Assistant Professor in Studio Art and Creative Arts, Health, and Wellness

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The School of Fine Art and Music at the University of Guelph invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level. The candidate will be appointed to the School of Fine Art and Music (SOFAM) and teach in our undergraduate BA in Studio Art program, our Masters of Fine Art program, and our undergraduate Creative Arts, Health, and Wellness degree. The anticipated start date for this appointment is July 1, 2025, or another mutually agreed-upon date in 2025.

The successful candidate will hold an MFA and/or PhD (or equivalent professional experience) in studio art or a closely related field. The committee will consider all applicants with an active professional visual arts practice, with preference for expertise in one or more of the following areas: photography, video art, digital media, social practice art, and/or printmaking. A strong exhibition record, active studio, and/or community-engaged/applied arts practice is required. The candidate’s research should demonstrate expertise or certification in the creative arts therapies (visual art), and/or community-engaged arts practices related to arts and health.

The successful candidate will demonstrate experience teaching studio art and/or arts and health at the university level. Preference will be given to the candidate with the ability to teach research methods related to arts and health; arts and the Canadian healthcare system; ethics; and/or social prescribing/“arts on prescription.” They should also demonstrate capacity to teach the technical and practical elements of studio art. The successful candidate will demonstrate fluency with ethical, inclusive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and decolonial artistic practices that emphasize community-engaged learning. The successful candidate will also be expected to maintain an active community-engaged or independent professional art practice.

In the School of Fine Art and Music, we value diversity and inclusivity. We acknowledge that diversity is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, complex problem solving, and the creation of a representative academic community. SOFAM is committed to developing an inclusive and vibrant culture that is positive, collegial, and respectful of all members, and in which wellness and healthy work-life balance are valued along with (and indeed, contribute to) excellence in research and teaching.  Candidates with knowledge about BIPOC identities, cultures, and communities, including knowledge drawn from lived experience, are especially encouraged to apply.

The Studio Art program within the School of Fine Art and Music at the University of Guelph has a reputation for excellence in the education of young artists at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Our current curriculum places strong emphasis on traditional skills and materials, alongside an established and developing curriculum which integrates digital tools into many of our fields of specialization. A crucial part of our teaching is in our MFA program. The professional achievement in recent years of MFA alumni from the University of Guelph is unmatched by any other institution in Canada.

The Bachelor of Creative Arts, Health, and Wellness is the first undergraduate program of its kind in Canada, and offers specialized training to students in music, theatre, and studio art interested in combining their artistic talents with the study of human health and well-being. This 4-year Honours degree program allows students to explore the artistic, psychological, and therapeutic components of the creative arts and their connections to healthcare and human wellness while emphasizing anti-oppressive practices.

The University of Guelph resides on the traditional lands and territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and Huron Wendat. These lands are now home to a rich diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We offer our respect and gratitude to our Indigenous neighbours and affirm our responsibility to realize our commitments to reconciliation through ongoing action. We are guided in this work by Bi-Naagward hiringnearme.org It Comes into View, the Indigenous Initiatives Strategy.

The University of Guelph is the third largest employer in Guelph, a city of over 144,000 people, located about an hour drive west of Toronto, Ontario. University of Guelph is a top-ranked comprehensive university in Canada with an enrolment of more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across more than 40 academic units. The University is known for its commitment to student learning, innovative research, and collaboration with world-class partners. It is a unique place, with transformative research and teaching and a distinctive campus culture. People who learn and work here are shaped and inspired by a shared purpose: To Improve Life. Reflecting that shared purpose in every experience connected to our university positions us to create positive change, here and around the world. Our University community shares a profound sense of social responsibility, a drive for international development, and an obligation to address global issues.

Application Process

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page to be considered as an internal applicant.

Assessment of applications will begin on March 6, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply for the advertised faculty position (Requisition ID #1130) by submitting the following materials (in an integrated Single PDF file):

1. A cover letter;
2. A curriculum vitae (including evidence of teaching, research, service, and professional affiliations/licensures;
3. A teaching dossier (including a statement of teaching philosophy);
4. Provide a (1-2 page) diversity statement highlighting your commitment to, knowledge of, and contributions to Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (IEDIA) with a focus on advancing inclusive excellence. Consider addressing the areas of research, teaching, service, mentorship and leadership;
5. Evidence of effective teaching, including course syllabi and examples of student work;
6. 20 digital images or 10 digital images and up to 10 minutes of video as part of the PDF application or as clickable video links;
7. Names and complete contact information for three references. Note: Reference letters are not necessary at this time and will be solicited only of those candidates who advance in the process.

The School of Fine Art and Music is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Candidates are warmly encouraged to identify accommodation needs during the application process.
Applications should be sent to the attention of:

Professor Kimberly Francis, Director, SOFAM
c/o Nicola Ferguson
School of Fine Art and Music, College of Arts
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Email: [email protected]

Apply ONLINE – Assistant Professor in Studio Art and Creative Arts, Health, and Wellness (https://bit.ly/4ho3BUf)

This position is represented by the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA).

The University of Guelph commits to fostering inclusive excellence through promoting Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Inclusion is a core pillar of Our Time, our strategic plan, which pledges to “transform our human resources, governance and student services and practices across the University to enable us to recruit a diverse student, faculty and staff body and support them in achieving their personal, professional and scholarly goals.” The University commits to creating and maintaining “equitable work environments that empower us in our pursuit of student, faculty and staff success, research excellence, innovation and impact.”

The University of Guelph invites applications from all qualified individuals; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from members of designated groups in employment, including Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.

The University of Guelph recognizes that career paths can be diverse and career interruptions may occur. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like considerations given to the impact of any circumstances, such as (but not limited to) those due to health and/or family reasons, that may have affected an applicant’s record of achievement. You are not required to disclose these circumstances in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these circumstances do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position.

The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the hiring process or for more information and support, please visit the University’s Occupational Health and Wellness or contact OHW at [email protected].

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