Who Am I?

John Brookes has over 25 years in arts marketing in the public, government, commercial and disability charity sectors across the UK, Fiji and Australia. As a Charter Marketer (MCIM) and photographer, he worked for the London Metropolitan Police Community Volunteer Scheme, Royal National Institute of the Blind, the London Assembly and the European Union Year of Volunteering, as well as exhibiting locally since emigrating to Canberra and gaining Australian citizenship a number of years ago. He has managed events at the Tate Modern Turbine Hall and Royal Festival Hall, both in London. He is a recipient of a UK Police Commendation and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for services to working with volunteers in frontline minority communities to better interact with the Police and vice versa.
He previously won the Mensa British Photographer of the Year award and more recently worked with the Spinal Injuries Association of Fiji following Hurricane Winston, spending two years documenting relief efforts and managing therapy through art for the Fiji Psychiatric Survivors Association. In 2017 John was given three months to live due to organ failure. He returned to Australia and reached out to artist Professor John Hyatt of Liverpool John Moores University to paint a memorial portrait of him, in the belief his days were numbered, and a bond was formed during this process of creating. Both learnt about themselves in this two-way interaction, leading to the “Pictures of You” project.
Despite ongoing progress of the disease, John Brookes is still going seven years later and intends to continue for the foreseeable future!
John is very active in the Canberra arts scene and has exhibited widely, most recently "Pictures of You" exhibition at Belconnen Arts centre, which he says encapsulates his philosophy as an artist - that of inclusion; be that the subject or the viewers. He has also mentored disabled people in photography for non-profits such as Wellways, and has volunteered for Fair Canberra, ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, Perinatal Wellbeing Centre, Victim Support and Companion House for Refugee and Asylum Seekers support.
He is also fascinated by the gap between what we assume or believe and what truth is. "Pictures of You", for instance took a series of disabled people who worked actively WITH the artist to produce a portrait and narrative that THEY felt truly represented them as people. Two recent shows were “Dark Snow” highlighting the disparity between the pureness of the local snowy mountains with the environmental impacts of tourism and settlement there.
John believes strongly in giving a voice to the individual, to people telling their own stories in unique and thought-provoking ways - looking beyond the 'issue' to the whole person and becoming true collaborators in the exhibition. In 2019 John was awarded the Chief Minister’s Inclusion Award for Excellence, followed by the ACT Volunteer of the Year award. He was finalist in 4 categories in the 2023 Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards, as well as finalist in the 2024 Awards.
He is currently working on a new exhibition, "Unconditional", about the many forms of love; and is a freelance pro bono Photographer for small charities.
A list of John's events, awards and exhibitions can be found here.
He previously won the Mensa British Photographer of the Year award and more recently worked with the Spinal Injuries Association of Fiji following Hurricane Winston, spending two years documenting relief efforts and managing therapy through art for the Fiji Psychiatric Survivors Association. In 2017 John was given three months to live due to organ failure. He returned to Australia and reached out to artist Professor John Hyatt of Liverpool John Moores University to paint a memorial portrait of him, in the belief his days were numbered, and a bond was formed during this process of creating. Both learnt about themselves in this two-way interaction, leading to the “Pictures of You” project.
Despite ongoing progress of the disease, John Brookes is still going seven years later and intends to continue for the foreseeable future!
John is very active in the Canberra arts scene and has exhibited widely, most recently "Pictures of You" exhibition at Belconnen Arts centre, which he says encapsulates his philosophy as an artist - that of inclusion; be that the subject or the viewers. He has also mentored disabled people in photography for non-profits such as Wellways, and has volunteered for Fair Canberra, ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, Perinatal Wellbeing Centre, Victim Support and Companion House for Refugee and Asylum Seekers support.
He is also fascinated by the gap between what we assume or believe and what truth is. "Pictures of You", for instance took a series of disabled people who worked actively WITH the artist to produce a portrait and narrative that THEY felt truly represented them as people. Two recent shows were “Dark Snow” highlighting the disparity between the pureness of the local snowy mountains with the environmental impacts of tourism and settlement there.
John believes strongly in giving a voice to the individual, to people telling their own stories in unique and thought-provoking ways - looking beyond the 'issue' to the whole person and becoming true collaborators in the exhibition. In 2019 John was awarded the Chief Minister’s Inclusion Award for Excellence, followed by the ACT Volunteer of the Year award. He was finalist in 4 categories in the 2023 Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards, as well as finalist in the 2024 Awards.
He is currently working on a new exhibition, "Unconditional", about the many forms of love; and is a freelance pro bono Photographer for small charities.
A list of John's events, awards and exhibitions can be found here.