Fully Funded AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership PhD Scholarship: Arts, Activism, and Accessibility: Disability Arts in Wales, 1980-Present

Funding providers: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership scheme 

Subject areas: History 

Project start date:  

• 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Project description:  

Since the 1980s, arts and culture have played a significant role in expressing deaf and disabled people’s identities in Britain and have sustained disability activism. Yet histories of disability arts are lacking, particularly for Wales. This PhD topic explores how the cultural lives of deaf and disabled people in Wales have changed over the past forty years. It will analyse the changing role of disability arts (including visual arts, theatre, dance, and film) in contributing to the social organisation of deaf and disabled people in this period and ask what the creative works of deaf and disabled people tell us about what it means to be disabled in Wales. Arts for Disabled People in Wales (now Disability Arts Cymru) was founded in 1982, and as one of the longest running multiform disability arts organisations in the UK its history is integral to our wider understanding of the evolution of disability arts and activism. The PhD offers a unique opportunity to work with the National Library of Wales to assist Disability Arts Cymru to conserve and widen access to its archive, and to collaborate with artists and activists to bring the story of disability arts in Wales to life for new audiences.  

The student will be based at Swansea University and the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. There will be opportunities to take part in the programme of CDP Cohort Development events and other activities organized for CDP students by the AHRC, as well as training and development provided by Swansea University and the CDP Welsh Culture and Heritage Consortium.  

Eligibility 

Candidates must hold an undergraduate degree at 2:1 level and should ideally have, or expect to receive, a relevant master's-level qualification and/or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience in a professional setting. Suitable disciplines are flexible, but might include History, Disability Studies, Cultural and Museum Studies, Creative and Performing Arts, Media, Art History. Bilingual (Welsh/English) ability is desirable but not a requirement for this studentship. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship (i.e. a student who is eligible to pay the UK rate of tuition fees) but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements. Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.

We want to encourage the widest range of potential students to study for a CDP studentship and are committed to welcoming students from different backgrounds to apply.

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.

Additional Funding Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at £19,237 and an enhanced stiped of £600 p.a.

Additional research expenses will also be available.