2022 HDR Scholarship - Art of Peace PhD Stipend Scholarship

Status: Closed

Applications open: 11/11/2022
Applications close: 3/04/2023

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About this scholarship
Description/Applicant information

• 3-year stipend scholarship at $29,000 p/a
• PhD can be by creative practice and exegesis or by thesis only
  
• Researching with a team of international scholars of art and war
  
• Researching as part of an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant with the Art Gallery of Western Australia

The Graduate School of Research (GRS) at the Research Office Curtin (ROC) is offering a PhD Scholarship in the area of art and war, specifically researching into art from conflict zones where international peacekeepers have been deployed. The position is funded by the ROC GRS and is part of the research project Art of Peace: New perspectives in visual art on peacekeeping from the 1990s , receiving Australian Research Council Linkage Projects funding. Art of Peace is led by Prof Kit Messham-Muir at Curtin University in partnership with the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the National Trust (NSW), including researchers from Curtin, UNSW, University of Melbourne, University of the Arts London, California State University Los Angeles, and Oberlin College and Conservatory, Ohio.   

Art arising from places where international peacekeeping missions have been deployed—the ‘art of peace’—has been vital in shaping how we understand Australia’s role in the world, as a peacekeeper and nation-builder. The 1990s was especially important for peacekeeping, with missions in Rwanda, former Yugoslavia and Timor Leste. Our team’s previous work has shown that art powerfully shapes our views of Australia’s involvement in war by focusing empathy on the experiences of our troops.

The Art of Peace project expands on this, working with artists from countries where Australia sent peacekeepers and asking how they see our military and diplomatic efforts. The academic investigators will share our expertise with those artists, and bring them and their art to Perth and Sydney for exhibitions, education programs and events. These activities can improve international relations by building relationships for exchanging viewpoints across cultures, and deepen Australians’ appreciation of how our military is viewed by others. The project benefits Australians more broadly by expanding our understanding of this important period in Australia’s military history and enriching our cultural heritage. The PhD Scholar will develop a research project that ties closely to the work of the academic research team.

The Curtin University Art of Peace PhD Stipend Scholarship is conditional on successful admission and full-time enrolment in the PhD at Curtin University under the supervision of Professor Kit Messham-Muir.  Ideally, the PhD Scholar will commence their research as soon as is practical.  Ideally, you will be based in Perth, Western Australia, but this is not a requirement.  Doctoral research for this Scholarship can be by creative practice and exegesis, or by thesis only. 

Potential topics may include, but are not limited to: 

• a comparative study of official and non-official responses to conflict in peacekeeping zones by contemporary artists; 
  
• a study of the effects of conflict on the contemporary art practice of artists living in, or having lived in, conflict zones; 
  
• a comparative study of the work of artists from peacekeeping zones and the work of artists from nations that sent peacekeepers to those zones.
  
• a practice-led engagement with any of the above or other themes leading to a body of creative works and exegesis

Student type

• Future Students

Faculty

• Faculty of Humanities

Course type

• Higher Degree by Research

Citizenship

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa

Scholarship base

• Merit Based

Value

$29,000 per annum for three years.  NOTE: this scholarship stipend is funded by ROC.  The Art of Peace ARC Linkage grant includes $1,866 for travel and accommodation of the PhD scholar. 

Scholarship Details
Maximum number awarded

1

Eligible courses

PhD

Eligibility criteria

To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate the following:

• Bachelor’s degree with Honours or a Master’s degree in fine art, visual culture, art theory or a related field. Significant relevant professional experience will also be favourably considered.
• Demonstrated research skills in a field relevant to this project.  
• Demonstrated research interest is aspects of contemporary art, visual culture and war.  
• In the case of applying to research by creative practice and exegesis, applicants should demonstrate a track record of creative practice and provide examples of creative work.  
• Your enrolment in the PhD at Curtin should be full-time. 

As part of the application process, applicants may be requested to provide a sample of written work and/or a written response to a reading. 

Application process

To apply, please submit:

• Cover Letter stating your own particular interests in the project
• CV of no more than 3 pages
• Research Proposal of no more than 3 pages using the following subheadings:

Title: A descriptive working title of your proposed PhD research.

Abstract: A half-page explanation of the program in plain English.

Objectives: A clearly defined statement of the objectives of the research.

Background: The background of the proposed study.

Significance: The importance/relevance of the proposed study.

Research method: A simple outline of the approach you will use during your research.

Ethical issues: Demonstrate you have considered all ethical issues which may arise and the manner in which they will be addressed. 

Facilities and resources: An outline of these requirements for the completion of your research.

Time schedule: This should be realistic.

References: A bibliography, preferably in Chicago author-date style.

Submission must be by email to the Lead Investigator, Professor Kit Messham-Muir at [email protected]

 

Enrolment Requirements

Recipients must complete their milestone 1 within 6 month of enrolment and remain enrolled on a full time basis for the duration of the scholarship. 

Enquiries

For further information about this role, please contact Professor Kit Messham-Muir at [email protected]

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