Professor of Practise, Artpreneurship

Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. We are committed to identifying and solving grand societal challenges and building an innovative future. Aalto has six schools with nearly 11 000 students and a staff of more than 4000, of which 400 are professors. Our main campus is located in Espoo, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.  

The Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS) is a Nordic leader in higher education for design, fashion, games, media, architecture, film, art education and fine art. We produce world-class research e.g. in design, digital media and visual culture, art education, urban planning and architecture. Our graduates innovate in and beyond their fields, drawing on over a century of tradition of our institution, a humane and forward-looking approach, and the latest technologies.   

The Department of Art and Media conducts research and artistic activities across a broad range of subjects and themes. These include art education, contemporary art, curating, game design, new media, photography, visual communication design and visual culture. The department provides education in Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral levels. The department was formed in 2022 as a merger of two departments which have both been recognized internationally for high-quality artistic outputs, media productions and art pedagogical activities, scholarship, and research. The Department of Art and Media, with approximately 800 students and over 100 staff members, is the largest department in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.  

We are now looking for a 

Professor of Practice, Artpreneurship 

Your role and goals 

Aalto University believes that the concept of Artpreneurship lays the foundation for renegotiating entrepreneurship for a better future in which creative professionals can partner with the wider economy on a more equal footing. Artpreneurship entails considerations for ethical, political, societal and sustainability issues.  

The Professor of practice position provides an opportunity for highly qualified experts and professionals with an expanded understanding of the connections between art-practice, creative industries, business, and the corporate sector to accelerate innovative, forward-thinking models for state-of-the-art creativity. You are expected to help students acquire the necessary knowledge and know-how to develop healthy and ambitious future working relationships with industry, the corporate sector and the wider economy. The aim is to facilitate a learning environment that could open alternative and wider career paths for School of Arts, Design and Architecture graduates. The PoP in Artpreneurship is expected to bring practical expertise and societal knowledge to the university community. 

The PoP will fulfil an important role in establishing artpreneurship as a novel orientation and compelling pathway emerging from the Department of Art and Media. You also have the capacity to engage students in approaches to networking and interfacing between their practices, industry, firms, and the broader economy. Key to this is - co-exploring with students - new connections and experimentation with radical approaches that extend past traditional entrepreneurial mindsets and practices into new methodologies. 

As a professor of practice at the Department, you are expected to demonstrate innovative leadership skills with practical examples. We are interested in finding a colleague who has established a strong network and has broad, meaningful experience in working in the creative sector as well as in between the creative industry and companies.  

Your network and team 

In the Department of Art and Media you will be working with faculty and students.

Your experience and ambitions 

The fixed term 40% position will strengthen the department’s expertise in artpreneurship. We are looking to hire an ambitious colleague to participate in the department's strategic work and education with 

• Strong background working at the intersection of creative industries, business, and arts-related fields. 
• Master's degree in art, design, business, or related fields. A doctoral degree and/or a record of research/artistic practice would be an added advantage.  
• Experience, networks, and versatile collaborations with relevant partners in the field.  
• Some experience working in a pedagogical setting at the higher education level is preferrable. 
• Familiarity with the Finnish higher educational system as well as international experience are welcome additions. Education in the Department of Art and Media is provided in English, Finnish and Swedish. Thus, excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are expected. We hope that you can teach and communicate in Finnish and/or Swedish. 

What we offer 

The call is open for a Professor of Practice in Artpreneurship. The position will begin as agreed, but latest in August 2024. The professorship is fixed term for up to 5 years. This is a part-time position with maximum 40 % contract (to be agreed from 20% to 40%).  

We offer the opportunity of working in a dynamic community of creative professionals and researchers. Aalto University provides its employees with occupational health care services and excellent learning and development opportunities. The salary is determined according to the applicant's experience and Aalto’s salary guidelines.  

The department is located in the Otaniemi campus of Aalto University in Espoo (Helsinki metropolitan area). Consistent with EU insurance and pension regulations, Aalto expects employees to reside and work in Finland.

Ready to apply?

Want to join our community, please submit your application through our recruitment system by Monday January 22, 2024. To apply, please share the following application materials with us: 

• Motivation letter including a vision of the position with reflections on how your professional background supports this vision as well as your anticipated contribution  
• Curriculum vitae in accordance with the guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK): https://tenk.fi/en/advice-and-materials/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae  
• Later in the process the top candidates are expected to submit a teaching statement  

If you are already an employee or a visitor, please apply using your Workday profile (internal jobs).

Wish to hear more about the position, you can contact Professor Anniina Suominen, [email protected]  

In recruitment related questions, you can contact HR Specialist Satu Pöyhönen, [email protected] 

Want to know more about us and your future colleagues? You can watch these videos: Aalto University – Towards a better world , Aalto People , and Shaping a Sustainable Future and this webpage about Aalto and Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/welcome-to-aalto-university-and-finland-info-package  

Check out also our new virtual campus experience: https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/

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