art & Design Foundation (1998 - 1999)

  • Selected delegate for British Council, New Narratives Programme with 40 delegates from across Africa / the UK to develop a new programme to challenge cultural identity stereotypes (2020)

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