Artist Researcher

Artist Researcher

Job Title: Artist Researcher

School: Arts, Social Sciences and Management

Division: Media, Communication and Performing Arts

Duration: Fixed Term for 6 months

Hours: 7 hours per week (0.2 FTE)

Grade/Salary: Grade 7: £38,784 - £43,482 pro rata

Ref: CVMD00077A

We are seeking an Artist Researcher to work on a participatory project within a school context, engaging in digital and non-digital “world-building” activities that collectively explores ‘ecological infrastructures’ (including topics such as food, waste, mobility, nature connection). Our work has been funded by the Ecological Citizens project - https://ecologicalcitizens.co.uk/ - and directly grapples with the notions of “ecological infrastructures.” Using socially engaged approaches, this project hopes to push beyond the traditional human/nature binary and instead promote more complex understandings of ecological concerns, and inspire a deeper consideration about our individual, social and cultural responsibilities.

The selected candidate would have ideally have confidence/experience working in participatory settings and/or socially engaged art, as well as experience working within neurodivergent groups. You would be based within a school with specialist provision for neurodivergent young people as well as those with high support needs (e.g., young carers or those unsupported within mainstream education.)

The Artist Researcher would be responsible to for developing a participatory project related to concepts of ‘world-building’ - both in-person and digitally - with both the young people and the staff/tutors or administrators within the school. There is no fixed outcome required, but it could result in a short exhibition, a publication, or potentially other forms suitable to the works developed throughout the project.

There is a materials budget of £2000 and a travel budget.

Please email a CV as well as a 1-page cover letter indicating your interest in the topics, but also any links to related works you have previously delivered to aschrag@qmu.ac.uk before the deadline.

We are committed to support any additional needs: please discuss these within your application.

For more information, please contact Anthony at aschrag@qmu.ac.uk

Additional information:

The project will occur in 3 phases, and you would be an important part in all three stages:

- Stage 1: Ensures equitable agency where every participant has an equal say in how they want the world to be built, allowing us to value diverse perspectives, providing new opportunities for mutual understandings and/or disrupting traditional power dynamics.

- Stage 2: The world-building activity allows deeper engagement with concepts around ecological citizenship, including infrastructures of food delivery, heating and low-emissions mobility. While the exact processes and priorities are context specific and will be decided throughout the project, but some examples could include Mobility (e.g., getting to school, walking paths, buses, bike routes) or the School environment (e.g., reflecting on small scale food growing/composting, travel infrastructure, adjusting classrooms).

- Stage 3: Drawing on data from these activities, we would develop key insights and disseminate findings, potentially in the form of exhibitions, papers or reports.

The closing date for this position is 23.59 on Friday 12th December 2025

Please note, this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date if we receive a high volume of applications.

Should you wish to apply for the vacancy please visit our vacancies page download the job description and complete an application online.

If you have any queries regarding the application process or require special assistance, please contact Human Resources by email at recruitment@qmu.ac.uk

This role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UKVI to enable sponsorship of migrant workers. Therefore, we cannot progress applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK.

As a university, we are committed to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers alongside Concordat to Support Research Integrity and were, in fact, the first Scottish Higher Education Institute (and part of the first UK cohort of institutes) to publicly declare our commitment to its principles.

Queen Margaret University is committed to equality of opportunity for all by providing a supportive, flexible and inclusive working environment, and we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. Please have a look at our Diversity, Wellbeing and Inclusion Calendar

We are proud to hold an Athena SWAN Bronze Award which recognises the advancement of gender equality at QMU. Find out more about Athena SWAN here

We are a Disability Confident Employer, should you require any specific arrangements during the recruitment process please contact Human Resources on recruitment@qmu.ac.uk