PhD Studentship: Making the Invisible Visible in the Contemporary Art Museum

The proposed doctoral research, to commence in January 2019, aims to bring new theoretical perspectives to questions about visible and invisible practices in the contemporary art museum. Focusing on the pioneering practice  of the collection care and conservation teams at Tate, the research will problematise the proposition that opening up the currently invisible processes of the museum affords greater transparency which in turn promotes greater inclusivity. The doctorate will therefore develop new thinking about the implications and impact, including the potential benefits and pitfalls, of making visible the work of the museum that is usually hidden to a general audience. The research will offer a critique of current historic ways in which hitherto hidden processes have been revealed and provide opportunities to explore new approaches.

Applicants may come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds (e.g. sociology, political theory, museum studies, media and communication studies, archaeology, anthropology, cultural studies, conservation, social psychology), but is is expected that the successful candidate will be able to clearly explain the relationship between their existing training and the topic of the studentship, and indicate how their present research interests relate to the proposed topic area. Applicants who have experience of working in the field would be particularly welcome.

Further information

• A full description of the studentship, eligibility requirements and application information is available on the UCL website
• Any enquiries about the studentship and the application process may be directed to the Institute's Graduate Programmes Administrator, Lisa Daniel
• AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships (CDP)
• The Tate