EDUCATION


2007 Honorary Doctor of Letters – East London University - officiated in December

2006 Teaching Certificate -  City Guilds 7407

2003 Masters in Creative Writing, Education and the Arts – Sussex University

1990s Diploma in Mime and Physical Theatre – Desmond Jones School

1990s Post Graduate in Journalism Training – Business Press International

1980s Undergraduate - Philosophy/Politics  – Leeds University


PROFESSIONAL TRAINING


2005 Young Women and Self Esteem Course – In house training with LEAP

2005  Exploring Young Black men and anger - USA

2004 Challenging Behaviour/Anger Management – Unit for the Arts of Offenders

2003  Anger Management – In house Training with Clean Break

2003  Playing with Fire – In House Training with LEAP

2003 Rainbows of Desire Course Augusto Boal

2003 Forum Theatre/Jokering – Card Board Citizens

1990s – Exploring emotions and human behaviour –through  Mime and Physical Theatre (Diploma)

1980s Trained as a Telephone counsellor for Night Line



SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY


PUBLICATIONS


1990 Half the Earth: Women't Experience of Travel World Wide   (second edition; contributor)   Pandora Rough Guide

1991 Frauen Zimmerim Haus Europa   (contributor)   Papyrossa, 1991

1992- 97  Editor of Feminist Arts News

1992  Black Art and Culture on the Mainland of Europe:

          France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain      

          (editor)   Arts Council of England

1993Lesbians Talk: Making Black Waves  co author  (with Ann Khambatta)   Scarlet Press

1994 Talking Black: Lesbians of African and Asian Descent   

         Speak Out  Anthology (editor)   Cassell

1995 Assaults on Convention   (contributor)   Cassell

2007 Black British Aesthetic edited by Victoria Arana – Contributor

          Broken Voices – Ex Untouchable Women Speak Out  --publication date 2008



OTHER PUBLICATIONS


1993 Words from Word Up Cafe   (contributor)   Centreprise

          Publications

1999 Brown Girl in the Ring: Plays, Prose and Poems 

(Author)  Get A Grip

2005 Borrowed Body  (Author) Serpent's Tail,

2005 Tell Tales   (contributor)   Tell Tales/Flipped Eye  

          Publication

2006 Detox Your Heart (Author)   Windhorse Publications



WORK CRITIQUED IN THE FOLLOWING ANTHOLOGIES


•Acts of Passion – Edited by Nina Rapi and Maya Chowdhry – published by Cassell

•Alternative Theatre in the Mainstream – edited by Dimple Godiwala published by

•Staging Black Feminisms – By Lynette Goddard, published by Barnes and Nobles

•Black British Aesthetic – Victoria Arana

•Wasifiri Periodical


PRIZES AND AWARDS



2007   Winner of the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual Transgendered Arts Award

2006/7 Grant For The Arts – Arts Council England

2006    Winner MIND BOOK of the year Award

2005   Young Minds Book Award   (shortlist)   Borrowed

            Body

2002   Arts Council Writers' Award   (shortlist)

2001   Winner of the Black, Asian and Chinese Shoreline/Culture

Word First Chapter for a Novel Competition

2000 Theatre Production – Arts Council England

2000   Windrush Achievement Award – Winner - Arts and

             Community Pioneer

1999    Diverse Opportunities – London Arts

THEATRE CREDITS

•2006 – You Get Me – Soho Theatre

•2004 – The Perfect Road – The Spitz Theatre

•2004 The Totz – Half Moon Theatre

•2002 Holy Lyrics - Young Vic Theatre

•2001-02 The Adventures of Snow Black and Rose Red - Stratford Circus

•1999 Brown Girl In The Ring - National Tour - Drill Hall, Oval House, Green Room, Bristol et al

•1998 Sweep It Under The Carpet - Hammersmith Lyric Theatre Sin Dykes - Box office Sell Out – Oval House Theatre

•1997 - Surfing The Crone - Institute of Contemporary Arts

•1996 - Body Politics- National Tour - Mental health organisations

•1995 - Dirty Smile - collaboration - Turtle Key

•Dental Floss- collaboration - Victoria and Albert Embankment



Work in following Exhibitions


• 2006/7 Queen Jewels – Touring Nationally

•2006/7 -What’s Going On – Young Sex workers – curated by the Women’s Library and Barnardo

•2003 - Poetry Exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery London, and touring all major galleries in England, Scotland and Ireland

•2001- Poetry Installation- Brixton Art Gallery

•Permanent Art Installation of Poetry – Unity – Leeds Housing Association

•Poetry exhibited in various galleries in the 1990s

RADIO

•2000 - Short poetic prose - A Valentine Diary - Every Woman - BBC World Service

•Interviewed on Mid Week, Women’s Hour and the Libby Purvis show, regional radio

TELEVISION

•2001 Performance Poet –Where It’s AT –A new TV Channel for young adults

•2000 Co – Host of Beauty Contest – Big Breakfast

•Presenter of the Alternative Lesbian Beauty Contest – Channel Four

•1997 Actor – Marilyn Monroe - Queer Street TV- Channel Four

•1996 Presenter – Vis International TV –

•1995 Co Presenter – Night Time TV – ZDF – National German TV

•1995 Presenter – Electronic Eden – Channel Four

 

dr. valerie mason-john              


I am available for anger management and conflict resolution consultancy, leading retreats on this theme, and will design a programme suitable to your organisations needs. I am also available for readings, performances and book tours.  I work worldwide. Click here for contact details


I was named a major new talent in fiction by the UK media after the publication of my debut novel Borrowed Body in 2005. I am one of the Black British Contemporary writers listed on the British Council official website. I have worked as an international correspondent covering Australian aboriginal land rights and black deaths in custody. Her writing has appeared in various national publications, including The Guardian, The Voice and Morning Star, and have done freelance research work for the BBC, Channel 4 and the Arts Council England. During the past ten years I have worked as part of a team of freelance trainers designing anger management programmes for schools, youth organisations and professionals.

                         WINNER OF THE MIND BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

(The most established and respected organisation working in the field of Mental Health in Britain)