AHRC Creative Economy PhD Studentship - Making Art & Making a Living: The role of festivals in contemporary arts careers

The University of Edinburgh, in partnership with Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh Art Festival and Glasgow International is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified PhD applicant for a Creative Economy Studentship (CES) undertaking a study into the role of art festivals in artistic careers. The studentship will commence in autumn 2017.

Government strategy is increasingly concerned about the ‘pipeline’ for talent into the creative economy. This project investigates getting in and getting on in artistic careers, focusing on the role of arts festivals in supporting and sustaining artists. The project creates a new partnership across Scottish arts and higher education to better understand the importance and value of key institutions in the face of a precarious, uncertain, but also potentially highly rewarding, part of the contemporary creative economy.

This is an opportunity to pursue an original doctoral research project involving two Scottish Universities, working closely with two international art festivals.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop their theoretical and organisational approach, and the project team welcome suggestions and possible research approaches. An interest in using innovative research methods, for the subject, is particularly welcome.

Currently, the project is guided by three aims: to understand the value of festivals for artistic careers; to create best practice models for artistic career development; and to develop research capacity and relationships between academics and practitioners. These aims are underpinned by three provisional objectives: to construct comparative career biographies of artists who have participated in the festivals; to create an oral history archive of participating artists; and to demonstrate the relationships and networks across and between art practitioners, art festivals and the broader, national and global art market. These objectives are subject to development and change according to the work of the successful candidate.

Eligibility:
Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree (1st or Upper 2nd Class Honours Degree, or international equivalent) and a Masters qualification in a relevant discipline.
An interest in social science methods, such as interviewing or social network analysis, for example, would be welcomed.
Due to restrictions on the funding this studentship is only open to candidates from the UK/EU.


How to apply:
Applications should be accompanied by a copy of a research proposal responding to the aims of the CES project outlined above, copies of original transcripts and degree certificates, a statement of application, a CV and two references.
A covering letter stating that you wish to be considered for the AHRC Creative Economy Studentship - Making Art & Making a Living: The role of festivals in contemporary arts careers should be sent to the ECA Postgraduate Office, by email to [Email Address Removed]

Further information:
If you have any queries about the application process, please contact [Email Address Removed]
Informal enquiries relating to the CES project can be made to Dr Dave O’Brien [Email Address Removed]

Closing date for applications: 21st July 2017
Interviews will be scheduled for First week in August 2017
Starting date: September 2017