Postdoctoral Researcher in the ERC Starting project

The project
ARTIVES aims to explore how imaginaries of urban diversity are portrayed by Afro-European authors in Lisbon and Rotterdam in their films, theatre plays, and (oral) literature. Close reading of creative forms of storytelling; interviews with artists; mobile ethnography; and digital mapping of spaces of inspiration, production, and performance will lay ground for the creation of the theoretical framework of ‘urban artives’. These conceptual artistic archives will be built in collaboration with intercultural artists to 1) trace the transnational network of belonging embodied in the local cultural scene and 2) test the possibilities and limitations in relating to these stories without reproducing essentializing binaries such as ‘local’ vs. ‘foreign’.
We are looking for a highly motivated, enterprising and enthusiastic Postdoc candidate to join the team and conduct fieldwork research in Rotterdam. The post-doc will study intercultural artistic practices and representations by the Dutch Afro-Surinamese and Dutch Antillean communities in this port city (2000-present). The successful candidate will analyze how these narratives are conditioned by the local patterns of community building and urban infrastructures as well as how they creatively engage with the existing imaginaries of Rotterdam’s diversity.

Your tasks within the ERC project

• You will conduct (fieldwork) research on diversity and belonging in Dutch Afro-Surinamese and Dutch Antillean cultural expressions from Rotterdam;
• You will publish (co-authored and/or single-authored) articles in a peer-reviewed journal; edit a policy brief with input from the team; co-edit a special issue of a journal and contribute to an edited volume on ethics in creative participatory research;
• You will collect data on the role of diversity in Rotterdam’s cultural policy and branding strategies.
• You will collect data on relevant spaces of performance/representation/inspiration in Rotterdam and supervise the digital mapping process;
• Data management;
• You will present papers at conferences, both in the Netherlands and internationally;
• You will participate in the intellectual life of the Institute and contribute to the research profile of LUCAS;
• You will participate in the project’s regular meetings and contribute to the organization of the events and activities within the project, in particular the international conference at the end of year 4 and the Long Table with the artists in Rotterdam.

The organisation
The Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University is a unique international centre for the advanced study of languages, cultures, arts, and societies worldwide, in their historical contexts from prehistory to the present. Our faculty is home to more than 6,000 students and 800 staff members. For more information see: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/humanities.

The Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) is one of the seven Academic Institutes of the Faculty of Humanities. The institute hosts a range of academic disciplines, clustered around a key research theme: the relationships between the arts and society. Our members study cultural production over the course of two millennia, from classical antiquity to our contemporary world, and teach in programmes ranging from Classics and Book History to Modern Literature, International Studies and Art History. Strengthened by our diversity, LUCAS members are uniquely placed to study the broad concept of the arts, with its rapidly changing ideas, aesthetics, and theories of cultural production. Through research, teaching and outreach, the Institute aims to deepen our understanding, both inside and outside academia, of the cognitive, historical, cultural, creative, and social aspects of human life.
As an academic community, we strive to create an open and welcoming atmosphere, stimulating everyone to get involved and contribute, and connecting scholars from different fields and backgrounds.

We offer
We offer a 0,7 FTE position as postdoctoral researcher for 4 years and an opportunity to combine this appointment with teaching in the BA programmes of Urban Studies and/or International Studies (0.1-0,3 FTE depending on the interests and expertise of the successful candidate). The appointment will start 1 February 2024. Depending on qualifications, the appointee may start at the appropriate step in scale 10 until they fully meet the requirements for scale 11 as specified by the Faculty of Humanities, particularly with regard to the number of years of relevant work experience. The salary is in accordance with the collective salary agreement of the Association of Dutch Universities (CAO) and depending on qualifications and experience. The gross monthly salary is €3.877,00 (scale 11.0) to € 4.786,00 (scale 11.3) for a full working week.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. https://www.workingat.leiden.edu/.

Diversity & Inclusion
Fostering an inclusive community is a central element of the values and vision of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High quality teaching and research is inclusive.