28-07-2015
Job description A significant part of European cultural heritage, modern and contemporary art, runs a great risk of getting lost for future generations, because it is particularly difficult to preserve. Proper care requires resolving fundamental questions concerning the identity, values and authenticity of modern and contemporary artworks and the consequences for their conservation, rethinking historically grown professional distinctions as those between the curator and the conservator, re-organizing the institutional ecosystem, and establishing frameworks for international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral research and training collaboration. The research and training programme New Approaches in the Conservation of Contemporary Art (NACCA) aims at meeting these demands by educating a new generation of professional curators, conservators and academic researchers who are properly equipped to face these challenges. The programme is designed by experts working in museums, heritage organisations and universities that have a profound experience in the field of contemporary art conservation and conservation research. It consists of a research and a training part, which are closely connected and mutually inform each other. It will focus on the development of a reflective professional attitude, which is a pre-requisite in the increasingly complex and collaborative field of contemporary art conservation. The NACCA programme, coordinated by Maastricht University, is a Marie Curie Innovative Training Network project, funded by the European Union. In total, 15 PhD projects are part of the programme, each investigating different, as yet under-explored aspects of contemporary art conservation.www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/nacca In the framework of the Marie Curie ITN project NACCA, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Maastricht University is recruiting a PhD researcher for a period of three years. The research project concerns: Contemporary art conservators and curators: roles, collaboration, training and ethics Supervisors: Dr. Rita Macedo Project Description: This PhD project aims to answer the question, what are the potentials and consequences of the changing roles of the conservator and the curator in contemporary art museums. Curators have been described as primarily responsible for the intellectual care of works of art and conservators as responsible for their physical care. More recently the shifting role of contemporary art conservators has been underpinned, taking into account their activity dealing with intangible aspects of contemporary art or their action as managers of change. The curator’s role has also been shifting from a care-taker to a creator involved with production, promotion and cultural industry. Both contemporary art conservators and curators define themselves as decision makers, responsible for how artworks are shown, for maintaining artists’ intentions and access to the work of art. However, the position of each of those parties in relation to the works is conditioned not only by different skills and education, but also by their professional experience, which generate in most cases a distinct understanding of the artwork, particularly in which concerns the notion of time. The investigation will explore the philosophical, ethical and practical continuities and discontinuities between both professions with three main goals: 1) to provide a broader definition of the conservator’s role 2) to analyze how the role’s changing is impacting the museum 3) to outline recommendations to improve contemporary art conservators training. The methodology involves analyzing codes of ethics and historiography of both professions as well as theory recently produced; observation and conduction of in-depth interviews with curators and conservators in different contemporary art museums in Europe. An internship at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s CAM, Lisbon, will provide the opportunity to a case-study research that will serve as a basis to compare and analyze different museum approaches. Requirements • A relevant Masters degree, e.g. in art history, conservation, museum studies or social sciences, or an equivalent academic degree in humanities; • The ability to speak, read and write in English; • High scholarly abilities, as testified by your previous academic record, particularly by the quality of your masters-level thesis; • Be highly motivated; • Creativity and high level of independency; • Experience in conducting research; • Strong analytical capacity; • Good organisational skills; • A proven interest in contemporary art and/or oral history will be considered as a great advantage; • Affinity with work in an interdisciplinary and highly international environment; • Willingness and proven ability to work in a team; • Willingness to relocate to (the vicinity of) Lisbon. • In light of the mobility requirements set by the European Commission for this project: at the time of recruitment by your organisation, you must NOT have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Portugal for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to taking up the position. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account. As far as international European interest organisations or international organisations are concerned, this rule does not apply to the hosting of eligible researchers. However, the appointed researcher must not have spent more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment at the host organisation. • Candidates must fulfil the definition of an Early-Stage Researcher (ESR) set by the European Commission: ESRs shall, at the time of recruitment by the host organization, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research career and not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree which would formally entitle him or her to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited. Part-time research experience will be counted pro-rata. • It is the policy of the NACCA project to promote equal opportunities between men and women and stimulate gender balance. • Members of ethnic minority groups and handicapped people are explicitly invited to apply. Conditions of employment We offer a 3 year full-time PhD contract. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended with another 2 years. You will be employed by the Faculty of Science and Technology of Nova University of Lisbon. Stipend: • € 33.255,12/year (include 14 months plus meal allowance) • Mobility allowance: €600/ month • Family allowance: €500/month (subject to family situation) The position also includes paid tuition for the period of the appointment. These amounts are gross amounts, subject to taxation according Portugal national law. Consequently, the net salary results from deducting all compulsory (employer and employee) social security contributions as well as direct taxes (e.g. income tax) and insurance from these gross amounts. We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally-oriented organisation where young people receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. You will participate in the research training sessions in the framework of the NACCA ITN Marie Curie project. You will be provided with shared office space and a laptop. Contract type: Temporary, We offer a 1 year full-time PhD contract extendable for two more years. Organisation The Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA), Campus of Caparica is one of the most prestigious Portuguese public schools and it is engaged in extensive research activity, developed in 16 research centres involving 1600 PhD and Master’s students of the total enrolment of 7800. With a total of 550 academic staff (90% holding a Ph.D) and 180 non-academic staff, FCT NOVA is organized in 14 departments and 14 support services. FCT NOVA partners with foreign universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Carnegie Mellon and the University of Texas at Austin to offer some of its advanced study programs. The entrepreneurial drive of the students and graduates of FCT NOVA has led to many successful spin-offs that transfer knowledge to the market and help create value and social impact. Department The Department of Conservation and Restoration (DCR) was created in 2000 with the aim of promoting excellence in training and in conservation practice. DCR offers a 3-year bachelor degree, a Masters’ degree with two branches: Conservation-Restoration and Conservation Sciences; and a funded PhD program titled CoReS, with two optional branches: Conservation History, Theory and Techniques or Conservation Sciences. DCR provides students with training across disciplines, which range from the natural and exact sciences to the social and human sciences and encourages them to pursue inter-disciplinary research, which exposes them to different methodologies. The primary purpose of the PhD programme is to prepare and support the student in undertaking and presenting a substantial piece of original research. Several associate institutions work in close collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Restoration creating a large interdisciplinary network promoting scientific and technical excellence in conservation research. DCR has a history of successful interdisciplinary projects in diverse areas. All FCT-UNL PhD programmes are integrated in NOVA Doctoral School where there is substantial professional training available in transferable skills, such as entrepreneurship, self-awareness and teambuilding. This is optional for all PhD students. http://www.unl.pt/en/doctoral-school/NOVA_Doctoral_School/pid=266/ppid=38/ How to apply? Send your application by e-mail before September 15th 2015, 23:59 PM CET, to: ritamacedo@fct.unl.pt The following documents must be submitted with your application: (a) a curriculum vitae and a personal letter of motivation indicating why you wish to conduct this research project offered by FCT-UNL, and why you expect that you will be able to complete the programme successfully; (b) a certified copy of your Master certificate and list of grades (with certified translation for languages other than English, Portuguese, Spanish or French); (c) Non-native English speakers or applicants who have their MA degree in a language other than English must have one of the following language qualifications: pass the Academic IELTS (minimum score: 7.5) or TOEFL Internet-based test (minimum score: 113); Dates of interview October 6-7 Contact: ritamacedo@fct.unl.pt
