Directly Funded
Students Worldwide
Dr. Danielle Child, Dr. Ana Baeza ruiz
Details
This PhD studentship will critically examine artistic practices and cultural activism in Northern England during the 1980s.
The 1980s represented a pivotal era in the UK, characterised by profound political and economic transformations. Notable events include the 1981 uprisings in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, the influence of Thatcherism, industrial decline, and the miners' strikes. Despite these challenges, the arts in Northern England flourished in diverse ways, opposing the political context through practices rooted in feminism, post-colonialism, class struggle and socialism.
This doctoral project is an opportunity to consider the contexts in which art outside London was produced, the ideological and aesthetic discourses that emerged, and the practices that were cultivated during the 1980s. Given the strong, historic international ties through migration and trading in Northern England, the research will take a trans-national approach that starts with the local. It will consider how diaspora shaped the demographic diversity of the North and its art scene, at a time that saw the flourishing activity of a new generation of diasporic artists.
Key research questions may include:
The research developed in this studentship will contribute to an exhibition at Tate Liverpool in 2028 and there will be opportunities to develop experience within its curatorial team.
The project will be co-supervised by Dr. Danielle Child (Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries, University of Manchester), Dr. Ana Baeza Ruiz (Lecturer in Museology, University of Manchester) and Dr. Leanne Green (Head of Exhibitions and Displays, Tate Liverpool).
Benefits and opportunities
The successful candidate will be hosted by the Department of Art History and Cultural Practices at the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures at University of Manchester, whose research community is distinctive for its strong interdisciplinary interests and longstanding partnerships with cultural organisations. The successful candidate will be based at the Institute for Cultural Practices (ICP), and will benefit from innovative research and professional development opportunities.
At Tate, the candidate will join a community of doctoral researchers, benefitting from access to Tate’s collection, resources, and events. They will be embedded within Tate’s Curatorial Department and will develop an advanced understanding of research for exhibitions, conducting interviews with artists, collections-based research, and archival research.
Candidates will also be expected to engage in a minimum of 3-6 months professional development throughout the studentship period, allowing them to gain transferable skills and practical knowledge. Throughout the PhD, they will also have the opportunity to engage in networking and events with Tate and the wider network of museums, galleries and heritage organisations affiliated with the AHRC CDP scheme as part of the CDP Cohort Development programme.
Eligibility Criteria
We encourage applications from a wide range of candidates with suitable qualifications and/or equivalent experience.
Academic Entry Qualification
English Language
All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English. Full details on the required language tests can be found here.
Desirable Requirements
We welcome applicants who demonstrate equivalent experience. This might include, but is not restricted to, a strong track record of employment in a museum, non-commercial gallery, or a comparable cultural institution. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in and enthusiasm for developing their skills and critical thinking in the museum sector or interdisciplinary curatorial practice.
Application Procedure
The application deadline is Midnight (BST) on 02/05/25. Please apply online for PhD Art History and Visual Studies at the University of Manchester.
The application must include:
If you have any questions about the project or would like to discuss further, please contact Dr. Danielle Child (danielle.child@manchester.ac.uk).
Formal interviews are expected to take place virtually on 27th May 2025.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
You can read the University’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion statement here.
Reasonable Adjustments and Support for Applicants
Should you require any reasonable adjustments or support throughout the application process, please contact HUMS.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk or studentships@tate.org.uk.
Support or adjustments may include, but are not limited to: opportunities to speak with supervisors or relevant contacts regarding the project and process, institutional support systems and spaces, and interview arrangements.
Funding Notes
AHRC CDP PhD Studentship with Tate, starting October 2025, is funded for 4 or 8 years, covering UKRI tuition fees and a £20,870 annual stipend (2025/26). This studentship is open to international candidates. The difference between the international and UKRI tuition fees will be provided by the University of Manchester.
Additional funding includes:
Qualification Type: | PhD |
---|---|
Location: | Manchester |
Funding for: | UK Students, EU Students, International Students |
Funding amount: | £20,870 - please see advert |
Hours: | Full Time |
Placed On: | 4th April 2025 |
Closes: | 2nd May 2025 |
Type / Role:
Subject Area(s):
Location(s):
Your PhD alert has been successfully created for this search.
Your job alert has been successfully created for this search.
Ok OkYour PhD alert has been successfully created for this search.
Your job alert has been successfully created for this search.
Manage your job alerts Manage your job alertsIn order to create multiple job alerts, you must first verify your email address to complete your account creation
Request verification email Request verification emailIn order to create multiple alerts, you must create a jobs.ac.uk jobseeker account
Create Account Create AccountUnfortunately, your account is currently blocked. Please login to unblock your account.
We received a delivery failure message when attempting to send you an email and therefore your email address has been blocked. You will not receive job alerts until your email address is unblocked. To do so, please choose from one of the two options below.
A maximum of 5 Job Alerts can be created against your account. Please remove an existing alert in order to create this new Job Alert
Manage your job alerts Manage your job alertsWhen you create this PhD alert we will email you a selection of PhDs matching your criteria.When you create this job alert we will email you a selection of jobs matching your criteria. Our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy apply to this service. Any personal data you provide in setting up this alert is processed in accordance with our Privacy Notice
When you create this PhD alert we will email you a selection of PhDs matching your criteria.When you create this job alert we will email you a selection of jobs matching your criteria. Our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy apply to this service. Any personal data you provide in setting up this alert is processed in accordance with our Privacy Notice
A maximum of 500 Saved Jobs can be created against your account. Please remove an existing Saved Job in order to add a new Saved Job.
Manage Saved Jobs