In the 21st century, symphonic music institutions face challenges that endanger their traditional ways of operating. Although symphonic music is widely accessible, it has lost its once leading position in musical culture. In the NWO/SIA-funded Artful Participation-project, the world of the symphony orchestra is studied as an exemplary case in scientific and artistic research on cultural reproduction in the 21st century. This research project is a collaboration between academic researchers, practice-based artistic researchers, orchestra musicians, conservatory teachers, art students and the audience. It starts from the assumption that innovation of symphonic music practice is not possible without improving the quality of audience participation in this practice. The project combines strategic research into reasons for the declining interest in symphonic music with embedded artistic research in the context of a major symphony orchestra, to innovate this practice in an artistically relevant way.

Whereas symphonic music has always renewed itself as an art form, the staging of this art form in concert halls before attentive listeners has remained more or less unchanged since the nineteenth century. Listeners seem to be passive: attentive, but silent and immobile. Many have identified this style of listening as an important reason for the declining interest in classical music, opening a debate on the various ways in which audiences participate in symphonic music. Within the Artful Participation-project, the PhD project “Unpacking Participation” focuses on how meanings and values that are given to symphonic music can be linked to the quality of participation.

Theoretically, the proposed PhD project connects to a broader body of critical social science research that aims to examine critically  the notion of “participation” and focuses particularly on the role of materiality in the construction of participation, activity and (inter)passivity. It focuses on analysing and researching existing symphonic practices, both through literature study on international best experimental practices, as well as through ethnographic research of symphonic concerts in the Netherlands and Belgium.

A master’s degree in sociology, arts and culture, cultural anthopology, or Science and Technology Studies with an affinity for innovative musical practices. The successful candidate will combines a relevant theoretical background in the humanities or the social sciences with ethnographic research experience in arts or music institutions.  

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally-oriented organisation where young people receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. The PhD candidate will have the unique opportunity to carry out research on one or more of the core themes within this highly innovative research programme, combining academic and artistic research, and to contribute to the development and outreach of the project. 

We offer a 4 year full-time appointment as PhD student.
The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended with another 3 years.

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels for PhD students starting with a salary of € 2.191,00 with a yearly growth to € 2.801,00 gross a month (based on a full-time appointment). 
Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.  

You have to be willing to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you might be eligible for an allowance for alternative housing.

Other secondary conditions include e.g. a pension scheme and partially paid parental leave. 

You will be provided with shared office space and a PC.

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,500 students and 4,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has about 250 staff members, and about 1,600 students. More than 75% of the students are non-Dutch (almost 40 different nationalities). All programmes are offered in English and some are also offered in Dutch. FASoS offers two 3-year Bachelor’s programmes: Arts and Culture and European Studies. It also offers six different 1-year Master’s programmes and two 2-year research Master’s programmes.
Research is organised around four programmes: Politics and Culture in Europe; Science, Technology and Society Studies; Arts, Media and Culture; and Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is housed in the historic city centre of Maastricht.

The project Artful Participation, of which this PhD position is a part, will be part of a recently established interdisciplinary team bridging FASoS, the South Netherlands Philharmony and the Faculty of Arts at Zuyd University aimed at innovating classical music. 

Graduate School
Our Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences offers the opportunity to pursue a PhD in the interdisciplinary field of arts and social sciences. You receive a coherent program of introductory courses, intensive supervision and frequent discussion with the senior researchers inside and outside the Faculty. The Programme can be characterized by its international and interdisciplinary nature and the emphasis on cultural and societal issues of the modern world.  

The School focuses on four themes:
1. Politics and Culture in Europe.
2. Maastricht University Science, Technology and Society Studies.
3. Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development.
4. Arts, Media and Culture. 

Further information on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and its Graduate School may be accessed on: http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos 

Where appropriate, the successful candidate may be able to join the Netherlands Graduate Research School of Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTMC) http://www.wtmc.eu to follow a series of workshops and summer schools.