The Department of Fine Art has a vacancy for a professor (100%) of fine art, specialising in textiles, for a six-year term. The successful candidate should ideally be able to take up the post on January 1, 2018.

The Department of Fine Art is part of the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design at the University of Bergen, a leading professional community offering research-based training at bachelor, master and PhD level. The faculty has around 600 students and 180 staff.

Duties / area of research
We are looking for a professor with a high level of competence in the specialist area of textiles, with the ambition to extend and test the boundaries of what constitutes artistic practice, and with interest in and openness to other forms of artistic expression and the possible connections between them. Applicants should have a wide range of practical experience, strongly contextualised practice and a theoretical understanding of the field of textile art, including its historical, aesthetic, social and political development and context. Applicants should also have a strong focus on artistic development work and display an ability for critical reflection on artistic processes that is integrated into the teaching practice.

In the Department of Fine Art, work in the specialist area of textiles is an integral part of the Department’s total teaching. The successful applicant must supervise at all levels and be the main tutor for students who work in other media/expressions.

Duties
–teaching and supervision
–responsibility for educational programmes
–artistic development work and research
–presenting results
–organising and facilitating these tasks
–administrative tasks and other management duties

In this position it is important to be in contact with educational institutions and other relevant collaborative partners. The successful applicant must provide input that strengthens academic debate at the department and faculty and must participate in promoting the department externally—including by developing local, national and international academic networks. The position requires collaboration with the other employees of the Department of Fine Art and with employees in other environments at the University of Bergen.

The Department of Fine Art
The Department of Fine Art has an active and international educational environment in which the focus is on the students’ own artistic practice. We have competence at international level in eight focus areas: painting and drawing, sculpture and installation, ceramics and clay, time-based art and performance, new media (sound/video), textiles, graphics and photography. Our bachelor programme attracts students from all over Scandinavia. The master programme in fine art and curator practice recruits students from all over the world.

The department has good workshop facilities that are used for both teaching and artistic development work. The workshops have a clear academic basis. We have a diverse academic staff who are active in artistic circles both nationally and internationally. This is essential for a living teaching environment at the department. The artistic development work and research are a key part of the activities and form the basis for teaching. Our collaborative partners include Bergen Assembly, Bergen Kunsthall and the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design.

In 2017 the art and design departments will co-locate in a new building especially designed by renowned architect firm Snøhetta. The University is planning to build a dedicated new building for the Grieg Academy – Department of Music on the neighbouring site in Møllendal.

Qualifications and personal qualities
Substantial artistic practice at the highest level and to international standards, as well as relevant scope and specialisation in the subject or discipline at the highest level.Documented and relevant practical teaching experience in the form of education, teaching and tutoring.

The applicants’ professional competence will be assessed by an expert panel. The best qualified applicants will be invited to an interview to be conducted by an in-house interview panel and will also be asked to give a test lecture to the department’s staff and students and test tutoring to a group of students.

Other important qualities are
–perspective of the potential of textiles in relation to artistic development work
–educational abilities and commitment
–good teamworking skills with focus on dialogue and inclusive professional communication
–perspective of higher artistic education
–organisational skills and experience

The teaching language is normally Norwegian, but English may also be used. It is a criterion that the successful candidate must be able to teach in Norwegian/Scandinavian language within two years of taking up the post. Applications who are unable to document having a basic teaching qualification before taking up the post will be offered training.

We can offer
A position as professor (code 1013) at salary grade 70–74 (currently NOK 621,800–671,600) on the government salary scale. A higher salary may be considered for particularly well qualified applicants.

–A good and professionally challenging working environment
–Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
–Employment in an inclusive workplace (under the IA scheme)
–Good welfare benefits

The appointment requires the successful candidate to work at the University of Bergen and be involved in the running of the department. The appointee must comply with the prevailing guidelines applicable to the position. Working hours are distributed as described in the annual, individual work schedule drawn up in consultation with the employee and head of department. The head of the department is responsible for co-ordinating all the study programmes in the department.

Your application must include
–CV
–certificates
–references
–documentation of teaching qualifications
–material that demonstrates artistic development work and practice

The applicant must clearly show how his or her qualifications relate to the position’s requirements and priorities, including by describing intentions and goals for the period of employment. It is important that the applicant clearly sets out his or her view on the position and possibilities of the subject area.

Applications should be submitted electronically. Please upload all your attachments as separate files. Any files bigger than 15 Mb must be compressed before they can be uploaded.

Other information
The state workforce shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. It is therefore a personnel policy aim to achieve a balanced age and gender composition and to recruit individuals with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The faculty can offer an interesting and demanding position in an environment with a high level of activity, professional and academic challenge and good conditions for working relationships. Further information about the position can be obtained from: Head of Department Aashild Grana, T + 47 55 58 73 00.