Ref Number
B03-03124
Professional Expertise
Teaching, Teaching Support and Examination Support
Department
UCL SLASH (B03)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Part time
Salary
£54,931-£64,644
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
On site
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
22-Jun-2026
The Slade School of Fine Art is an art school where staff and students approach contemporary art practice, and the history and theories that inform it through experimentation, imagination, and research-oriented practice.
The Slade is a department of University College London (UCL) with a lively and dynamic practice-led research culture. Staff are practising artists, writers and theorists with significant research outputs and exhibition profiles, actively involved in research and teaching.
For the 2026/27 academic year, the Slade will have around 350 students registered for taught programmes across the undergraduate BA Art & Technology, BA and BFA in Fine Art and the Graduate MA and MFA in Fine Art. There are around 15 MPhil/PhD students. Taught programmes are practice-based, and students develop their own work through tutorials, seminars, crits, lectures, workshops and technical support according to their individual needs. There are staff, co-working studio and technical facilities to support new and emerging computational art practices based at UCL East.
The Slade is working towards realising its commitment to being an anti-racist art school which promotes a culture of care and respect for everyone in the school. Part of this commitment is to discuss and embed the recommendations of the Independent Environmental and Cultural Review of the Slade.
The Slade’s practice-led research culture facilitates an ongoing commitment to independent research while also supporting research with other artists, curators and researchers, which increasingly addresses pressing societal and cultural concerns.
Please note: The role is fixed term for up to 16 months to provide cover for maternity leave and associated research leave.
We are recruiting for a teaching position for a practicing artist with a focus on Fine Art Critical Studies teaching within BFA Fine Art. The postholder will also be part of the History and Theory of Art team supervising BA Fine Art students on their independent study with the potential to contribute to teaching within that team.
Critical Studies:
The post holder will design, deliver and oversee the teaching of the critical studies component of the BFA Fine with support from Post Graduate Teaching Assistants.
Students’ understanding of critical studies will be developed through their participation in seminars, workshops, tutorials and gallery visits. Critical studies is designed to provide students with the ability to reference their work within a relevant contemporary and historical cultural context. As well as helping them to develop verbal and written skills to present and contextualise their artworks. The role would suit someone with evidenced interest in and experience with working in collective or collaborative artist contexts and who sees this as a vital part of developing students understanding of artistic practice.
Independent Study Supervision:
The post holder will supervise a group of third-year BA Fine Art students in their Independent Study focussed on a topic of their choice. This will involve a series of 1-1 supervisions, as well as marking and feedback.
The role requires the successful candidate to work on site in the Slade studios as well as other teaching spaces on the Bloomsbury campus.
Working Pattern:
This is a 0.6 FTE role which equates to 3 days per week and will include Friday as one of the expected working days.
Right to Work Eligibility:
Please note that this role does not meet the requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to consider applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK. Applicants must already hold unrestricted right to work in the UK for the duration of the role.
Qualifications, Experience and Knowledge:
The successful candidate will be practising artist engaged in the practices and discourses of fine art, engaged in contemporary art debates and the wider cultural context. They will demonstrate an active engagement in debates concerning non-canonical approaches to art practice and art history, the decolonisation of thought and art practice, and diversity within contemporary art.
They will have evidence of research and practice that questions canonical conventions of Fine Art and can inform innovative pedagogical and curriculum development. Examples may include research and practice that investigate or address experiences of race, class, gender identity, sexuality, cross-cultural and cross-regional interactions.
The candidate will have experience of teaching in Higher Education and have experience of supervising and marking written work within History and Theory of Art/ Critical and Contextual Fine Art Studies.
Skills and Abilities:
The candidate will have good oral and written communication skills and be approachable, flexible and have the ability to relate to staff at all levels and respond to the needs of students with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds. They will be able to work confidently with students and colleagues, including group teaching and critiques, individual tutorials and hands-on practical workshops, encouraging curiosity, exploration and risk taking and experience of working in collaborative or collective artistic contexts and support student research and writing across a broad range of topics and approaches.
Personal Attributes:
The candidate will be committed to and demonstrate their experience of furthering equality, diversity and inclusion.
Your Application and How To Apply
Applicants should submit a CV and a covering letter as part of their application. The covering letter should address why you are particularly interested in this post, how you fulfil the criteria listed in the person specification and why you would like to work at the Slade.
The UCL application portal allows you to attach your CV as a separate document. The covering letter should be completed within the application itself. Start the covering letter in the "Cover Letter" section and continue in the "Questionnaire" section, where additional boxes can be added.
Please do not upload images of your artwork to the application as they will not be considered by the shortlisting panel and may make the application difficult to download. Those invited to interview will be asked to present their art practice at interview.
- Please note, the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be used alongside the CV for the purposes of shortlisting.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Hybrid Final Salary Pension Scheme;
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan;
- On-Site nursery;
- On-site gym;
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay;
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service;
- Discounted medical insurance.
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.
A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. To apply for the vacancy, please click on the "Apply Now" button.
There is a candidate guidance document also attached which we would recommend you read to assist with your application and interview stages (if shortlisted).
If you have any questions about the vacancy, the application process or any reasonable adjustments, please contact Manpreet Karir (Senior HR and Finance Officer) at [email protected].
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. The Slade is committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and marginalised communities, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ people, and women.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
