7th March 2009
Exhibition at the Jubilee Library Brighton. This show was Part of Brighton Winter Pride and was funded by Pride and Gscene. The work is part of a larger show which confronts the issue of Homophobia is society and Sport.

22nd November 2008
Chelsea School, University of Brighton,
presents

Fans, Stands and Homosexuality:
Photographic journeys into footballs' 'Other' cultures

Fans, Stands and Homosexuality is an exploration of footballs' 'Other' cultures. Football pervades popular and visual culture, yet the images of football that dominate the media and the popular imagination reflect the commercialised, celebrity-driven culture of sport: it's all about the mis/fortunes of top players and teams. Fans, Stands and Homosexuality offers an alternative perspective to reveal not simply the diversity of football cultures but inevitably raises questions about the process of 'othering' implicit in maintaining the dominance of this mediatised and glamourised sportstar-system.

Fans, Stands and Homosexuality represents the distinct visions of three artists, each on their own particular journey to find hope, meaning and salvation in football's 'Other' cultures: those aspects of the football world that have been marginalised, ignored, even repressed.

Homosexuality by Jason Bartholomew-Hall exposes the last taboo of professional football. Gay footballer and artist, Jason is on a personal and political mission to confront the myth that gay men do not play football. It is a mission that necessarily challenges a repressed sexuality at the core of men's football. In interrogating the homophobic world of professional football and a football-phobic gay community, Jason confronts his own demons about his sexuality by seeking to use his art to effect change: both personal and political.

Fans, Stands and Homosexuality raises issues of power and representation in contemporary sport. Through their differing perspectives and personal journeys, these three artists offer compelling and thought-provoking glimpses into footballs 'Other' cultures and in so doing prompt us to reflect on the meaning of football as the 'beautiful game'.

Jason Bartholomew-Hall is an artist and gay footballer who lives and works in Brighton. He is the founder of The Justin Campaign (www.thejustincampaign.com), which seeks to raise awareness about homophobia and homosexuality in professional football.

Fans, Stands and Homosexuality is curated by Dr Ian McDonald, Senior Lecturer in the Sociology of Sport and Course Leader for the MA Sport, Culture and Society programme in the Chelsea School, University of Brighton.


May 2008 “Art and sport against Homophobia” was an exhibition in conjunction with “GIRLS SCHOOL” a collaborative Exhibition curated by friends and Art trio Alex Dipple and Matt Pagett.

My work was Dealing with the Death of the only ever gay and out footballer Justin Fashanu. He hung himself in 1998 after years of feeling rejected and hounded by the football world. This Exhibitions aim was to raise awareness about his life and the Justin campaign that myself and a few of our players from the BRIGHTON BANDITS Gay football team Launch in the Anniversary of his death.

The Campaign aims are to help the FA and FIFA create an environment were by Gay football players feel able to come out.

June 2008

I am starting to write proposals for the “Art and sport against Homophobia” exhibition which was a great inspiration and catalyst for more. Video and performance are going to feature more in the work i do.