Wrapping the Work: Defining Best Practices for Digital Art PhD Submissions
Deadline 05 May – now closed for applications
Project description:
Are you an artist working with digital media who is considering undertaking a PhD in future? Are you aware that your art can be included as part of the PhD submission?
Undertaking an art practice-led PhD can be highly rewarding, but it can also be a daunting task. Alongside a written element of around 40,000 words, PhD candidates are also expected to submit artworks, or documentation of artworks, as part of their thesis. Whatever the chosen media, the way that the art becomes a part of the original contribution to knowledge is an ongoing debate, and ultimately, this tension is left to the PhD candidate to resolve.
This scheme will offer real life experience for an arts-based student who is interested in learning more about doctoral study, providing a valuable a heads-up on the issues described above. The successful applicant will be asked to work directly with various digital artworks (digital video, 360-degree video, audio, PDFs, web-based work, and more), collating and curating them into a cohesive package. Mentees will be supported to research the best potential format and visual design. This activity will offer the Mentee a valuable introduction to the pressing issues surrounding arts practice research at PhD level.
All arts-based students are welcome. Students who identify as coming from a background of low socio-economic status (working class) are specifically encouraged to apply. Other students who do not identify in this way, but who are interested in the intersection of social justice and doctoral study are also encouraged.
For more information on the type of artworks included in the project see this link:
Tasks and activities to be undertaken by the UG/PGT student:
- Review a variety of digital artworks supplied by the Mentor
- Identify and examine recent arts practice-based PhD submissions which engage in relevant practices/media/topics
- Research academic literature relating to practice based/led PhD submission and assessment
- Collate these artworks into a suitable format for final submission, including choice of media, metadata, and overall design
Experience and knowledge required/desired:
- A basic understanding of working with digital video (360-degree digital video experience preferable but not essential), digital image processing and web design software
- An awareness of contemporary art (digital video, sonic arts, installation and performance)
- Experience of basic desk-based research skills (online research, book and library-based research, magazines and journal research)
Skills, knowledge, experience to be gained:
- A knowledge of how to develop art practice into an active aspect of research at post-graduate level
- An understanding of current issues/practices in arts-based/led PhD research
- Experience of collaborative digital media design (including 360-degree digital video)
- An understanding of contemporary issues in noise-art practices and live performance in fields beyond the sonic arts
Project lead: Caleb Madden, C.Madden2@brighton.ac.uk
School: Art and Media