John B. Craig
Bio
I am a musician and sound designer working in the cultural heritage industry to provide informed, dynamic audio content, and sound design consultation for museums and galleries. I have recently been awarded the degree of Master of Curatorial and Museum Studies from the University of Adelaide and will receive my testamur in early 2025. My thesis focuses on the application of non-linear sound design techniques taken from the video game industry in the design of sound elements for museum and gallery spaces.
I was raised in Tennessee outside of Nashville and am a graduate of two U.S. universities. I have worked as a field archaeologist, and conducted many projects and studies in the fields of anthropology, sociology, ethnography, physical geography, remote sensing, cartography, and GIS. Over the course of my Master’s program I had the opportunity to work on public exhibitions, and participate in the curation, procurement, design, and production of exhibition materials.
I am passionate about ethnomusicology, historical tools and instruments, and physical, digital, and cultural geographies, and meaningful exhibition design. In my work, I strive to provide services and content that is considerate of cultural contexts, application, and visitor experience, and work to add depth and immersion to cultural experiences with cohesive and congruent sound. In my free time I make music and art pieces that attempt to convey my perspective of the world, and explore methods and designs for creating unique musical instruments.
Philosophy
I have always believed in the power of critical thinking, curiosity, and empathy in bringing a greater understanding and perspective of the world. I have found that this philosophy, along with patience and an open-mind, has made me creative, considerate, and effective as a problem-solver and global citizen. I believe in challenging myself in order to grow as a person, and being a positive face wherever I find myself, which has time and again afforded me amazing opportunities and experiences. I am a traveler and an observer, and look for patterns of meaning in my daily life, and in environments, interactions and communities.
In my work and art I am committed to the ethical and morally responsible production of content and utilisation of any platform from which that content is presented. I strive to fully engage with any project, and look beyond obvious or typical aural representations for those that instead bring depth and authenticity.
Education
In 2013 I graduated from St. Andrews Sewanee School, a preparatory boarding school in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
​
In 2017 I graduated from Hendrix College, a liberal arts university located in central Arkansas, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Sociology. My undergraduate thesis centered on the interactions within local amateur music communities.
​
In 2021 I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Geoscience; the majority of my coursework being in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing.
​
In December 2024 I was awarded the degree of Master of Curatorial and Museum Studies from the University of Adelaide, with experience in exhibition design, collections management, object significance assessment, stakeholder communication, and business case drafting.