125th Anniversary Scholarship in the College of Arts and Law

About the project

The PhD will provide a unique opportunity to engage with an under-researched collection of African art at the University of Birmingham (UoB), a discrete collection that is part of Research and Cultural Collections (RCC) - a university museum holding full Museum Accredited status from Arts Council England (ACE) The African Collection is rich and diverse: it celebrates extensive cultural traditions and modern and contemporary artistic expression through a range of objects and media. Communities represented are Yorùbá, Hausa and Asante, and it includes work by artists such as Ben Enwonwu and Justus Akeredolu, as well as an important group of Nigerian modernist paintings by artists associated with the Zaria Arts Society.

The PhD has two key aims:

1. It will provide the first in-depth critical assessment of art objects from the collection ever undertaken. It will approach the relation between form, content, and the aesthetics of artworks and objects which traditionally have been labelled as ‘African’ from multiple perspectives. It will critically evaluate art historical notions such as ‘decorative art’ or ‘tourist art’ and emphasize diverse applications of the terms ‘African’ and ‘diaspora’.
2. It will explore how collections of African art might be able to employ new methods and approaches to engage diaspora communities and widen audience participation, including strategies of co-curation, and the use of digital technologies. By doing so, it will contribute to RCC’s ongoing co-curation initiatives, such as ‘Africanize’ in collaboration with ‘We Don’t Settle’ and Black artists in Birmingham and the ongoing programme of community and artist engagement, where focus is directed towards co-research and co-production and HEI researchers working with external researchers from source communities.

This PhD is timely and necessary. It will make a significant contribution to current debates around the colonial legacy of museum collections in Europe and North America with special emphasis on the objects’ diasporic agency and significance for source communities. As part of a university collection, research into the African collection will uniquely address calls to decolonise curricula and university collections.

Possible research questions include:

• What is the role and significance of the African Collection for African diaspora communities in Birmingham and the UK?
• What might be gaps and silences in the collection, and how could these be addressed through new models of (co-)curation, public engagement and museum interpretation?
• How could museums and collections of African art in Europe utilise the possibilities offered by digital technologies to contextualise the objects in their collections and engage with source communities?

Applicants are encouraged to use the 'Project Overview' to form the basis of their research proposal and use their personal statement to outline what they will bring to the project and how they would develop it in line with your own research interests.

The research will be supported by experts from Art History, History and RCC who are uniquely placed to bring together the academic and cultural sectors with community researchers, artists and participants. It is anticipated that the research will draw on decolonial and postcolonial theory, art history, museum and heritage studies, and that the student will embark upon fieldwork both within African diaspora communities in Birmingham and the West Midlands more broadly. There may also be scope for travel to Nigeria and/or Ghana, from where much of the collection originally heralds.

Through the support of the RCC (Clare Mullett), the candidate will have access to collections and related archives, CMS, researcher in residence status at the RCC Study Centre, curatorial expertise and collections management support. Co-supervision across disciplines within CAL and support by RCC ensures that the student will be fully networked in a UoB-wide research environment.

References

• Toyin Falola, Decolonizing African Studies: Knowledge Production, Agency, and Voice (Rochester NY: University of Rochester Press, 2022)
• Catherine Grant and Dorothy Price, “Decolonizing Art History,” Art History 43, 1 (2020): 8-66, https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8365.12490
• John Peffer, ""Africa's Diaspora of Images,"" Third Text 19, 4 (July 2005): 339-55
• Tobias Wofford, “Whose Diaspora?” Art Journal 75, 1 (2016): 74–79

Appendix

Internal partner: Research and Cultural Collections (RCC).

RCC is an outward facing university museum. As part of the Public and Cultural Engagement (PACE) division of External Relations (ER) we are positioned to support research and public engagement agendas through the most relevant mechanisms. Our current work on accessibility and community research is forefront in our practice. RCC provide a research support service, including a study centre, reading room, research enquiries and image request services, in the last year supporting 105 researchers and requests. Collections stewardship underpins research support and also our public exhibitions and events programmes, last year visited by 22,017 people. Our exhibitions and events are open daily and free to all.

The African collection: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/rcc/the-collections/african-collection.aspx

Entry Requirements

Applications should hold an MA in a relevant subject of Merit or higher. Applicants who do not hold an MA may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree or in exceptional cases provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed postgraduate study.

Who can apply?

These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the underrepresentation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

1. UK nationals and eligible for registration as Home students
2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:
   • Black African
   • Black Caribbean
   • Black Other
   • Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
   • Mixed – White and Black African
   • Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)
3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham

What does the scholarship provide?

1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £18,622 per year. This support covers tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs, including bench fees. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
3. Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
4. Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
5. Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
6. Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.

Contact the lead supervisor

Once applicants have familiarised themselves with the above project details, they are encouraged to contact the lead PhD supervisor to discuss the project and the applicant's suitability for the project. This is recommended before you submit an application to the PhD project.

Application portal tips

• You don’t need to complete your application in one session. Simply save it and come back to it when you’re ready.
• Avoid delays by checking all your information is accurate and complete.
• Your application won’t be processed until you’ve completed all the relevant sections and submitted it.
• If you run into any technical issues with your application, email us at directapplicationsystem@contacts.bham.ac.uk

What happens next?

Once you’ve submitted your application, we’ll send you details on how to access your applicant portal. You’ll be able to track the progress of your application, update your personal information, view decisions and accept offers.

Your application will be ‘pending’ on your portal while we check your application.

You can add or edit some details or documents within your application after it’s been submitted through your applicant portal. Or email pgadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk (include your applicant ID number) and we can add or edit for you.

Find out more

For more information about the scholarship programme, including announcements of available projects and the application process, please register your interest using the form below.