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 through higher education courses 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 School of Arts is also a member of the KU Leuven Association.
The Visual Arts program is offered on three campuses, Ghent, Genk and Brussels. In Brussels, the Visual Arts program includes four graduate programs: Photography, Liberal Arts, Graphic Storytelling, and Media & Information Design (MIND). These are all academic programs in which practical and theoretical education go hand in hand, from Bachelor's to Master's, followed by a doctoral program as well. The Photography Department in Brussels, for which this vacancy seeks a senior lecturer ('docent-onderzoeker'), aims to train students to become autonomous image makers who question the world and themselves through their work. A unique feature of the program is that in addition to digital photography, there is a major focus on analog photography, with students learning to create, develop, print and critically analyze both color and black and white images. In the Bachelor years, students are especially encouraged to explore the versatility of the photographic medium. The Master's is an intensive in-depth program focused on students' personal artistic development into autonomous visual creators.
Closely associated with the Photography program is the Photography Expanded research cluster. This is one of the four research clusters that fall under the Intermedia research unit, located in LUCA campus Brussels. In Photography Expanded, senior researchers and doctoral students conduct artistic and theoretical research with the medium of photography as a starting point. At the same time, connections are actively forged with a broader range of practices in the field of visual arts and contemporary culture. The cluster investigates the critical and analytical potential of photography, especially against the background of the major social and political shifts that have occurred globally since the 1960s. In addition, it also conducts research on the technology of photography and the potential and limits of the medium to (re)produce images.
We are seeking a colleague with an artistic practice and a passion for teaching and research in the field of visual arts, with a specialization in the medium of photography. The senior lecturer will be part of the Photography Expanded research cluster and the Fine Arts/Photography program at LUCA-campus Brussels. The responsibilities of this position include developing, implementing and coordinating research and teaching in the arts (from BA and MA to PhD). The position also includes contributing to the administration of the activities of the program and of the faculty in general.
Website unit
Duties
Research
Half of the position consists of conducting and leading of research.
The research focus should be in the field of photography, with a preference for candidates who have worked around one or more of the following topics:
- critical interrogation of the medium of photography, its history, practices, and technology
- photography as a medium for critically questioning the world
- photography as a connecting practice, in search of for example more caring relationships between people, technology and nature
- photography as artistic practice, its limits and possibilities (from analogue to AI) and relations to other media
- analogue photography as a contemporary meaningful medium
The successful candidate must have demonstrated in his/her/their work the relevance of the chosen research area.
Having experience in applying for international (European) research funding is a valuable asset.
You will lead the research within the Photography Expanded cluster together with other senior researchers:
- You build and supervise a team of doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers and you co-coordinate the joint activities of the cluster;
- You actively seek external research funding;
- You publish in relevant academic-artistic channels;
- You create, display and exhibit work relevant to your research and teaching focus;
- You create an international and reputable network of peers in research, education and fine arts/photography.
Teaching
The teaching assignment (the other half of the position) includes:
- Design of educational activities, study guidance and educational concepts to offer education tailored to the student population (Bachelor and Master) within the field of Visual Arts, with a specialization in Photography;
- Concretely: contribution to one or more practical modules in the Bachelor (both technical and content supervision); contribution to a photo-theoretical course within the Bachelor; and conducting a seminar at Master level.
- Supervising students in conceiving both the artistic and reflective parts of final and mid-term research assignments;
- Being the titular lecturer of a course unit;
- Develop teaching activities in accordance with LUCA's vision which focuses on activating and research-based teaching;
- Take advantage of educational professionalization opportunities offered by LUCA;
- Provide high quality teaching within the field of fine arts, with a clear commitment to the overall quality of the program;
- Assume leadership roles within the program, campus, faculty.
Service
Scientific, social and internal service are also part of the assignment.
Profile
- The candidate has a solid background in artistic research in the visual arts, with a specialization in photography;
- The candidate holds a PhD in the arts;
- The candidate has a strong artistic research record, underpinned by a demonstrable academic and professional record;
- The candidate has a relevant (inter)national network;
- The candidate is a team player and an experienced leader who can support diverse groups of teachers/researchers;
- The candidate will work closely with the other researchers, coordinators and faculty in Visual Arts/Photography and other education departments. He/she/they actively participate in linking teaching, research and curriculum development, day-to-day operational activities, developing and disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge, and instilling research skills in students;
- A good command of English is required. Since the official language of LUCA School of Arts is Dutch and the bachelor level education is mostly in Dutch, you are expected to acquire a profound knowledge of Dutch after a few years. If needed, and after your start at LUCA School of Arts, language training can be provided to give you the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required level.
- The candidate is loyal and endorses LUCA's mission, vision and policy.
Offer
At LUCA you will join 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. In the coming years we want to give LUCA an identity as an actor in society, let our training institute become part of a laboratory, complement our offer with demand-driven initiatives, and disclose our multicampus reality to a network. You will thus find yourself in a stimulating environment in which we offer numerous opportunities to give your own fulfillment on your main campus in Brussels or on one of the other campuses of LUCA School of Arts.
LUCA School of Arts aims to create an environment in which all talents can reach their full potential, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all talented people who recognize the added value of diversity and who want to help shape an inclusive organization.
LUCA offers a full-time appointment (100%) of indefinite duration in the vacant position of senior lecturer/'docent-onderzoeker' (salary scale 528) where a permanent appointment at a later stage is possible according to the existing rules and procedures. In addition, you will acquire the status of Special Guest Lecturer in the Arts. This statute allows you to be a supervisor of doctorates in the arts and to submit projects as a supervisor to internal funds of KU Leuven. The expected starting date is 1/9/2025.
More information
https://www.luca-arts.be/en/master-in-photography-campus-brussels-sint-lukas
Interested?
More information is available from the head of the Intermedia research unit, Steven
Devleminck (steven.devleminck@luca-arts.be); the coordinator of the Photography program, Danny Veys (danny.veys@luca-arts.be); and the coordinator of the research cluster Photography Expanded, Liesbeth Decan (liesbeth.decan@luca-arts.be).
Applications can be submitted until 6/1/2025 via our online application. If you experience any problems with the online tool, please email solliciteren@kuleuven.be
The application includes a dossier consisting of:
1. a motivation letter
2. a curriculum vitae
3. a portfolio
4. a certificate of diploma (if necessary, a declaration of equivalence)
5. a bio sketch: an open text of maximum two pages in which you summarize the essence of your past career and your future plans:
• a first part with the crucial elements of your past career, highlighting their importance and impact
• a second part outlining your future activities (focusing on the first 5 years)
• a third part on your added value and opportunities for cooperation with respect to the existing entities within LUCA School of Arts and KU Leuven.
Only complete dossiers will be accepted.
An interview will be held with candidates who are retained after preselection on file. The interview will be preceded by an interactive workshop of maximum 30 minutes, which is open to LUCA staff members.
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.