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.
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.
Website unit
Duties
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.
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.