Senior Lecturer in Visual Storytelling and Animation

Our School of Arts is a creative hub for almost 5,000 people: more than 4,000 students and 800 colleagues. LUCA and KU Leuven offer them an educational and research environment to further develop their creative talent. We do this through higher education programmes in the broad domain of the arts, and through artistic research, embedded within an associated Faculty of Arts at KU Leuven. We have campuses in four cities: Ghent, Brussels, Leuven and Genk. LUCA is a member of the KU Leuven Association and the European University Alliance FilmEU.

Within the Artistic Practices expertise network, we are looking for a talented artist for the Visual Storytelling team (Brussels), specialising in contemporary artistic visual stories, graphic novels with social relevance and/or animation projects. By 'animation projects' we mean a wide range of moving image productions, including traditional animation film, video mapping, digital installations and other innovative forms of visual storytelling.

We are looking for someone with a voice of their own in both the visual and narrative aspects of their own work, who is able to contribute to both research and education through practice-based artistic research. The research is situated within the Visual Storytelling team, but can also connect with other teams, such as Art & Technology and Audiovisual Concepts.

The proposed start date is September 1, 2026.

Research

As a lecturer-researcher, you spend about half of your assignment on research. Together with colleagues, you will build a group of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. You will achieve research output of an international level and attract external resources for additional research. The status of special guest lecturer in the arts allows you to be a supervisor of doctorates in the arts and research projects within KU Leuven.

Education

Your assignment includes teaching tasks within LUCA Visual Arts & Design and LUCA Graduate. These are mainly located within the comic strip and animation film courses (Schaerbeek campus). The assignment is broader than teaching, supervising and evaluating students. Together with colleagues, you develop teaching and learning activities, tailored to the student audience and within the context of the curriculum and the profile of the programme. You also actively contribute to the quality of the programme and are an ambassador for LUCA with regard to prospective students and alumni.

Service

Scientific, social and internal services are also part of the mission, as well as professionalization and international networking. You are also expected to take on a leading role within LUCA and KU Leuven at certain times.

Profile

We are looking for a researcher who can build bridges between visual narrative and animation film, and who can bring students from both programmes into contact with each other through their own research and practice.

You will be involved in teaching practical subjects (master's projects) and theoretical reflection (master's theses and electives in the master's), and also contribute to the bachelor's programme, for example in electives, bachelor's thesis supervision and/or studio or studio assignments.

You have a doctorate.

You have social and educational skills, are collegial and communicative, and you continue to develop yourself. You act respectfully and with integrity, in line with LUCA's code of conduct. You contribute to an inclusive work and study environment, are open to different opinions, and value diversity between individuals and groups as an asset.

You are able to teach in Dutch or in English. If necessary, you are prepared to have a good command of both languages. In addition, LUCA provides the necessary training opportunities.

You are loyal and endorse the mission, vision and policy of LUCA and KU Leuven.

Offer

This vacancy aims for a statutory appointment of indefinite duration for 100% in a vacant position with the position of lecturer (OP3) at LUCA School of Arts. A permanent appointment can be applied for in due course. In addition, you will acquire the status of special guest lecturer in the arts within KU Leuven for a first term of five years.

The remuneration is made in the corresponding salary scale 528, as laid down by the government. Commuting by public transport or by bicycle is reimbursed, you receive a teacher's card, discounts through joint purchase, and the option to take out hospitalisation insurance at a favourable rate.

You will find yourself in an environment where respect and integrity define our basic attitude, where we see sustainability and diversity as an asset, and where quality is our driving force.

LUCA and KU Leuven want all talents to develop to the fullest, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all talented people who recognise the added value of diversity and want to help shape an inclusive organisation.

Research environment (associate faculty within KU Leuven)
Educational offer LUCA School of Arts
European University Alliance FilmEU

Interest?

More information about this vacancy can be obtained from expertise director Pieter Schuermans (pieter.schuermans@luca-arts.be), Kersti Grunditz Brennan (kersti.grunditzbrennan@luca-arts.be), and the managers of the expertise team and the training courses involved.

Files consist of: (1) a motivation letter, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a portfolio, (4) a certificate of diploma (or declaration of equivalence), (5) a bio-sketch. This bio-sketch is a free text of no more than two pages in which you briefly outline your past career and your future plans in three parts: (a) the crucial elements of your past career (with attention to their importance and impact), (b) the main points of your future activities (with an emphasis on the first five years), (c) your added value and opportunities for collaboration within LUCA and KU Leuven. Only complete files are eligible.

Interviews with candidates, and any interactive workshops, will follow after pre-selection based on the file.

KU Leuven wants to be an inclusive, respectful and socially safe community. We embrace diversity between individuals and groups as an added value. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are necessary in an ambitious research and education environment. In our pursuit of equal opportunities, we recognise the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, among other things, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national origin, skin colour, philosophical beliefs, neurodivergence, occupational disability, health, or socio-economic status. If you have any questions about accessibility or support offered, we will be happy to help you at this email address.

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Do you have a question about the online application procedure? Consult our frequently asked questions or send an e-mail to solliciteren@kuleuven.be