FW: PROFESSOR/Associate professor iN FINE ARTS WITH EMPHASIS ON DIGITAL AND ELECTRONIC ART

[Trond Lossius]

Job Description
 

KUNSTHØGSKOLEN I BERGEN

Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen is one of two national institutions with a special
responsibility for higher art and design education in Norway.

Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen shall:

-       Offer education at the highest level in the areas of art and design
-       Pursue artistic research and  development
-       Communicate knowledge and information about the institution
-       Cooperate with society at large and the business community, and take
active part in the debate about the present and future role of art and
design in society 
-       Offer or organise continuing education courses in its own area

Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen has organised its activities in three departments:

-      Department of Design
-      Department of Fine Art
-      Department of Specialised Art (Ceramics, Printmaking, Photography and
Textiles). 

These departments form the basis for a clear professional profile which is
also sufficiently flexible to be able to meet the challenges that changing
cultural and societal developments represent for art and design education.

A new study plan was implemented in autumn 2003. Studies at all three
departments are now organised as three-year Bachelor degree course and a
two-year Masters course.

The new study structure places greater emphasis on interdisciplinary
studies, and, in co-operation with his/her supervisor, each student will be
able to draw up an individual study plan allowing the student to draw on
Kunsthøgskolen¹s combined professional resources.

Kunsthøgskolen also places emphasis on stimulating academic debate on art
and design, both within the institution and in the public sphere.

 

THE DEPARTMENT OF FINE ART

The field internationally recognised as Visual art/Contemporary art is
characterised by a broad range of artistic expression, open dialogue and
critical discussions. The relationship between practice and theory, the
development of an adequate conceptual apparatus and striking a balance
between production and reflection all play a central role in contemporary
education in the visual arts.



COURSE OF STUDY

The development of individual skills and ambitions will be supported and
stimulated. Dialogue with people from the worlds of art, culture and
philosophy, and other relevant areas, will help us to development a
distinctive standpoint that will contribute to our thinking and development
in relation to the rest of the international art world.

The courses offered must also include an introduction to the problems
involved in becoming established as independent artists after studies are
completed.    



ACADEMIC ORGANISATION

The department currently has study places for around 60 students.
Approximately 17 new students are admitted every autumn. In autumn 2003 the
first students were admitted to the new three-year Bachelor degree course
and admission to Masters studies commenced in 2004.

The first semester of the Bachelor degree course is based on structured
tuition in which academic breadth and teaching of the fundamentals are
emphasised. The introductory course is taught in different technical
workshops and entails training in various processes. In the second and third
academic years the focus is on independent artistic work combined with
theoretical knowledge and insight that contribute to students¹ understanding
and analysis of artistic problems.

The department is under the leadership of the Dean, who has the ultimate
responsibility for the academic content of the tuition offered. The
Professors¹ and Associate Professors¹ research and artistic development work
also has a central place in the Department of Fine Art.



VACANCY AS PROFESSOR (OR ALTERNATIVELY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR) IN VISUAL ART
WITH THE EMPHASIS ON DIGITAL AND ELECTRONIC ART.
 
Applications are hereby invited for the position of Professor/Associate
Professor (full-time position) for a fixed term of six years in accordance
with the Ministry¹s rules for such fixed term positions. It is desirable
that the position be taken up from 1 August 2005.

We are looking for an artist with extensive experience of the area described
as digital/electronic art. His/her experience can be in the field of video
art, audio art, internet-based art, computer controlled installations or
electronic multimedia art. Applicants should have both extensive artistic
experience and a sound theoretical understanding of the area and its
historical development. At the Department of Fine Art, work in electronic
media forms an integrated part of the education offered. The appointee will
also be a tutor for students working in other media/forms of expression.

The duties of the Professor/Associate Professor will largely comprise
tuition (including preparatory work and post-tuition work), supervision,
artistic development work and research, as well as dissemination and
preparations for these tasks and related management and administrative
duties. In the planning, organisation and daily performance of these duties
it is important to endeavour to make flexible use of both the department¹s
and the institution¹s combined resources. Part of the working hours of the
academic staff at Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen is set aside for artistic
development work and research (R&D), and considerable resources are
consequently allocated to this part of the work.

In accordance with the above, the Professor/Associate Professor will be
assigned particular responsibility for upgrading artistic development work
at the institution The person appointed will also be expected to contribute
input aimed at strengthening artistic debate at the art college, through
dialogue with colleagues and students at the department and through
cooperation with other departments in the institution.



REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION

The position of Professor/Associate Professor requires:

-   Good cooperative skills with the emphasis on dialogue and inclusive
artistic communication.
-   Considered attitudes and visions concerning artistic development work
-   Pedagogic skills and commitment

In addition, the following qualities are important:

-    Ability to see artistic development in a broad/societal and theoretical
perspective 
-    Perspective on higher art and design education
-    Organisational skills and experience


The position as Professor requires:

-  Extensive artistic competence on a par with the highest international
standards
-  Wide-ranging artistic activity at a high level in the relevant field
-  Teaching experience, preferably from higher education, or other
experience of conveying artistic activities.


The position as Associate Professor requires:

-      Documented artistic activities/development work at a high
international level with an in-depth specialisation that is relevant to the
discipline/position.
-      Education at the highest level in the discipline from Norway, or
equivalent education from abroad, or corresponding documented knowledge.
-      Practical/pedagogic education or experience of teaching/supervision
at lower and/or higher level, or experience of other dissemination of
artistic activities.

 
Requirements for applications

On the basis of the above, applicants are asked to submit a documented,
exhaustive overview (including examples of artistic documentation) of their
artistic activities and all other activities of relevance to the position.
Applicants must also describe their qualifications in relation to the other
factors listed as being required or important for the position, including a
description of their intentions and objectives for the six-year period.
Responsibility for ensuring that adequate documentation is submitted lies
with the applicants themselves.

Applications must include a complete list of all enclosures. Documentation
of artistic and technical activity in the form of single copies of slides
etc. Written material such as articles, compendiums etc. should be submitted
in four copies.

Applicants¹ artistic excellence will be assessed by an external committee of
experts. The college has adopted special regulations for such assessments.
Short-listed applicants may be invited to an interview with the internal
selection board, and to hold a trial lecture for the college¹s staff and
students.


SALARY AND WORKING CONDITIONS ETC.

The salary will be in accordance with the Norwegian State Pay Scale, either
as Professor, currently NOK 437,600 per year, or as Associate Professor,
currently NOK 378,400 per year. The college also provides a studio on
campus.

The successful applicant must comply with the applicable rules for the
position at all times, including those relating to the position¹s
organisational and administrative affiliation. If the successful applicant
does not speak any of the Scandinavian languages he/she will be required to
attend a Norwegian language course during the first year of employment.

The allocation of working hours between teaching and R&D work is regulated
for each position, including campus attendance requirements. The
specification of how the working hours are distributed is set out in an
individual work plan drawn up by the teaching staff. The work plan is
assessed in consultation with the Dean, who is responsible for coordinating
the overall study programme in the department.

The college offers an interesting and demanding position in an environment
characterised by a high level of activity, artistic challenges and good
cooperation. In terms of the department¹s goals and educational programme,
it is important in the planning, organisation and day-to-day work to aim for
flexible utilisation of the combined resources of the department and
college.

For further information about the position please contact the Dean of the
Department of Fine Art, Paula Crabtree, Rector Nina Malterud or Personnel
Director, Rune Vaage, telephone +47 - 55 58 73 00.

 

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

The closing date for applications is 1 September 2004, and the deadline for
submitting documentation material etc. is one-month later (1 October 2004).

 

Please send your application to Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen, Strømgt 1, NO-5015
Bergen, NORWAY.