We are recruiting a PhD candidate for the Dutch subproject of a HERA project: EUROPEAN MUSIC FESTIVALS, PUBLIC SPACES AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY, including Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Southern Denmark, University of Limerick, Jagiellonian University, and University of Bristol.

Festivals are now a staple of many people’s cultural diets across Europe. Festivalisation denotes that festivals can no longer be regarded as merely periodic events, but, rather, as an increasingly popular means through which citizens consume and experience culture. Yet, whereas music festivals have the potential to connect people and foster tolerance, they may also reproduce inequalities and social exclusion. This project is a comparative study of music festivals as potential public spaces affording encounters with diversities.

You will research the cultural production, consumption and impact of music festivals, collecting data and doing field-work in the Netherlands. Within this context, you will focus on the intersections of (at least) two diversities – race-ethnicity and gender. You will work closely with your local supervisor dr. Pauwke Berkers and the team members at our European partner institutions. We give guidance about opportunities to present your work in scientific articles and at conferences, to take courses, to arrange a research visit abroad, and to liaise with festival organizers.

You are expected to have a master degree in (cultural) sociology, arts and culture studies or another relevant master degree. The position is for three years of full-time research. Therefore, you should demonstrate relevant scientific research skills, proven, for example, by academic publications or by the quality of your (research) master thesis. Moreover, you must have excellent English communication and writing skills. Since the research requires interviewing people at Dutch festivals, basic Dutch language skills – or being willing to acquire this skill – is desirable.

Fixed-term contract: 3 years.

Employment starts May 2019. The initial contract will be running for a term one year, which - depending on performance – will be extended with a second term of 2 years.

The conditions of employment correspond with the “CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten” (CAO NU). For the job of PhD Candidate (Promovendus) the salary amounts to a maximum of € 2.325,- (grade P) gross per month on a 38 hour per week contract the first year.

The EUR has attractive employment conditions, which include a holiday allowance of 8.0%, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 41 annual vacation days in case of a full workweek. 

Erasmus University Rotterdam

The Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), named after Rotterdam-born humanist and theologian Erasmus, is a research university with a strong international orientation and a pronounced social focus, both in its education and research activities. On the lively, modern campus, more than 28.000 students and scholars of more than 100 nationalities are constantly encouraged to develop their talents and meet their ambition. Our more than 2700 scientists and employees work together with all our students to solve challenges faced by global society, drawing their inspiration from the consistently dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. The academic education offered at our faculties is intensive, engaging and strongly focused on practical application. We increasingly perform our research in multidisciplinary teams, which are closely interwoven with international networks. In terms of research impact and the quality of its degree programmes, EUR can compete with the foremost universities in Europe, which is reflected in its consistent top-100 position in most major universities rankings. Erasmus University Rotterdam’s key values are daring, curiosity, social involvement, breaking new ground and striving for success http://www.eur.nl