Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in the Art History of Africa, deadline October 13, 2019

The role and its responsibilities
The School of Arts seeks to appoint a Lecturer (or Senior Lecturer) in the Art History of Africa in the Department of the History of Art & Archaeology, starting in around August 2020. The appointee will carry out research and provide teaching and supervision in the contemporary, modern and/or pre-modern arts and visual cultures of one or more regions of sub-Saharan Africa. As an expected growth area, West Africa is a region of particular interest to the Department. The art-historical specialism could include modes and practices such as painting, calligraphy, photography and video art, masquerade, textiles, curating and/or cultural industries. The appointee’s expertise should complement related existing specialisms in the Department of the History of Art & Archaeology, and in other areas of the School of Arts, e.g., cultural industries, film and screen studies and music. The School of Arts especially wishes to attract suitably qualified applicants from Africa and from African diaspora backgrounds: it is our ambition to find ways to redress the continuing low proportion of BME scholars in UK academia.

Skills and experience
Broad area and skills: The post-holder must be able to contribute to disciplinary and specialist teaching in the History of Art & Archaeology and to broad arts-based teaching on BA programmes in the School of Arts, especially within BA Creative Arts. S/he will be able to teach or co-teach survey modules and to supervise BA and MA dissertations in the arts of sub-Saharan Africa and diaspora cultures. An ability to teach art theory relevant to art history, the creative arts and/or cultural industries and to foster and develop practice-based learning and teaching is highly desirable.

 Essential: specialist knowledge demonstrated by a PhD in a relevant field; and evidence of a growing international professional network which would contribute to Knowledge Exchange, public (or non-academic) engagement, the development of strategic partnerships and student recruitment from Africa. A track record of participation in professional scholarly meetings and conferences, and advocacy, is essential as well as a high degree of potential to shape and influence the field, to contribute to SOAS's mission through research, impact and engagement and to enhance the reputation and standing of the Dept, School and university.

 Desirable: At least two high-quality research publications since 2014 (in any appropriate form, including but not limited to published written work, digital outputs, exhibitions or films), which could be considered for evaluation in the national research assessment due to occur in the UK in 2020-21. Teaching experience, with evidence of high quality is also desirable, as is an appropriate teaching qualification. Art curating or equivalent cultural industries experience is also desirable.

How to apply
 If you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please complete the short online application form and include your CV and supporting statement, outlining your skills and experience in relation to the person specification. Further information can be found in the Job Description and Person Specification, along with a full list of duties and responsibilities. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Closing date: 13 October 2019

Completed applications must be received by 23:59 on the closing date to be considered.

Interviews will provisionally be held in the week commencing 18 November 2019.
If you have any questions or require any assistance with regard to the application process, please contact hr-recruitment@soas.ac.uk.