Meet the Trustees: Tegan Rush

We are pleased to introduce the individuals behind Photo Oxford and offer you insight into the purpose and goals of Photo Oxford. Tegan Rush, one of our trustees, helped produce the 2025 festival and has worked extensively within museums and galleries. Tegan started her journey at Photo Oxford as an Emerging Career Associate.

Photo: Aniella Weinberger Photography

Introduce yourself and your background
I am Tegan Rush (she/her), a multidisciplinary creative, museum professional and keen photographer. I currently work as a freelance art technician and project manager in Oxfordshire and the Midlands. I was formerly Exhibitions & Projects Coordinator at the Ashmolean Museum and prior to that Curatorial Assistant at the Watts Gallery, where I co-curated a stereoscopic exhibition ‘Victorian Virtual Reality’ (2024).

When and why did you join Photo Oxford as a Trustee?
I joined in January 2024 as an Emerging Career Associate and became a fully fledged Trustee at the start of this year. I decided to get involved with Photo Oxford as I was keen to engage with photography and get to know the inner workings of an arts charity.

What do you find most rewarding about your role as a trustee?
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a trustee is working alongside artists, volunteers, freelance practitioners, fellow trustees, and our amazing director, Katy Barron. The festival only works because we all muck in together to make it happen! It is great to provide so many free accessible photography exhibitions and open spaces in Oxford for local and new visitors alike. We champion emerging and established talent through exhibitions, workshops, portfolio reviews, open calls and outreach initiatives.

What would you say to anyone who wants to become a Trustee?
Go for it! Being a trustee is such a privilege, and I feel very lucky to sit on the board alongside a group of talented people who all care about photography, the local community, outreach and making a positive impact through art.

What are you looking forward to over the next year, leading up to the next festival?
I am excited to decide on the theme for our 2027 festival and to begin working on an accessible, diverse and exciting programme. Our 2025 festival created a real buzz in the city and consisted of over 40 exhibitions, talks and events over three weeks - a legacy we will build upon for the next iteration.