Senior Lecturer Liberal Arts / Experiential Artistic Research

LUCA School of Arts is a creative hub for almost 5,000 people: more than 4,000 students and 800 colleagues. LUCA offers them an educational and research environment to further develop their creative talent. We do this by offering higher education in the broad domain of the arts, and through artistic research, embedded within an associated Faculty of Arts at KU Leuven. LUCA has 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 Arts & Society expertise network, and the team Art & Recollection, LUCA is seeking an artistic researcher with a strong artistic practice and an established research portfolio. The candidate will contribute to the further development of a dynamic and critical research culture of sharing methodologies, exposing process, and expanding the potentials of artistic research. Their artistic research is consciously positioned within specific social, cultural, ecological or political contexts and critically questions and activates these within artistic research and education.

We are looking for a candidate whose practice is context-bound and embodied, and includes performative, collaborative or participatory methods and time-based outcomes. The candidate should be familiar with cultural studies, critical theory and art theoretical discourses that also go beyond Anglo-European contexts, and should be able to translate these into an inspiring and critical teaching practice.

The proposed start date is 1 September 2027.
Main location: Sint-Lukas campus, Brussels

Unit website

Research

As senior lecturer your appointment is divided equally between research (50%) and education (50%).  

As a researcher, you work with colleagues to build and supervise a group of PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. 

You participate and strenghten the research culture of the campus through seminars, symposia and collaborative initiatives. You disseminate research outcomes through artistic presentations, performances, publications and other relevant platforms for artistic research.  

You generate research output of international caliber and attract external funding for additional research. The status of special guest lecturer in the arts allows you to act as a supervisor for doctorates in the Arts and research projects within KU Leuven. 

Teaching

Your teaching assignment includes teaching tasks within the Fine Arts program. 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 program. You also actively contribute to the quality of the program, and you are an ambassador for LUCA with regard to prospective students and alumni. 

You design and deliver teaching that introduces students to a wide range of artistic and theoretical perspectives, including non - Western, Indigenous, diasporic, and marginalized voices. 

Finally, you are also expected to take on a leading role within LUCA at certain times. 

Service

Scientific, social, and internal services are also part of the mission, as well as professionalization and international networking. 

Profile

• You have a doctorate. 
• You have extensive experience leading artistic research. 
• Your research is internationally published and you have experience in applying for external research funding. 
• You have an established artistic practice that is context-bound and embodied, and includes performative, collaborative or participatory methods and time-based outcomes.  
• Your artistic and theoretical practice critically reflects on dominant Western frameworks while drawing on diverse cultural, epistemological, and artistic traditions. 
• You have a broad international network. 
• You bring perspectives that can activate diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• You have social and educational skills, you are collegial and communicative, and motivated to continuously develop your expertise.  
• You act respectfully and with integrity, in line with LUCA’s code of conduct. You contribute to an inclusive work and study environment, you are open to different opinions, and value diversity between individuals and groups as an asset. 
• You are able to teach in Dutch (C1) or English (B1). If necessary, you are willing to further develop your skills in both languages. Those who do not yet speak Dutch commit to achieving level B2 within five years. LUCA offers the necessary training opportunities for this. 
• You are willing to relocate to Belgium. The education and research community is based in Brussels. 
• You are loyal and endorse LUCA’s mission, vision and policy. 

Offer

This vacancy is for a statutory appointment of indefinite duration for 100% vacant position with the rank of “docent (OP3)” at LUCA School of Arts. A tenured position 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 paid in salary scale 528. Commuting by public transport or by bicycle is reimbursed, you get a teacher's card, discounts through joint purchase, and the option to take out hospitalization insurance at a favorable 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 wants all talents to develop to the fullest, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all talented people who recognize the added value of diversity and want to help shape an inclusive organization. 

https://www.luca-arts.be/en

Interested?

More information about this vacancy can be obtained via Dr. Kersti Grunditz Brennan, researchcoordinator Brussels, kersti.grunditzbrennan@luca-arts.be en Dr. Wendy Morris, teamcoordinator Art & Recollection, wendy.morris@kuleuven.be. 

You can apply via the online application application of KU Leuven (in case of problems with the tool: solliciteren@kuleuven.be) by clicking on the 'Apply' button above. 

Your application consists of: (1) a motivation letter, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a portfolio, (4) a dossier containing your five most important publications, (5) a certificate of diploma (or declaration of equivalence), (6) a bio-sketch.

You do not need to upload any other documents requested by the tool. Please upload your portfolio and diploma certificate under the category ‘Other’.

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 applications are eligible. 

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

Short-listed candidates may be asked to provide references. 

If you would experience certain barriers when applying, you can contact HR.diversiteit@luca-arts.be. 

After the interview, all successful candidates will be ranked. The candidate who scores highest will receive a job offer first. Other successful candidates will be included in our recruitment reserve for one year (with the possibility of a one-year extension). 

You can apply for this job no later than January 04, 2027 via the 'Apply' button above.

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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