Lecturer in Conservation of Contemporary Art & Media

The first of its kind in the UK, the History of Art Department is launching a new two-year MSc Conservation of Contemporary Art & Media at UCL East, a new campus in east London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park that has recently opened to students. The programme extends the Department’s current teaching and research strengths while providing for the rapidly developing training needs of the next generation of conservators, and conservation professionals looking to develop a specialism in the field of contemporary a! rt. The focus of the programme is on contemporary sculpture, installation art, complex mixed media works and time-based media works of art and contemporary design.

The MSc has a purpose-built laboratory space and a media suite at the new Marshgate building at UCL East, with the first cohort of students beginning in September 2023. The MSc Conservation of Contemporary Art & Media forms part of the School for the Creative and Cultural Industries group of programmes, which is designed to enable collaborative approaches and experimental practice across Faculties, as well as with neighbouring institutions at the Olympic Park, including the V! ictoria and Albert Museum.

About the role

The History of Art Department is seeking to appoint two part-time Lecturers in Conservation of Contemporary Art & Media, to start on 1 August 2023.

As teaching and research-active members of the Department, the postholders will work with the Programme Director to deliver the MSc Conservation of Contemporary Art & Media and some Continuing Professional Development teaching, based within the programme’s laboratory and media suite at UCL East.

To cover the range of fields represented by the programme, we are looking to appoint Lecturers in two distinct but complementary areas of specialism. One will offer teaching focused on the science of contemporary materials, and the examination, analysis and conservation of contemporary sculpture and design objects, while the other will contribute teaching focused on the examination, analysis and conservation of time-based media works of art and design objects.

About you

You will be a dynamic, well-networked and established practitioner with a strong track record of research and practice in your area of specialism (for example, the conservation of contemporary art, design, modern materials, media preservation). Committed to critically assessing and developing new approaches to the conservation of contemporary art and media, you will be able to equip students with the necessary practical, decision-making and communication skills for conservation practice in a wide-range of settings; enable students’ investigation of the theoretical and ethical dimensions of the conservation of complex contemporary artworks, in ways that are attentive to global practices of making and mending; and encourage experimental, collaborative and inclusive approaches to learning.

Joining a thriving Department with strong teaching and research interests in modern and contemporary art and culture, close links to London’s museums and gallery networks and a university with its own important collections, you will also be knowledgeable about the professional framework, practices and policies of conservation, in the UK and internationally. As part-time roles, these positions would suit conservation professionals with a foothold in practice.

How to Apply

When you are ready to apply select the 'Apply' button to be redirected to the UCL job website.

Please attach an academic CV and a covering letter addressed to the search committee which clearly demonstrates how you meet the criterion of the person specification. If you submit a comprehensive covering letter you may just write 'see covering letter' in the section of the application questionnaire which requests a personal statement.

Please do not include additional attachments, e.g., writing samples, copies of certificates, references are not required at this stage.

The advert will close on Wednesday 1 February 2023 at 23:59 GMT.

Interviews are scheduled to take place in-person in the Department at Gordon Square on: Monday 6 March 2023.

Advert information