Vacancies In Collaboration With KU Leuven

LUCA School of Arts is a creative hub for almost 5,000 people: more than 4,000 students and 800 colleagues. LUCA offers them an educational and research environment to further develop their creative talent. We do this through higher education courses in the broad domain of the arts, and through artistic research. LUCA has campuses in four cities: Ghent, Brussels, Leuven and Genk. For LUCA, KU Leuven is the research environment in which artistic research is embedded. An associated Faculty of Arts was established within the Human Sciences group, of which researchers in the arts are members. Nearly 150 lecturers, postdocs, PhD students and project staff have been appointed with an artistic research assignment in audiovisual arts, visual arts, design, music, drama...

Professor in sustainable design

Developing, implementing and coordinating practice-oriented artistic research and educational tasks are among the responsibilities of this position. You work in a changing design context where art education must be nourished with innovative views. Sustainability, technology and diversity are the basis for education that trains groundbreaking individuals. This requires a new position for the education program and research within design.

Within the Product Design course of LUCA School of Arts, Campus C-Mine and the research Unit Inter-Actions, we recognize the crucial role of design in tackling global challenges such as climate change, ecological issues, social inequality, and economic sustainability. We oppose linear production methods, methods of extraction and exploitation and actively look for alternatives that take into account the different actors within existing ecosystems and contexts. Participatory design and research methods play an important role within the Inter-Actons research group and the Product Design course, as does the exploratory research of innovative materials and production methods.

We are therefore looking for a socially committed assistant professor to strengthen our team and contribute to our pursuit of resilient, sustainable 'futures'. The assistant professor has expertise and demonstrable relevance in circular or regenerative methods and practices to shape sustainable products and redesign existing production flows to the needs of existing ecosystems and contexts. We are looking for a strong profile that meets the needs of these ecosystems and contexts can analyze, connect actors and build a strong network with relevant partners in the field.

Various terms are used in both literature and practice to reinforce the emphasis on an ecological approach in design. Each term has its own focus and characteristics. However, within the field of design there are several movements that often show significant overlap. The person who takes on the role of assistant professor will therefore have to find his/her/their place within one or more (or other, not mentioned here) domains of this ecological approach. For example, in the research at LUCA we currently see a strong focus on sustainable design, design that is sustainable and argues against design that is exchangeable and replaceable too quickly due to a limited lifespan. In addition, the campus also uses the term 'circular design', which focuses on re-examining existing systems (of design and production).

Unit website

Research

The candidate will be expected to foster transdisciplinary collaborations, both within and beyond academia, to redefine the role of product design in advancing sustainability. This includes: developing courses that equip students with the knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively about sustainability, leading research projects that address both local and global sustainability challenges, and actively participating in and contributing to sustainability dialogues and movements at grassroots level.

As an assistant professor, you lead research within a specific research cluster.

• You build and supervise a team of doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers and you coordinate the joint activities of the cluster.

• You actively look for external research funding.

• You publish in relevant academic-artistic channels.

• You will create, display and exhibit material relevant to your research and teaching focus.

Teaching

Teaching tasks comprise 50% of the assignment:

• Designing educational activities, study guidance and educational concepts to offer education tailored to the student audience within the field of design.

• Developing educational activities in accordance with LUCA's vision on activating and research-based education and making use of the opportunities for educational professionalization that LUCA offers.

• Guiding students in conceiving both the artistic and reflective parts of final tests and interim research assignments.

• Being the holder of a course unit and coordinator of a group of course units.

• Managing assistants within a course unit or a cluster of course units.

• Providing high-quality education within the field of design, with a clear commitment to the quality of the training as a whole.

• Scientific, social and internal services are also part of your assignment.

Service

You are prepared to provide scientific, social and internal services.

Profile

• You have a PhD in an area relevant to design and ecological thinking. You have a strong vision on value-based transitions regarding design, technology and sustainability.

• You have a solid background in Design with strong expertise in design, material knowledge and sustainable or circular production processes.

• You have experience in artistic research within a design context, and can develop an innovative line of research within this domain.

• You have a strong practice-oriented research file, supported by demonstrable academic and professional valorization.

• You have a relevant and demonstrable (inter)national network, including (knowledge) organizations within and outside the context of design and education.

• You are a team player and an experienced leader who can support various groups of teachers/researchers.

• You will work closely with the other Inter-Actions researchers, the coordinator, and the teachers from Design and other education departments. You actively participate in linking education, research and curriculum development, daily operational activities, developing and disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge, and helping students acquire research skills.

• You are communicative and can express yourself fluently in Dutch and English in accordance with the language requirements that apply in Flemish higher education. At the start of the teaching assignment you must master the language of instruction at CEFR level B1. The administrative language in LUCA is Dutch. If you do not know Dutch or do not know enough Dutch upon recruitment, LUCA provides an integration process with the aim of mastering Dutch at CEFR level B2 within 5 years of appointment.

• You have a loyal attitude and endorse the assignment, mission, vision and policy of LUCA.

Offer

At LUCA you will find yourself in an environment where respect and integrity define our basic attitude, we see sustainability and diversity as an asset and quality is our driving force. In the coming years, we want to give LUCA an identity as an actor in society, make our training institute part of a laboratory, supplement our offering with demand-driven initiatives, and open up our multi-campus reality into a network. You will therefore find yourself in a stimulating environment in which we offer numerous opportunities to give your own interpretation on your main campus in Genk or on one of the other campuses of LUCA School of Arts.

LUCA School of Arts wants to create an environment in which all talents can develop to their maximum potential, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all talented people who recognize the added value of diversity and want to help shape an inclusive organization.

LUCA offers a full-time appointment (100%) of indefinite duration in the vacant position of lecturer (scale 528), tenure is possible at a later stage in accordance with the existing rules and procedures. You will also acquire the status of Special Guest Lecturer in the Arts. With this status you can be a promoter of doctorates in the arts and as a promoter you can submit projects to internal funds of the KU Leuven. More information about the salary scales can be found on the website of the Flemish government (www.ond.vlaanderen.be). The expected start date is September 2025.

In addition, we offer a full refund for commuting by public transport and/or bicycle. We offer the option of teleworking, discounts through joint purchasing, a teacher card and the option to take out hospitalization insurance at a favorable rate.

Interested

More information is available from research head Niels Hendriks (niels.hendriks@luca-arts.be) and senior researcher Kristof Vrancken (kristof.vrancken@luca-arts.be).

Interested parties can apply for several positions.

The nomination contains a file consisting of:

1. a motivation letter
2. a curriculum vitae
3. a portfolio
4. a certificate of diploma (if applicable, a declaration of equivalence)
5. a biosketch: an open text of a maximum of two pages in which you provide a synthesis of the essence of your past career and your future plans:

· a first part with the crucial elements from your past career, with attention to their importance and impact

· a second part with the main points of your future activities (with an emphasis on the first 5 years)

· a third part about your added value and opportunities for collaboration with the existing entities within LUCA School of Arts and KULeuven.

Only complete files are accepted.

An initial job interview takes place with candidates who are selected after a pre-selection on file. The conversation is preceded by an interactive workshop of maximum 30 minutes, which is open to LUCA staff members.

You can apply for this job no later than January 06, 2025 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

Do you have a question about the online application system? Please consult our FAQ or email us at apply@kuleuven.be

PhD position - Designing Interactive Data Stories to Navigate Uncertainty

For this project, we closely collaborate with the Institute for Media Studies, or IMS for short, which aims for internationally high-quality research on media and communication through innovative and critical scientific research in domains such as journalism and news, strategic communication, digital media, human-computer interaction, and culture and policy. The IMS is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences of KU Leuven, which studies society to understand, strengthen, lead, and inspire it.

Website van de eenheid

Project

The goal of the PhD project is to study how uncertainty can be visually expressed in data visualisations and how these representations influence public perception of data certainty, reliability, and trustworthiness in news data stories. The study will depart from narrative, affective and interactive visual design strategies as they are a promising ways to engage a large audience with complex data. The study deploys a research-through-design approach, which includes iterative design cycles and evaluations via co-design methods, semi- structured interviews and standardised surveys. Here, we will involve both journalists and information designers, as the public. The envisioned outcome includes a toolbox with templates, a guidebook, and visual design guidelines to support journalists and other communicators to express uncertainty while maintaining trustworthiness in their data visualisations.

Profile

  • You have a Master diploma.
  • You are willing to work in a team and to play an active role within your research group.
  • You have the skills to complete a comprehensive, long-term research project within a four-year timeframe.You have an outstanding portfolio in information design.
  • You have experience (as a master student or as a researcher) in artistic research.
  • You are willing to communicate on your research at conferences, through artistic presentations and through publications.
  • You have the ambition to become an outstanding researcher and to share your knowledge in higher arts education.
  • You can fluently express yourself in English, both spoken and written.

Offer

  • We offer a PhD position in a dynamic and enthousiastic team of artistic and design researchers.
  • Initially, this full-time position is offered on a one-year contract, with the possibility of extension based on your performance. The ultimate objective is to complete your PhD within a four-year timeframe.
  • We support PhD students with close guidance and provide ample opportunity to participate in (inter)national collaborations and conferences.
  • The research will be based at campus St.Lukas in Brussels (LUCA) as well at the faculty of Social Sciences (KU Leuven) in Leuven.
  • LUCA School of Arts wants to create an environment in which all talents can develop to the fullest, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We, therefore, welcome all people with talent who recognize the added value of diversity and an inclusive organization. #weArt.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Sandy Claes, mail: sandy.claes@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. Michaël Opgenhaffen, mail: michael.opgenhaffen@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this job no later than August 05, 2024 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

Heb je een vraag over de online sollicitatieprocedure? Raadpleeg onze veelgestelde vragen of stuur een e-mail naar solliciteren@kuleuven.be

Senior Lecturer in Art & Design History, Theory and Practice (Ghent, 100%)

The Visual Arts program at campus Ghent is a vibrant crossroads for the development of art and design at the heart of contemporary society. The Master of Visual Arts program has three majors (Fine Arts, Graphic Design and Textile Design) that are nurtured by seven studios: Painting; Graphics and Drawing; Sculpture, Glass and Ceramics; Mixed Media; Illustration; Textile Design and Graphic Design. They are supported by a wide range of highly developed workshops. Researchers at campus Ghent come together in Research Unit Image, which is organized around three focal points: Studio practices and processes in Art and Design; Image, word and reflective discourse; and Image and Society. The research dynamic is informed by six research clusters: Matter & Image; Art, Space & Sound; Art, Philosophy & Technology; Art, Imagination and Language; Fluid Futures and Art, Pedagogy & Society. Also the faculties of Architecture and Engineering Technology are present in Ghent, offering opportunities for collaboration.

We are seeking a colleague with an artistic practice and a passion for research and teaching in the field of visual arts, with a specialization in design. The position implies the development of high-quality courses in the history of design as well as the development of innovative artistic research in design practices, processes, and methods. Active involvement in contemporary debates on design, for instance regarding decolonization, ecology and sustainability, materialism, technology and/or participatory strategies (to name some questions of interest) is a must for the profile we look for. A desire to make art and design history fruitful for contemporary designers and neighboring artists, a generous attitude toward fellow researchers and a mind set on making critical reflection interact with practice-based research are key to this position.

Unit website

Research

Your research task comprises half of your work package.

  • Your research is oriented towards generating expert knowledge on the practices, processes, and methods of design, both with regard to its history and theory as well as by stimulating and supervising practice-based research in the arts. You preferably do so in close connection to research questions that are of significance in contemporary design, such as sustainability, materialism, technology, participation, decolonization and/or the interaction between design and fine arts,…
  • From your active interest in contemporary design practices and processes, you look for ways to reinforce new research in the visual arts, including that of practice-based PhD-candidates, the orientation and surplus value of which you must clarify and elaborate in your application.
  • You join an existing research cluster of the research unit Image (or your build a new one, if you might argue so in your application) and actively co-operate with colleagues to enhance its operationality within the artistic research ecology of LUCA Ghent in particular, and the research network of LUCA in general.
  • You develop productive relationships with fellow researchers and students in neighboring research clusters on campus and across LUCA, so as to contribute to the general research program and activities (PhD-seminars, research days, conferences…). Dependent on your main expertise you also join a Ghent-based expert team with teachers and researchers that are specialized in ‘Art, Society & Education’ (focusing among others on sustainable design, participatory art & design, decolonization…), ‘Art, Media & Technology’ or ‘Art & Materiality’.
  • You build and supervise a team of PhD-students and postdoctoral researchers with whom you further develop a research cluster, in good collegial consultation with fellow supervisors.
  • You actively seek external research funding and you generate collaborations for this purpose.
  • You publish and generously install and/or share processes that communicate your research on high-standing and relevant artistic and academic platforms, within and outside LUCA. You also create or facilitate qualitative publication and dissemination platforms for PhD-students.
  • You build a leading international network of peers in research and teaching which you share with LUCA’s research environment.
Teaching

Your teaching comprises half of your assignment.

  • You will provide high-quality teaching on art history and design in the academic program for Bachelor and Master of Visual Arts at campus Ghent and Brussels. To this end, you develop educational activities, forms of study guidance and innovative pedagogical models that are tailored to the students, with a strong commitment to the quality of the program as a whole.
  • In good consultation with close colleagues, you create innovative workshops to enhance the reflective skills of art students in studios such as Textile Design or Sculpture, Glass & Ceramics.
  • You supervise master theses in visual arts (i.e. textile design, graphic design, fine arts) and in doing so you actively look for ways to enhance the interaction between the reflective and the artistic component of the master’s degree.
  • Your teaching is research-based and research-oriented in accordance with LUCA's vision of academic teaching. You actively seek to update and renew your teaching from your research.
Service
  • You provide societal, scientific and internal services. The assumption of responsibilities within boards and commissions of LUCA School of Arts is part of your duty.
  • At times throughout your career, you are willing to take on a coordinating role that fits your intellectual and artistic profile.

Profile

  • You hold a PhD in the arts or relevant to the arts.
  • You have a solid background in art and design history, and theory, as may be evidenced by your research and publication record.
  • You combine expertise in the history of art & design with an active involvement in contemporary debates on design focusing on issues such as decolonization, sustainability, materialism, participation, technology, or the interaction between fine arts and design.
  • Your research demonstrates a strong affinity with contemporary art and design practices and processes, preferably including previous experience with artistic research.
  • You enjoy stimulating development in others, both in a training context and research-wise, and you have demonstrable qualities for academic teaching. Teaching experience is a plus.
  • You enjoy working independently as part of a team and have a talent for topical leadership.
  • You have organizational skills, actively seek collaborations, and have a growing (international) network relevant to the visual arts.
  • A good command of English is required. Since the official language of LUCA School of Arts is Dutch and the bachelor level education is mostly in Dutch, you are expected to acquire a profound knowledge of Dutch after a few years. If needed, and after your start at LUCA School of Arts, language training can be provided to give you the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required level.
  • You are loyal to the mission, vision and policies of LUCA School of Arts.

Offer

At LUCA School of Arts, we believe that art and design have an impact on society and the world in many ways. Respect and integrity are our guiding principles, diversity and sustainability are our assets, and quality is our driving force. We are currently working on the role of LUCA as an actor in society, on opening up our multi-campus reality to a network, on the evolution of the five original training institutes into a joint laboratory, and on responding to training and research questions from the outside world. You will thus find yourself in a stimulating environment in which we offer numerous opportunities to develop your talents on the main campus in Ghent and on the other campuses of LUCA School of Arts.

LUCA School of Arts wants to create an environment where all talents can develop to their maximum potential, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all talented people who recognize the added value of diversity and want to help shape an inclusive organization.

LUCA School of Arts offers a full-time (100%) position for an indefinite term in the vacant position of senior lecturer/'docent-onderzoeker' (salary scale 528), with the possibility of a permanent appointment at a later stage according to the existing rules and procedures. In addition, you will also acquire the status of Special Guest Lecturer in the Arts. With this status you will be able to supervise PhD’s in the arts and apply for internal funding at the KU Leuven. More information on salary scales can be found on the website of the Flemish Education Department (www.ond.vlaanderen.be). The estimated starting date is 1/9/2025.

Interested?

More information can be obtained from Head of Research Unit Image Prof. dr. Tom Van Imschoot (tom.vanimschoot@luca-arts.be) and from team coordinator at LUCA Visual Arts Ghent Maureen Magerman (maureen.magerman@luca-arts.be)

Applications are open until 06/01/2025. Anyone experiencing problems with the online tool, please send an email to solliciteren@kuleuven.be.

The application includes a file consisting of:

1. a motivation letter

2. a curriculum vitae

3. a portfolio or list of publications and presentations

4. a certificate of diploma (if necessary, a declaration of equivalence)

5. a biosketch: an open text of maximum two pages in which you give a synthesis of your past career and your future plans, with the following elements:

- a first part with crucial elements of your past career, highlighting importance and impact;

- a second part outlining your future activities (focusing on the first 5 years);

- a third part on your added value and further opportunities for cooperation with respect to the existing entities within the research unit Image and LUCA School of Arts or KU Leuven.

Only complete application files will be accepted.

An interview will take place with candidates who are retained after a pre-selection based on the application file. The interview is preceded by a lecture of maximum 30 minutes, which is open to staff members of LUCA School of Arts. The lecture allows candidates to explain the core of their artistic and academic expertise, motivation and vision for the future in a format of their choice. Candidates are asked to presuppose an audience of masters in preparing the workshop.

You can apply for this job no later than January 06, 2025 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

Do you have a question about the online application system? Please consult our FAQ or email us at apply@kuleuven.be

Senior Lecturer Visual Arts: Photography (Brussels, 100%)

The Visual Arts program is offered on three campuses, Ghent, Genk and Brussels. In Brussels, the Visual Arts program includes four graduate programs: Photography, Liberal Arts, Graphic Storytelling, and Media & Information Design (MIND). These are all academic programs in which practical and theoretical education go hand in hand, from Bachelor's to Master's, followed by a doctoral program as well. The Photography Department in Brussels, for which this vacancy seeks a senior lecturer ('docent-onderzoeker'), aims to train students to become autonomous image makers who question the world and themselves through their work. A unique feature of the program is that in addition to digital photography, there is a major focus on analog photography, with students learning to create, develop, print and critically analyze both color and black and white images. In the Bachelor years, students are especially encouraged to explore the versatility of the photographic medium. The Master's is an intensive in-depth program focused on students' personal artistic development into autonomous visual creators.

Closely associated with the Photography program is the Photography Expanded research cluster. This is one of the four research clusters that fall under the Intermedia research unit, located in LUCA campus Brussels. In Photography Expanded, senior researchers and doctoral students conduct artistic and theoretical research with the medium of photography as a starting point. At the same time, connections are actively forged with a broader range of practices in the field of visual arts and contemporary culture. The cluster investigates the critical and analytical potential of photography, especially against the background of the major social and political shifts that have occurred globally since the 1960s. In addition, it also conducts research on the technology of photography and the potential and limits of the medium to (re)produce images.

We are seeking a colleague with an artistic practice and a passion for teaching and research in the field of visual arts, with a specialization in the medium of photography. The senior lecturer will be part of the Photography Expanded research cluster and the Fine Arts/Photography program at LUCA-campus Brussels. The responsibilities of this position include developing, implementing and coordinating research and teaching in the arts (from BA and MA to PhD). The position also includes contributing to the administration of the activities of the program and of the faculty in general.

Unit website

Research

Half of the position consists of conducting and leading of research.

The research focus should be in the field of photography, with a preference for candidates who have worked around one or more of the following topics:

  • critical interrogation of the medium of photography, its history, practices, and technology
  • photography as a medium for critically questioning the world
  • photography as a connecting practice, in search of for example more caring relationships between people, technology and nature
  • photography as artistic practice, its limits and possibilities (from analogue to AI) and relations to other media
  • analogue photography as a contemporary meaningful medium

The successful candidate must have demonstrated in his/her/their work the relevance of the chosen research area.

Having experience in applying for international (European) research funding is a valuable asset.

You will lead the research within the Photography Expanded cluster together with other senior researchers:

  • You build and supervise a team of doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers and you co-coordinate the joint activities of the cluster;
  • You actively seek external research funding;
  • You publish in relevant academic-artistic channels;
  • You create, display and exhibit work relevant to your research and teaching focus;
  • You create an international and reputable network of peers in research, education and fine arts/photography.
Teaching

The teaching assignment (the other half of the position) includes:

Design of educational activities, study guidance and educational concepts to offer education tailored to the student population (Bachelor and Master) within the field of Visual Arts, with a specialization in Photography;

  • Concretely: contribution to one or more practical modules in the Bachelor (both technical and content supervision); contribution to a photo-theoretical course within the Bachelor; and conducting a seminar at Master level.
  • Supervising students in conceiving both the artistic and reflective parts of final and mid-term research assignments;
  • Being the titular lecturer of a course unit;
  • Develop teaching activities in accordance with LUCA's vision which focuses on activating and research-based teaching;
  • Take advantage of educational professionalization opportunities offered by LUCA;
  • Provide high quality teaching within the field of fine arts, with a clear commitment to the overall quality of the program;
  • Assume leadership roles within the program, campus, faculty.
Service

Scientific, social and internal service are also part of the assignment.

Profile

  • The candidate has a solid background in artistic research in the visual arts, with a specialization in photography;
  • The candidate holds a PhD in the arts;
  • The candidate has a strong artistic research record, underpinned by a demonstrable academic and professional record;
  • The candidate has a relevant (inter)national network;
  • The candidate is a team player and an experienced leader who can support diverse groups of teachers/researchers;
  • The candidate will work closely with the other researchers, coordinators and faculty in Visual Arts/Photography and other education departments. He/she/they actively participate in linking teaching, research and curriculum development, day-to-day operational activities, developing and disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge, and instilling research skills in students;
  • A good command of English is required. Since the official language of LUCA School of Arts is Dutch and the bachelor level education is mostly in Dutch, you are expected to acquire a profound knowledge of Dutch after a few years. If needed, and after your start at LUCA School of Arts, language training can be provided to give you the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required level.
  • The candidate is loyal and endorses LUCA's mission, vision and policy.

Offer

At LUCA you will join an environment where respect and integrity define our basic attitude, where we see sustainability and diversity as an asset, and where quality is our driving force. In the coming years we want to give LUCA an identity as an actor in society, let our training institute become part of a laboratory, complement our offer with demand-driven initiatives, and disclose our multicampus reality to a network. You will thus find yourself in a stimulating environment in which we offer numerous opportunities to give your own fulfillment on your main campus in Brussels or on one of the other campuses of LUCA School of Arts.

LUCA School of Arts aims to create an environment in which all talents can reach their full potential, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all talented people who recognize the added value of diversity and who want to help shape an inclusive organization.

LUCA offers a full-time appointment (100%) of indefinite duration in the vacant position of senior lecturer/'docent-onderzoeker' (salary scale 528) where a permanent appointment at a later stage is possible according to the existing rules and procedures. In addition, you will acquire the status of Special Guest Lecturer in the Arts. This statute allows you to be a supervisor of doctorates in the arts and to submit projects as a supervisor to internal funds of KU Leuven. The expected starting date is 1/9/2025.

https://www.luca-arts.be/en/master-in-photography-campus-brussels-sint-lukas

Interested?

More information is available from the head of the Intermedia research unit, Steven

Devleminck (steven.devleminck@luca-arts.be); the coordinator of the Photography program, Danny Veys (danny.veys@luca-arts.be); and the coordinator of the research cluster Photography Expanded, Liesbeth Decan (liesbeth.decan@luca-arts.be).

Applications can be submitted until 6/1/2025 via our online application. If you experience any problems with the online tool, please email solliciteren@kuleuven.be

The application includes a dossier consisting of:

1. a motivation letter

2. a curriculum vitae

3. a portfolio

4. a certificate of diploma (if necessary, a declaration of equivalence)

5. a bio sketch: an open text of maximum two pages in which you summarize the essence of your past career and your future plans:

• a first part with the crucial elements of your past career, highlighting their importance and impact

• a second part outlining your future activities (focusing on the first 5 years)

• a third part on your added value and opportunities for cooperation with respect to the existing entities within LUCA School of Arts and KU Leuven.

Only complete dossiers will be accepted.

An interview will be held with candidates who are retained after preselection on file. The interview will be preceded by an interactive workshop of maximum 30 minutes, which is open to LUCA staff members.

You can apply for this job no later than January 06, 2025 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

Do you have a question about the online application system? Please consult our FAQ or email us at apply@kuleuven.be

Senior Lecturer in Fine Arts: Painting (Ghent, 80%)

The Visual Arts program at campus Ghent is a vibrant crossroads for the development of art and design at the heart of contemporary society. The Master of Visual Arts program has three majors (Fine Arts, Graphic Design and Textile Design) that are nurtured by seven studios: Painting; Graphics and Drawing; Sculpture, Glass and Ceramics; Mixed Media; Illustration; Textile Design and Graphic Design. They are supported by a wide range of highly developed workshops. Researchers at campus Ghent come together in Research Unit Image, which is organized around three focal points: Studio practices and processes in Art and Design; Image, word and reflective discourse; and Image and Society. The research dynamic is informed by six research clusters: Matter & Image; Art, Space & Sound; Art, Philosophy & Technology; Art, Imagination and Language; Fluid Futures and Art, Pedagogy & Society.

We are looking for a new colleague with an outstanding practice and PhD-based research expertise in Fine Arts to strengthen the LUCA Ghent-based studio in Painting and take the lead in the further development of its practice-based research. The position implies the development of high-quality training courses for students of Painting and the development of innovative artistic research in Fine Arts, with the ability to connect Painting to neighboring Fine Arts. A profound practice-based involvement in questions and debates on contemporary artistic studio practices and processes, and a topical expertise regarding art & materiality are crucial aspects of the profile we look for. A creative vision regarding transmitting expert knowledge to fine art students, a desire to initiate and supervise research projects (including PhD-projects) in the arts and a mind set on collaborating with a diversity of researchers while building a proper future trajectory in artistic research in Fine Arts are key to the position.

Unit website

Research

Your research task comprises half of your work package.

  • Your artistic research is based on a practice in Fine Arts and is oriented towards exploring new research trajectories in Fine Arts. In this, you have a strong inclination toward questions of art and materiality in general and toward stimulating innovative research in painting in particular. Artistic studio practices and processes form the core of your research interest and artistic experimentation, in connection with the eponymous focal point of the research unit Image. From your strong relationship to painting, you develop your own research focus that points out a direction for future research in Fine Arts (including that of new PhD-candidates), the relevance and surplus value of which you must clarify and elaborate in your application.
  • You join (or build) a research cluster within RU Image of your choice (which you clarify in your application) and actively co-operate to reinforce its operationality within the research ecology of LUCA Ghent, and the research network of LUCA in general. As such, you develop productive relationships with colleagues or students in neighboring research clusters on campus and across LUCA, so as to contribute to the general research program and activities (seminars, research days…). You also join a Ghent-based expert team in Art & Materiality.
  • You will supervise a team of doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers with whom you further develop your research cluster, in good collegial consultation with fellow supervisors.
  • You actively seek external research funding and you set-up collaborations for this purpose.

You initiate research projects, create artwork, exhibit, and you generously share processes that communicate your research on high-standing and relevant artistic and academic platforms, within and outside LUCA.

  • You continuously implement developments in your research in your teaching assignment.
  • You build a leading international network of peers in research, teaching and your own visual arts practice.
Teaching

Your teaching comprises half of your assignment.

  • You provide high-quality teaching in the Fine Arts-studio of Painting and across the academic program for Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts at Sint-Lucas Ghent campus. To this end, you develop educational activities, forms of study guidance and innovative pedagogical models that are tailored to the students of Painting in particular and to neighboring students of the Fine Arts department in general, with a strong commitment to keeping up the high standards of the program as a whole.
  • You supervise master’s degrees in visual arts, both for their artistic and the reflective aspect, and within but also outside the a-forementioned studio.
  • Your teaching is research-based and research-oriented in accordance with LUCA's vision of academic teaching. You actively seek ways to update and renew your teaching from your research.

Service

  • You provide social, scientific and internal services. The assumption of responsibilities within boards and commissions of LUCA School of Arts are part of your duty.
  • At times throughout your career, you are willing to take on a coordinating role that fits your intellectual and artistic profile.

Profile

  • You hold a PhD in the arts or relevant to the arts.
  • You have an outstanding portfolio and flourishing practice in Fine Arts and artistic research.
  • Your artistic portfolio and research record demonstrate a practical expertise that is greatly fit to train students of painting at a high level of education and initiate artistic research projects (including PhD-projects) within the same domain and in connection to neighboring Fine Arts.
  • You have a vision and a specific angle on future artistic research you would like to develop and stimulate, and you are willing to take up a leading role in conducting and initiating it, including its implementation in art education.
  • You enjoy stimulating developments in others, both in a pedagogical context and research-wise, and you have demonstrable qualities for art teaching. Teaching experience is a plus.
  • You enjoy working independently as part of a team and have a talent for topical leadership.
  • You have organizational skills, actively seek collaborations and have a growing (international) network relevant to the visual arts.
  • A good command of English is required. Since the official language of LUCA School of Arts is Dutch and the bachelor level education is mostly in Dutch, you are expected to acquire a profound knowledge of Dutch after a few years. If needed, and after your start at LUCA School of Arts, language training can be provided to give you the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required level.
  • You are loyal to the mission, vision and policies of LUCA School of Arts.

Offer

At LUCA School of Arts, we believe that art and design have an impact on society and the world in many ways. Respect and integrity are our guiding principles, diversity and sustainability are our assets, and quality is our driving force. We are currently working on the role of LUCA as an actor in society, on opening up our multi-campus reality to a network, on the evolution of the five original training institutes into a joint laboratory, and on responding to training and research questions from the outside world. You will thus find yourself in a stimulating environment in which we offer numerous opportunities to develop your talents on the main campus in Ghent and on the other campuses of LUCA School of Arts.

LUCA School of Arts wants to create an environment where all talents can develop to their maximum potential, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all talented people who recognize the added value of diversity and want to help shape an inclusive organization.

LUCA School of Arts offers a position of 80% for an indefinite term in the vacant position of senior lecturer/'docent-onderzoeker' (salary scale 528), with the possibility of a permanent appointment at a later stage according to the existing rules and procedures. In addition, you will also acquire the status of Special Guest Lecturer in the Arts. With this status you will be able to supervise PhD’s in the arts and apply for internal funding at the KU Leuven. More information on salary scales can be found on the website of the Flemish Education Department (www.ond.vlaanderen.be). The estimated starting date is 1/9/2025.

Interested?

More information can be obtained from Head of Research Unit Image Prof. dr. Tom Van Imschoot (tom.vanimschoot@luca-arts.be) and from team coordinator at LUCA Visual Arts Ghent Maureen Magerman (maureen.magerman@luca-arts.be)

Applications are open until 06/01/2025. Anyone experiencing problems with the online tool, please send an email to solliciteren@kuleuven.be.

The application includes a file consisting of:

1. a motivation letter

2. a curriculum vitae

3. a portfolio or list of publications and presentations

4. a certificate of diploma (if necessary, a declaration of equivalence)

5. a biosketch: an open text of maximum two pages in which you give a synthesis of your past career and your future plans, with the following elements:

- a first part with crucial elements of your past career, highlighting importance and impact;

- a second part outlining your future activities (focusing on the first 5 years);

- a third part on your added value and further opportunities for cooperation with respect to the existing entities within the research unit Image and LUCA School of Arts or KU Leuven.

Only complete application files will be accepted.

An interview will take place with candidates who are retained after a pre-selection based on the application file. The interview is preceded by an interactive workshop of maximum 30 minutes, which is open to staff members of LUCA School of Arts. The workshop allows candidates to explain the core of their artistic and academic expertise, motivation and vision for the future in a format of their choice (e.g. lecture performance, …) Candidates are asked to presuppose an audience of masters in preparing the workshop.

You can apply for this job no later than January 06, 2025 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

Do you have a question about the online application system? Please consult our FAQ or email us at apply@kuleuven.be