APG PHD OPPORTUNITY
The Incidental Artist approach: contemporary reworkings of the methods and legacies of the Artist Placement Group 1966-1989
Deadline: 10 January 2024
In partnership with Flat Time House and Eastside Projects, Birmingham City University are looking for a candidate to undertake an AHRC funded Collaborative Doctoral Award on the subject of The Incidental Artist approach: contemporary reworkings of the methods and legacies of the Artist Placement Group 1966-1989 as part of the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnerships.
Roger Coward, Placement with the Department of the Environment, Inner Area Study Birmingham, Small Heath, 1975. Courtesy Roger Coward
The project will examine how are the ideas and models developed by Artist Placement Group (APG) (1966-89) are both relevant today, and to future possibilities for the role of artists in society. Working with Flat Time House in London, Eastside Projects, and Birmingham City University, this project will evaluate contemporary experimental art projects, generating new understandings of APG’s legacy.
This comparative and critical study will combine art historical and archival research into APG with being an embedded researcher alongside live projects using qualitative methods of participant observation, interviews, and focus group activities. Whilst it is expected that the postgraduate researcher will nominate appropriate theoretical frameworks to their approach to the project, it is anticipated that the research will be theorised through contemporary art and cultural theory. Envisaged primarily as a critical and qualitative project, FTHo and the supervisory team are open to proposals that embed practice research through artistic and/or curatorial approaches meeting the research objectives.
It is anticipated that the postgraduate researcher may come from an art-historical, cultural studies, or related art practice background with the related knowledge, skills, and experience. Experience in archival research as well as interviewing and focus groups would be desirable, however additional training can be accessed at Birmingham City University and supported by supervisory expertise. Key to the project will be a critically informed passion for the potential of artists to make a difference in the world.
Open for student applications from 16th October 2023 via the portal for October 2024 start date Deadline: 10th January 2024 UK time 12:00 noon
More information on the project can be found here: https://www.midlands4cities.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/BCU-Flat-time-house.pdf
Information on the application process can be found here:
https://www.midlands4cities.ac.uk/apply/
Anyone interested in applying are encouraged contact the lead university supervisor, Dr Sian Vaughan, [email protected] in the first instance.
