Tenure-track position in Indigenous Art Studio, University of Lethbridge

Marjie Crop Eared Wolf, litsi’poyi (detail), student work 2018, Department of Art, University of Lethbridge.

Employment Opportunity: Assistant Professor in Indigenous Art Studio – Tenure-Track
Department of Art, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lethbridge

About the University:
The University of Lethbridge is located on traditional Blackfoot territory. Our Blackfoot name is Iniskim, meaning Sacred Buffalo Stone. We honour the Blackfoot people and their traditional ways of knowing in caring for this land, as well as all Aboriginal peoples who have helped shape and continue to strengthen our University community. The University of Lethbridge embraces the principles of liberal education where world-class scholars integrate research and creative activity with teaching. The University supports the right of Indigenous Peoples to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories and knowledge through academic programming, research, teaching and co-curricular activities. Recognizing that diversity enriches our campus community, the University of Lethbridge fosters Indigenous knowledge through ongoing initiatives, programs, and centres including the Iikaisskini Gathering Place, the Indigenous Student Centre, the Indigenous Student Success Cohort (ISSC), the Department of Indigenous Studies, the BFA in Indigenous Art Programs, the First Nation Metis Inuit Student Association (FNMISA), and the Elder in Residence Program.

About the Position:
The Department of Art, Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lethbridge invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment in Indigenous Art Studio at the rank of Assistant Professor commencing July 1, 2022, subject to budgetary and Board approval.

Joining a dynamic team of artists and scholars, the successful candidate will build on existing strengths in Art by integrating Indigenous forms of knowledge into advanced research and pedagogy. The Department of Art offers degree programs in Art with majors in Art Studio, Indigenous Art Studio, Art History/Museum Studies, and Indigenous Art History/Museum Studies. We invite applicants whose approach to instruction supports the transmission, transformation, and expression of Indigenous knowledge in its various forms. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated connection to Indigenous communities, as well as a deep understanding of their creative and cultural practices.

Qualifications and Responsibilities:
Qualified candidates will have a terminal degree (MFA or PhD) in Art Studio, Art History, Museum or Curatorial Studies, Indigenous Studies, or equivalent experience. They will possess a strong record of research and creative practice including an active exhibition record and related professional activity. Evidence of successful teaching at the post-secondary level is preferred, though not essential.

The successful candidate will teach introductory and advanced level courses in Indigenous Art Studio, as well as courses in one or more areas of the Department of Art including in Art Studio (Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, Spatial Practice, and Media Arts), and/or in Art History and Museum Studies. Teaching responsibilities will be determined to align with the candidate’s areas of research expertise. The new faculty member will bring theoretical, material, and cultural knowledge to their teaching. They will join a vibrant department in which all faculty members teach across multiple areas fostering an integrated range of courses to students from diverse backgrounds. They will also contribute to graduate programs, student supervision, and mentorship.

In addition to teaching, the successful candidate will conduct research/creative work in their areas of expertise. Faculty are responsible for teaching, research, and service and play an integral role in the current and future curricular direction of programs. They are expected to participate in collegial governance at the department, faculty and university levels and to actively engage with broader communities.

About the Academic Unit:
The Department of Art offers degree programs in Art with majors in Art Studio, Indigenous Art Studio, Art History/Museum Studies, and Indigenous Art History/Museum Studies. Indigenous courses are often cross-listed with courses in the Department of Indigenous Studies, and our multiple degree streams are closely intertwined. The Faculty of Fine Arts includes two Canada Research Chairs in Indigenous fields of study (one in Art and one in Music) and supports collaborative, community-oriented scholarship.

The Art Studio programs emphasize hands-on making, technical and creative innovation, critical thought, interdisciplinarity, and community engagement. Supported by spacious and well-equipped facilities, the programs offer courses in core studio areas while a series of rotating courses offers advanced exploration of contemporary art. Senior students are allocated individual studio spaces where they have the freedom to experiment and develop their own artistic direction in an environment of expert technical support, creative guidance, and critical dialogue.

The Art History/Museum Studies programs concentrate primarily on modern and contemporary Global, Canadian, and Indigenous art. The combination of history, theory, and practical museum experience, in which students intern in regional public art galleries and museums, provides valuable skills for student in all Art degree streams. The University possesses a significant art collection that fosters direct student access to historic and contemporary artwork, while a lively Visiting Speakers in the Arts Program offers extensive exposure to leading practitioners in the field.

With the growing demographic of Indigenous youth in our catchment area (locally, as well as from Saskatchewan and Manitoba), the recruitment of FNMI students contributes to the cultural vibrancy of the University of Lethbridge community, and our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Application Instructions:
Apply via our Online Application Portal. Applications should contain the following documents, each uploaded as a single PDF file:

• Letter of Interest
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Research/Creative Practice
• Portfolio of Research/Creative Practice: 20 images, links to video/audio files and professional websites if relevant, description of works for context
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Portfolio of Teaching: two sample syllabi including assignments, documentation of student work, student evaluations, if available

Please arrange to have three confidential Letters of Reference sent directly to finearts.dean@uleth.ca.

All application materials may be addressed to:

Dr. Shelley Scott, PhD
Interim Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts
University of Lethbridge
4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4

In accordance with Section 10.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act, selection for the position will be limited to Indigenous/Aboriginal People. Candidates will be asked to self identify as part of the application process. Your answer to this question will be held in confidence by Human Resources, and only shared confidentially with the search committee. Review of Applications will begin January 10, 2022.