PhD Study : What influence has Performance Art Practices and Performance Art Practitioners had on Higher Education across the Island of Ireland?

Summary

From the 1970’s dialogues, live actions and interventions opened up around the possibilities of conceptual practices to respond critically and with awareness of its situatedness in the city of Belfast and the social and political context of Northern Ireland. These collective actions and activities both within the art educational context and beyond have and continue to make a crucial contribution to the forms and possibilities of conceptual, situated and relational art practice in Northern Ireland.

Applicants are invited for PhD project proposals that investigate if and to what extent Performance Art Practices & Performance Art Practitioners has had within Higher Education in both Northern Ireland and across the Island of Ireland.

Questions it will seek to explore are;

*Has the influence of performance artists and performance art practice within Higher education across the Island of Ireland had an impact in the evolution and development of Socially Engaged practice(s) in Ireland, North and South?

*What data or published material currently exists that may provide evidence, or insights, for the influences that performance artists and performance art practices have had on Higher education teaching and/or Course provision in Ireland/Northern Ireland?

*How best can Performance Artists and Performance Art Practices influences, and impact be sourced, traced, recorded, assessed, analysed and defined?

*Can this also be shown in relation to the evolution and development of socially engaged practice in Ireland – North and South. What can be learned from the research findings?

*Can this research highlight specific practice experience and teaching methodologies employed by performance artists?

*How can specific experience of performance art practice(s) be shown to have had an impact on the evolution and development of Socially Engaged practice(s) in Ireland, North and South?

*How can specific experience of performance art practice(s) be shown to have had an impact on 3rd. Level Fine Art teaching and/or Course provision in Ireland/Northern Ireland. How do these findings relate to other contexts i.e. within the UK, Europe, USA etc.?

*Can parallels be found in other contexts and what conclusions can be drawn?

*How might these findings contribute to contemporary and future Higher education provision within Fine Art Practices?

Applications are invited for the PhD project outlined above. This research builds on extensive research and activity in this field and we are interested in receiving proposals to develop a body of research (either a combination of visual and text-based research, or a solely text-based research proposal) for a three-year full time PhD.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living