Doctoral Scholarship at UWIC in ceramics

UWIC is pleased to announce the launch of its Vice Chancellor's Doctoral Scholarships Scheme, the aim of which is to support the continued development of world leading and internationally excellent research at UWIC.

Applications for these awards are invited from talented graduates wishing to pursue doctoral level study in a number of areas.

Based in the Cardiff School of Art & Design
One scholarship in the area of Ceramics:

Project Title: An investigation of the relationships between pottery and sculpture

Project Outline

In recent years an increasing number of potters have shown work which appears to display sculptural ambitions through scale, figuration or installation, and artists have increasingly used vessel forms. Although both groups appear to share many areas of common engagement, there are fundamental misunderstandings, creating serious difficulties particularly for the potters, and confusing those who may view and purchase their work.

The study will address the paucity of research in this key area of the field, directed by two academics who collectively are uniquely placed to supervise research on the topic. Through the newly established National Centre for Ceramics in Wales the student will work under the supervision of Dr Jeffrey Jones at Cardiff School of Art & Design, and will also work with Moira Vincentelli, Senior Lecturer in Art History and Curator of the Ceramic Collection and Archive at Aberystwyth University. In addition to other research methods data will be gathered through interviews with relevant parties. Independently disseminating findings from an early stage of the project and contributing to the research outputs of the two key supervisors will be an important feature.

The aim of the project is to identify, analyse and interpret key features of the pottery / sculpture continuum and to achieve a more informed understanding of these relationships within selected cultural and artistic contexts. We are anticipating that the investigation will use examples of strategies used by potters whose work springs from indigenous traditions of making in comparison with potters emerging from Western cultural positions.

The objectives are to:

1. Ground the investigation through a review of published research related to the pottery/sculpture debate.
2. Examine and evaluate the ways that cultural frameworks influence the practice and reception of pottery that relates to sculpture, and art that makes reference to pottery forms.
3. Apply the understandings arising from achievement of objective 2 to an evaluation of contemporary artists who work within the vessel/sculpture/installation continuum.
4. Set out the new understandings and insights gained through the project in the thesis.

The successful candidate will possess a Masters degree in a relevant art discipline or, exceptionally, a good first degree in art history or theory.

Art & Design research at UWIC was rated 9th in the UK following the 2008 Research Assessment

Exercise. 70% of UWIC’s Art & Design submission was rated internationally excellent or world leading.

For more information, please contact the project leader, Dr Jeffrey Jones at jcjones(at)uwic.ac.uk

All scholarships will be for a three year period and will be paid at the same level as RCUK bursaries (currently £13,290 plus home fees per annum).

If you would like to apply for any of these scholarships, please complete the form below and return to Kate Jefferies, Research Officer, Research & Enterprise Services, UWIC, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm, Monday 20th July 2009 

Application Form

Quelle: UWIC / H-ArtHist, 19.06.2009