The School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry (MCASI) at Curtin University is offering a PhD Scholarship in the area of art and war.  The position is funded by MCASI and is part of the Art in Conflict research project, receiving Australian Research Council Linkage Projects funding.  Art in Conflict is a three-year project examining contemporary war art at the Australian War Memorial (AWM), Canberra.   The project is led by Curtin University in partnership with the AWM and the National Trust (NSW), including researchers from the University of Melbourne, UNSW and University of Manchester.   

 

The Art in Conflict Scholarship is conditional on successful admission and full-time enrolment in the PhD at Curtin University under the supervision of Associate Professor Kit Messham-Muir.  Ideally, the PhD Scholar will commence their research as soon as is practical.  Ideally, you will be based in Perth, Western Australia, but this is not a requirement.  Doctoral research for this Scholarship can be by creative practice and exegesis, or by thesis only. Additional funding is available through the Art in Conflict project for domestic travel and accommodation to Canberra to work with the collection and archive of the Australian War Memorial.  The project includes privileged access to the Museum’s collection and archive. 

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Potential topics may include, but are not limited to:

• a comparative study of official and non-official responses to war by contemporary artists;

• a comparison of the three major contemporary war art commissioning schemes (UK, Canada, Australia);

• a study of how a war art commission affects contemporary artists’ subsequent work;

• a comparative study of the work of Official War Artists and the work of artists from adversary countries.

• a practice-led engagement with any of the above or other themes leading to a body of creative works and exegesis

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Eligibility criteria

 

To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate the following:

• Bachelor’s degree with Honours or a Master’s degree in fine art, visual culture, art theory or a related field. Significant relevant professional experience will also be favourably considered.

• Demonstrated research skills in a field relevant to this project. 

• Demonstrated research interest is aspects of contemporary art, visual culture and war. 

Your enrolment in the PhD at Curtin should be full-time.

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Conditions that need to be met to keep your scholarship

 

Once commenced, the PhD student must:

• meet the requirements of internal candidacy process within the first six months

• satisfy the requirements of Curtin’s Annual Progress Report process

• travel to once a year to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT, to carry out collection and archive research (funding is available)

 

Changes to enrolment

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This role includes the usual annual leave provisions.  As this role is part of a research team for the three-year Art in Conflict project, students will normally not be allowed to study part time or take a leave of absence, except in exceptional circumstances. 

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How to apply

 

To apply, please submit:
• Cover Letter stating your own particular interests in the project
• CV of no more than 3 pages
• Research Proposal of no more than 3 pages using the following subheadings:

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Title: A descriptive working title of your proposed PhD research.
Abstract: A half-page explanation of the program in plain English.
Objectives: A clearly defined statement of the objectives of the research.
Background: The background of the proposed study.
Significance: The importance/relevance of the proposed study.
Research method: A simple outline of the approach you will use during your research.
Ethical issues: Demonstrate you have considered all ethical issues which may arise and the manner in which they will be addressed. 
Facilities and resources: An outline of these requirements for the completion of your research.
Time schedule: This should be realistic.
References: A bibliography, preferably in Chicago author-date style.

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Submission must be by emailed to the Lead Investigator, Associate Professor Kit Messham-Muir at
kit.messham-muir@curtin.edu.au

 

Enquiries:

 

For further information about this role, please contact Associate Professor Kit Messham-Muir. 

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The Art in Conflict project is led by Curtin University, in collaboration with University of Melbourne, UNSW Art & Design and University of Manchester, in partnership with the Australian War Memorial and the National Trust (NSW), with the generous support of the Australian Research Council. 

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Curtin University CRICOS Provider Code 00301J