Traditional Artist in Residence

Part time – 7 hours per week

Fixed term contract - 2 years Tenable from 1^st September 2026.

Applications are invited for a part-time (0.2) post of Traditional Artist in Residence based in the department of Celtic and Scottish Studies and the School of Scottish Studies Archives. Located within the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, and working closely with colleagues in the Centre for Research Collections, you will contribute creatively to the teaching, research and outreach activities of these areas, while also helping to promote understanding of the traditional arts more widely across the University and beyond.

The Opportunity:

The appointee will be an established practitioner in one or more areas of the traditional arts of instrumental music, song, storytelling, and dance, with a commitment to exploring and strengthening the links between them. They will have proven ability to engage creatively with a varied cohort of students, and a commitment to promoting meaningful engagement with the traditional arts across and beyond the university. The appointee will interact closely with the rich ethnological materials held within the School of Scottish Studies Archives and other relevant University heritage collections, and will be encouraged to lead on the exploration of these in the creation of new work. They will also have demonstrable organisational skills, as well as established connections in the professional traditional arts performance world nationally and internationally.

The appointment is for a fixed term of 2 years, starting in Sep 26. In recognition of the demands of working practitioners, a degree of flexibility will be possible regarding the working pattern, although the appointee will have to be available for student consultations on a regular basis.

We welcome applications for this post from all qualified candidates and particularly welcome applications from members of minority ethnic groups, who are currently under-represented in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Your skills and attributes for success: 

• Expertise as a practitioner of one or more of the traditional arts (instrumental music, song, storytelling, dance)
• A close familiarity with the traditional arts of Scotland in particular
• Knowledge of, and contacts in, local, national and international arts practice and performance
• A substantial body of experience and output as a creator/ performer
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with other creative professionals

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