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Professor Jennifer Barrett
BA (VA), Master of Art Theory (Hons, Class 1), Doctor of Philosophy (Technol.Syd)
Pro- Vice Chancellor Indigenous (Academic)
Director, National Centre for Cultural Competence
Professor in Museum Studies
Director, National Centre for Cultural Competence
Professor in Museum Studies
Phone
+61 2 9351 6559
Address
A26 - R.C. Mills Building
The University of Sydney
Details
Member of Sydney Southeast Asia Centre
Websites
Resume
Professor Jennifer Barrett has a breadth of work and deep experience at the University of Sydney, recently as Director of the National Centre for Cultural Competence (NCCC), previously as the Director of the University’s Culture Strategy, and prior to that her role as Pro Dean, Academic in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).
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- The concept of public and how it is used in discussions on public space and public culture
- Human rights and contemporary museums
- Artists and museums.
In 2014, Jennifer was elected as a Director on the Board of Museums and Galleries of New South Wales and was elected Chair of the Board of Directors, Museums and Galleries of New South Wales in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| How do museums support the conservation and the revitalisation of Indigenous languages in Taiwan | I-yun CHENG |
Selected publications
The Holocaust Museum and Human Rights: Transnational Perspectives on Contemporary Memorials
(University of Pennsylvania Press, 2025)
Australian Artists in the Contemporary Museum
(Ashgate, 2014)
Museums and the Public Sphere
(Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, 2011)
Debating the City
(Historic Houses Trust of NSW, 2001)
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Publications
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Books
- Barrett, J., Millner, J. (2014). Australian Artists in the Contemporary Museum. Burlington, VT: Ashgate. [More Information]
- Barrett, J. (2011). Museums and the Public Sphere. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. [More Information]
Edited Books
- Barrett, J., Alba, A., Moses, A. (2025). The Holocaust Museum and Human Rights: Transnational Perspectives on Contemporary Memorials. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. [More Information]
- Barrett, J., Butler-Bowdon, C. (2001). Debating the City. Australia: Historic Houses Trust of NSW.
Book Chapters
- Barrett, J., Alba, A., Moses, A. (2025). INTRODUCTION The Holocaust and Human Rights: Transnational Perspectives on Contemporary Memorial Museums. In Jennifer Barrett, Avril Alba and Dirk Moses (Eds.), The Holocaust Museum and Human Rights: Transnational Perspectives on Contemporary Memorials, (pp. 1-28). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. [More Information]
- Barrett, J., Jackson Pulver, L., Greenfield, P., Dickson, M. (2022). When do we answer the call for cultural change? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and higher education. In J. Horne & M. A. M. Thomas (Eds.), Australian Universities: A conversation about public good, (pp. 67-85). Sydney: Sydney University Press.
- Barrett, J. (2020). Museums, Human Rights, and Universalism Reconsidered. In Andrea Witcomb, Kylie Message (Eds.), The International Handbooks of Museum Studies: Museum Theory, (pp. 93-115). Malden: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
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Journals
- Masters, A., Greenfield, P., Davison, C., Evans, J., Motion, A., Barrett, J., Troy, J., Constantine, K., Jackson Pulver, L. (2023). Elements of Country: a First Nations-first approach to chemistry. Chemistry Teacher International, 5(1), 29-38. [More Information]
- Barrett, J. (2012). Attempting Democracy: Museums as Public Space. Museology Quarterly, 26(4), 7-28.
- Martin, A., Milne-Home, J., Barrett, J., Spalding, E., Jones, G. (2000). Graduate Satisfaction with University and Perceived Employment Preparation. Journal of Education and Work, 13(2), 199-213. [More Information]
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Conferences
- Barrett, J. (1999). Assuming Democracy: Art in Public Spaces. Watch This Space: A Conference on Public Art, Newcastle: The University of Newcastle.
- Barrett, J. (1994). Re/inventing the Museum: Hypothetically Public. Drawing a Crown, QLD: Regional Galleries Association of Queensland.
Textual Creative Works
- Alba, A., Barrett, J., Moses, A. (2019). The Holocaust and Human Rights. History, Memory, Collection Community: The Sydney Jewish Museum, (pp. 180 - 185). Sydney, Australia: Sydney Jewish Museum.
- Barrett, J. (2010). [Catalogue Essay] Lux and Lumen. Helen Kennedy Exhibition Catalogue, Collingwood, Australia: Australian Galleries.
- Barrett, J., Carlin, S. (2007). [Catalogue Essay] Spare room: Elizabeth Bay House. Spare room: Elizabeth Bay House, (pp. 1 - 10). Sydney, Australia: Historic Houses Trust of NSW.
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Curated / Produced Exhibition / Event
- Alba, A., Barrett, J., Moses, A. (2018). The Holocaust and Human Rights. Sydney Jewish Museum. Sydney, Australia.
Exhibitions / Events
- Barrett, J., Crayford, M. (1993). Hypothetically Public. Penrith City Council Regional Art Gallery, Emu Plains, Australia: Lewers Bequest and Penrith City Council Regional Art Gallery.
Magazine / Newspaper Articles
- Alba, A., Barrett, J., Moses, A. (2018). The Holocaust and Human Rights: An Inclusive critical field for museums. Museums Galleries Australia Magazine, 27(1).
Report
- Barrett, J. (2001). Museums and communities: understanding different ways of working.
Other
- Barrett, J. (2002), Differentiations: between public space and the public sphere.
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2025
- Barrett, J., Alba, A., Moses, A. (2025). INTRODUCTION The Holocaust and Human Rights: Transnational Perspectives on Contemporary Memorial Museums. In Jennifer Barrett, Avril Alba and Dirk Moses (Eds.), The Holocaust Museum and Human Rights: Transnational Perspectives on Contemporary Memorials, (pp. 1-28). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. [More Information]
- Barrett, J., Alba, A., Moses, A. (2025). The Holocaust Museum and Human Rights: Transnational Perspectives on Contemporary Memorials. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. [More Information]
2023
- Masters, A., Greenfield, P., Davison, C., Evans, J., Motion, A., Barrett, J., Troy, J., Constantine, K., Jackson Pulver, L. (2023). Elements of Country: a First Nations-first approach to chemistry. Chemistry Teacher International, 5(1), 29-38. [More Information]
2022
- Barrett, J., Jackson Pulver, L., Greenfield, P., Dickson, M. (2022). When do we answer the call for cultural change? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and higher education. In J. Horne & M. A. M. Thomas (Eds.), Australian Universities: A conversation about public good, (pp. 67-85). Sydney: Sydney University Press.
2020
- Barrett, J. (2020). Museums, Human Rights, and Universalism Reconsidered. In Andrea Witcomb, Kylie Message (Eds.), The International Handbooks of Museum Studies: Museum Theory, (pp. 93-115). Malden: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2019
- Alba, A., Barrett, J., Moses, A. (2019). The Holocaust and Human Rights. History, Memory, Collection Community: The Sydney Jewish Museum, (pp. 180 - 185). Sydney, Australia: Sydney Jewish Museum.
2018
- Alba, A., Barrett, J., Moses, A. (2018). The Holocaust and Human Rights. Sydney Jewish Museum. Sydney, Australia.
- Alba, A., Barrett, J., Moses, A. (2018). The Holocaust and Human Rights: An Inclusive critical field for museums. Museums Galleries Australia Magazine, 27(1).
2015
- Barrett, J. (2015). Museums. In James D. Wright (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, (pp. 142-148). Amsterdam: Elsevier. [More Information]
- Barrett, J. (2015). Museums, Human Rights and Universalism Reconsidered. In Andrea Witcomb, Kylie Message (Eds.), The International Handbooks of Museum Studies: Museum Theory, (pp. 93-115). Malden: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. [More Information]
2014
- Barrett, J., Millner, J. (2014). Australian Artists in the Contemporary Museum. Burlington, VT: Ashgate. [More Information]
2012
- Barrett, J. (2012). Attempting Democracy: Museums as Public Space. Museology Quarterly, 26(4), 7-28.
2011
- Barrett, J. (2011). 'Protecting the past, safeguarding the future': museum studies, the profession and museum practice in Australia. In Des Griffin, Leon Paroissien (Eds.), Understanding Museums: Australian Museums and museology, (pp. 1-8). Canberra, Australia: National Museum Australia.
- Barrett, J. (2011). Museums and the Public Sphere. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. [More Information]
2010
- Barrett, J. (2010). [Catalogue Essay] Lux and Lumen. Helen Kennedy Exhibition Catalogue, Collingwood, Australia: Australian Galleries.
2007
- Barrett, J., Carlin, S. (2007). [Catalogue Essay] Spare room: Elizabeth Bay House. Spare room: Elizabeth Bay House, (pp. 1 - 10). Sydney, Australia: Historic Houses Trust of NSW.
- Barrett, J., McManus, P. (2007). Civilising nature: Museums and the environment. In Gavin Birch (Eds.), Water Wind Art and Debate - How environmental concerns impact on disciplinary research, (pp. 319-344). Sydney: Sydney University Press.
2002
- Barrett, J. (2002), Differentiations: between public space and the public sphere.
2001
- Barrett, J. (2001). Noelene Lucas and Debra Porch, Sydney, Australia: Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.
- Barrett, J. (2001). Ian Burn: the documentary wall, Sydney, Australia: Penrith Regional Gallery.
- Barrett, J., Butler-Bowdon, C. (2001). Debating the City. Australia: Historic Houses Trust of NSW.
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2000
- Martin, A., Milne-Home, J., Barrett, J., Spalding, E., Jones, G. (2000). Graduate Satisfaction with University and Perceived Employment Preparation. Journal of Education and Work, 13(2), 199-213. [More Information]
1999
- Barrett, J. (1999). [Catalogue Essay] Robyn Backen: 'Christ Knows'. Casula Works: Public Art at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, (pp. 28 - 30). Casula, Australia: Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.
- Barrett, J. (1999). Assuming Democracy: Art in Public Spaces. Watch This Space: A Conference on Public Art, Newcastle: The University of Newcastle.
1998
- Barrett, J. (1998). Community, Public, Audience: Complex and Critical Transactions. In Alison Beale and Annette Van den Bosch (Eds.), Ghosts in the Machine: Women and Cultural Policy in Canada and Australia, (pp. 147-162). Toronto: Garamond Press.
1997
- Barrett, J. (1997). [Catalogue Essay] Being Private in Public. 'Parking' Exhibition Catalogue, (pp. 12 - 19). Casula, Australia: Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.
- Martin, A., Barrett, J., Milne-Home, J., Spalding, E. (1997). Stakeholders' Beliefs about the Institution: To Agree or Not Agree. Journal of Institutional Research in Australia, 6(2), 53-67.
1994
- Barrett, J. (1994). Re/inventing the Museum: Hypothetically Public. Drawing a Crown, QLD: Regional Galleries Association of Queensland.
- Barrett, J. (1994). Sweet Dreams: Art of the Home or the Home of Art? Eyeline, 24, 30-32.
1993
- Barrett, J. (1993). [Catalogue Essay] Hypothetically Public: Re-inventing the Audience. Hypothetically Public, (pp. 12 - 15). Emu Plains, Australia: Penrith Regional Gallery.
- Barrett, J., Crayford, M. (1993). Hypothetically Public. Penrith City Council Regional Art Gallery, Emu Plains, Australia: Lewers Bequest and Penrith City Council Regional Art Gallery.
1991
- Barrett, J. (1991). [Catalogue Essay] De/tour to the Centre. Australian Perspecta 1991, (pp. 119 - 123). Sydney, Australia: Art Gallery of New South Wales.
1990
- Barrett, J. (1990). Walking on the Wild Side. West: An Interdisciplinary Magazine, 3,1, (pp. 22 - 25). Nepean, Australia: University of Western Sydney.
- Barrett, J. (1990). What's Wrong With the Lounge Room. Artlink, 10(3), (pp. 32 - 34). Fullarton, SA, Australia: Artlink Australia.
Selected Grants
2014
- Australian Holocaust Memory, Human Rights and the Contemporary Museum, Alba A, Barrett J, Moses A, Sugarman R, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP)
2010
- Museums and Universalism, Barrett J, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Research Support Scheme (FRSS)
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Selected Keynote addresses
- 'Museums as Public Intellectuals: a case study of the 2014 Biennale of Sydney'. Museums and Education in the 21st Century: global and local discourses, Institute of Education, University of London and the National Taiwan Normal University, 19-20 June 2014.
- ‘Museum publics and relational space: community and cultural rights’, Exploring Museum Expertise, International Conference Tromsø University, Norway, 20-22 November 2013.
- ‘Museums and the Everyday’, 2013 State Conference, Museums Australia, Western Australia, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, 3-4 October 2013.
- ‘Museums, transnationalism and human rights’. International Symposium on Cultural Trajectories: The Dynamics and Counter Dynamics of Cultural Governance, National University of Taiwan, Taipei, 25-27 October 2013.
- ‘Attempting Democracy: museums as public space’, Museums at the Crossroads International Museum Studies Conference, National Museum of Natural History in Taiwan, 28-30 November 2011.
Selected Conference Presentations
- ‘Making Amends: The Federation of International Human Rights Museums’, Sites of International Memory, UNESCO, Paris, September 2017.
- ‘Recent encounters: colonial legacies, Australian artists and the Museum’ in What Value the Arts? (Workshop), Australian Cultural Fields Research Project (Western Sydney University), The Rocks, Sydney, 2017.
- ‘Outward Bound: New approaches to regional engagement by major NSW cultural institutions’, Panel Session, Artlands, Regional Arts Australia National Conference, Dubbo, NSW, 2016.
- ‘The Holocaust, Human Rights and the Contemporary Museum’, Aftermath: Rethinking Holocaust Paradigms, Monash University, (with Dr. Avril Alba), 2016.
- ‘Productive Tensions: the intersection of human rights and universalism in the museum sector’, Federation of International Human Rights Conference, Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand, 2015.
- ‘“Immunity from Seizure”, Indigenous cultural material and human rights: Encounters at the British Museum and the National Museum of Australia’, Federation of International Human Rights Conference, Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand, 2015
- ‘Making amends? The Federation of International Human Rights Museums’, Sites of International Memory and Documenting UNESCO in Australia Workshops, University of Sydney and University of Melbourne, 2015.
- ‘Human Rights and Holocaust Museums: An Australian Contribution?’ Panel: 'The Holocaust, Human Rights and the Contemporary Museum', Aftermath: Sites and Sources of Memory, Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, Monash University, 2013.
- Convenor and presentation: Panel: Museum Studies in the 21st Century: reciprocity, collaboration and critical engagement, Museums Australia National Conference, Canberra, 2013.
- Panel session on Human Rights and Museums, Museum Management, International Council of Museums, held at the Australian Museum, Sydney, 2012.
- Presentation: ‘Australian Artists and Museums’ for House: Trustwords, Sydney Writers Festival, The Mint, Historic Houses Trust of NSW, 2012.