Bridget Riley Art Foundation Fellowship.
Maurice de Sausmarez Archive.
Special Collections and Galleries.
University of Leeds.

Salary: Grade 7 (£39105 to £46485)
Reference: CSLIB1438
Fixed-term: until 10 February 2025 to complete specific time limited work. We will consider flexible working arrangements.

The Bridget Riley Art Foundation Fellowship is designed for a researcher to make use of the extensive Maurice de Sausmarez Archive in Special Collections at the University of Leeds.

Maurice de Sausmarez (1915-69) was an artist, writer and art educator. He played an important role in the establishment of the Department of Fine Art at the University of Leeds and developed a distinctive pedagogical model which integrated studio practice with histories and theories of art. His influential book Basic Design: The Dynamics of Visual Form (1964) reached a wide international audience and remains in print today. He was an influential figure for many artists in the second half of the twentieth century and his circle included the art critic and philosopher Sir Herbert Read, the art historian and sociologist Arnold Hauser, pioneering art educators Harry Thubron and Victor Pasmore and the visual artists Bridget Riley, Ben Nicholson, Henry Moore, Naum Gabo, Margaret Benyon and many others.

The Archive was acquired by Special Collections in 2019 and has recently been fully catalogued with the support of the Bridget Riley Art Foundation. The Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to undertake research on this newly available collection, and to develop your research portfolio in a supportive and well-established research environment. Researchers working in and across any discipline(s) in the arts and humanities are eligible to apply. This collection is particularly relevant to those with research interests in pedagogical shifts in postwar art and design in Britain, twentieth-century artistic groups and networks, exhibition histories in an educational context, the relationship between regional and metropolitan cultural agencies and institutions, theories of the social role of art and student experiences of art school from the early 1930s to the late 1960s.
More information about the archive can be found here: ¹

Research proposals could include, but are not limited to, the following themes represented in the Archive:

- The relationship between social class, gender and art education in twentieth-century Britain through the voices of women and working-class students in the archive.
- Maurice de Sausmarez’s role in the Basic Design movement.
- Artistic activism and political engagement during the Second World War, including conscientious objection and the Artists’ International Association.
- Decolonial and postcolonial approaches to art and design education, with a focus on de Sausmarez’s visit to Makerere School of Art.
- Links with postwar developments in art and design education in the USA.
- De Sausmarez’s time at the University of Leeds, including his involvement with the Gregory Fellows.
- Connections between the Maurice de Sausmarez Archive and related material in Special Collections, for instance in the Herbert Read Collection and the Leeds Poetry Collections.
- The relationship between Maurice de Sausmarez’s art practice, writing and teaching.
- The influence of extramural education and experimental short courses.

On completion of your research, you will be required to produce a scholarly output, such as an academic journal article, focused on the Maurice de Sausmarez Archive. You will also be required to give a lecture or seminar on your research at Leeds, hosted in Special Collections. The Fellow will also write a blog post to promote the Archive and your research for use on the Special Collections website. Other social media activity is encouraged during the Fellowship and the Special Collections team will advise on this.

//Main Duties and Responsibilities//

As a Research Fellow your main duties will include:

Developing and conducting an independent research project within a relevant arts or humanities discipline, using primary and secondary research methods
Communicating or presenting your research on the collection through academic publication or other recognised forms of scholarly output;
Working independently, and in collaboration with colleagues to engage in knowledge-transfer activities where appropriate or feasible.
Actively contributing to the organisation of relevant events both within Special Collections and across the University, such as an academic symposium.
Create engaging material for web, social media and printed publications to promote your research, and access to the collection as a research resource.
Contribute to, and to encourage, a safe and accessible working environment.
These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post.

//Qualifications and Skills//

Essential:
- A PhD in a relevant disciplinary area.
- Previous experience of conducting archival research and knowledge of relevant research methods.
- Membership of appropriate Subject Specialist Networks.
- Willingness to promote collection and research findings through engaging with networks. This might include joining appropriate subgroups, sharing information on events, or writing pieces for SSN publications.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and flexibly in diverse formats (e.g. workshops, articles, presentations, reports, etc) to a range of audiences.
- Demonstrable capacity to work well with non-academic communities and key stakeholders.
Time management and planning skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines and work effectively under pressure.
- Ability to work well both individually and in a team.
- An understanding of, and commitment to, promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity,

Desirable:
A track record of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations appropriate for your career stage.

Apply online here by 10 October 2024: https://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=CSLIB1438

//Additional Information//

Working at Leeds
We are a campus based community and regular interaction with campus is an expectation of all roles in line with academic and service needs and the requirements of the role. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements. To find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Leeds area visit our Working at Leeds information page.

Our University
At the University of Leeds, we are committed to providing a culture of inclusion, respect and equity of opportunity that attracts, supports, and retains the best students and staff from all backgrounds. Whatever role we recruit for we are always striving to increase the diversity of our community, which each individual helps enrich and cultivate. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, those who belong to a minority ethnic community; people who identify as LGBT+; and disabled people. Candidates will always be selected based on merit and ability.

Information for disabled candidates
Information for disabled candidates, impairments or health conditions, including requesting alternative formats, can be found on our Accessibility information page or by getting in touch with us at hrleeds.ac.uk

Criminal Records
A criminal record check is not required for this position. However, all applicants will be required to declare if they have any ‘unspent’ criminal offences, including those pending. Any offer of appointment will be in accordance with our Criminal Records policy. You can find out more about required checks and declarations in our Criminal Records information page.

Visa Eligibility
Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa. For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent