Jennifer Faure Francis - Head of Press and Marketing, The Royal Academy of Arts

Jennifer Faure Francis is a senior communications executive with extensive experience. She possesses specialist knowledge of the arts, creative industries, broadcasting, education and tourism.  She combines a creative, innovative and energetic working style with a practical hands-on approach.Jennifer enjoys travel, carnivals and has eclectic taste in music. She lives in London.

(Please refer to the bottom of this page for useful links related to the field of Art)  

Accademia Apulia has asked Jennifer the following questions: 

You are the Head of Press and Marketing for the Royal Academy of Arts – what is it like to work at the heart of such a venerable establishment? 
It’s just great. For the first 5 years I went to work and treated every day as a brand new day - as if it were the first day ever - getting over the wonderment of working for such an important and historical institution. Being able to practice my PR and Marketing skills in a place where it’s all about standards and quality is just awesome. The Royal Academy, founded by King George III, is one of the finest cultural organisations in the world and it still has a historical relationship with the Royal Family to this day.

How did you feel when the Royal Academy confirmed your position as Head of Press and Marketing?
It was amazing. I saw the job advertised in the paper and I thought it had my name on it. I very nearly didn’t complete the application form because I thought I had run out of time and very nearly didn’t send it.
I remember that from the moment I received a HR letter acknowledging my application I felt good about it. And so did my first interview. I remember thinking to myself that there I was chatting away with everyone nodding away, so that I wasn’t all that surprised when I was invited for a second interview. Then I did not hear from HR for over two weeks because it was Christmas, but even then I felt positive, so much so that when I did receive the formal confirmation of my appointment I was delighted but not surprised - that job really had my name on it.

In the seven years that you have been at the Royal Academy, which is the most remarkable exhibition you have worked on?
It’s a difficult question because every exhibition has its own personality and I have liked many of them. Out of the top 20 RA exhibitions of all times, five have happened on my watch.  More recently, in the last year we have smashed records with the exhibitions of Amish Kapoor and Van Gogh - both very special shows.

As the Head of Press and Marketing for the Royal Academy of Arts what does communication mean to you?  What do you strive to communicate to others?
I have a can do attitude and I am clear of the objectives that we are trying to achieve. I am also very clear on targets, the product and potential market and what I can deliver in relation to what is being asked of me. I am also confident of any task given to me and tend to be creative with my planning, as well as being efficient with the use of any budgets.

Your work puts in touch with young artists – what do you see in the new generation of artists? 
Boldness, uniqueness. We also have art students at the RA School. There are 60 students at any point in time, with the only 3 year post-graduate Diploma available in the UK. The Schools hold 2 art shows per year: the second year students have a show every February called Premiums, whilst the third year students do a graduate show every June.

As an artist yourself, you once stated  "colours represent hope and promise" – would you elaborate on what you meant by this?
The world would be very boring if it were monochromatic - colour is exciting and futuristic!

Yet the subject of your paintings Izu Girl, Tropical Attitude, are represented as monochrome silhouettes. Why?
They are about a biographical journey and the ‘facelessness’ of moving through. Izu Girl was painted in Japan, Tropical Attitude in Florida. The colours depict my state of mind going through places, phases and hope.

In a tribute in the Guardian dedicated to your late mother, Clytie Gordon, you talk with pride of the difficult life of a woman who at just 19 had to leave her native Grenada in search of a new life in post war Britain. How would you say the status or the perception of being an immigrant has changed since then?  
I paid tribute to both my mother and her generation - the people that made an amazing journey as very young men and women. They came to this country to build a new life bringing with them deep and tremendous ethics and values.  It’s difficult to say whether it was harder back then. However, they weren’t immigrants as such since they were part of the Commonwealth and travelled here with British passports - they came here to rebuild war-torn Britain. They were nonetheless the people that fought to break racial barriers allowing us to lead the lives that we enjoy today. Has the perception or the immigration status improved? I think that many immigrants today come from war-torn countries and are faced by enormous social and economic problems. There is definitely a better level of acceptance and tolerance but integration is not as deep as we would like to think. People with different heritage may live next to each other but how much do they interact? Everyone has a duty to hold out to welcome other races into their lives if we are to positively contribute to globalisation and diversity in the UK or anywhere in the world. How far do you believe Britain has come since the Macpherson report?
A lot of good changes have taken place since 1999. The Macpherson report was an important turning point - part of a journey - a journey not yet complete.

What is your message for young artists looking for their place in the world?
You can do it! It’s all about attitude. Every successful person in the history of the world started at zero once and decided what they were going to do and how he was going to get there. Planning is part of it. Disappointment is also a big part of it, but there is also your inner strength that can help you through difficult times. In Obama’s own words: ‘Yes you can!’

 

 

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