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, embedded within an Associated Faculty of Arts at KU Leuven. LUCA has campuses in four cities: Ghent, Brussels, Leuven and Genk. LUCA School of Arts is also a member of the KU Leuven Association.
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.
Website unit
Duties
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.
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.
