Assistant Professor - Black Creative Practice and Arts Management

Date Posted: 12/17/2024
Closing Date: 02/03/2025, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 39119
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: University of Toronto Scarborough
Department: Department of Arts, Culture & Media
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

The Department of Arts, Culture and Media at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the area of Black Creative Practice and Arts Management. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

In addition, the University of Toronto Scarborough is implementing its Strategic Plan: Inspiring Inclusive Excellence. Consistent with the values and objectives in that plan, we especially welcome candidates who self-identify as Indigenous or those who have lived experience in Black or other racialized (persons of colour) communities. This position is part of a cohort of similar faculty searches in Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Computer & Mathematical Sciences, Management, and Physical & Environmental Sciences. New colleagues will have the opportunity to be connected with previous cohorts of faculty from under-represented groups, including those hired through targeted efforts in the last four years in departments spanning the Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities.

Applicants must have earned a terminal degree: a MFA, MBA, MI or PhD in Arts Management or Administration, Non-Profit Management, Creative Writing, English, Museum Studies, Media and/or Communication Studies, or a related discipline by the time of appointment or shortly thereafter. The successful candidate must have a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching, and must demonstrate the ability to publish, to attract research funding, and to work with students from diverse backgrounds at undergraduate and graduate levels.

We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths. Candidates must have professional research and/or teaching experience focused on humanities and/or interdisciplinary approaches. Applicants must have expertise in at least three of the following areas: 1) Black feminist arts and/or media management; 2) Black creative and/or cultural industries (especially arts criticism and creative nonfiction); 3) equity in arts and media organizations; 4) community organizing and collective action; 5) creative practice and social change. We especially welcome applications from scholars whose areas of expertise include critical race theory, Black Studies, Indigenous studies, queer studies, trans studies, and/or critical disability studies.

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research, and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program. Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence as demonstrated by a record of publications in top-ranked and field-relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards; the submitted research statement; presentations at significant conferences; awards and accolades; and strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching and supervising students in the undergraduate degree program, fulfilling other professional and administrative activities related to teaching, and participating in curriculum development and departmental and university committee work to contribute to program and departmental initiatives, especially in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in teaching and learning. Teaching experiences in the following areas are required: arts and social justice, writing for social change, equity in arts or media organizations.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments, and the teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong endorsements by referees. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, and/or student mentorship.

Candidates must also show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and to the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment, as demonstrated through the application materials. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. We seek candidates who value diversity and whose research, teaching and service bear out our commitment to equity. Candidates are therefore also asked to submit a 1‐ to 2- page statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): research or teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities, the development of inclusive pedagogies, or the mentoring of students from underrepresented groups.

More information about the Department of Arts, Culture and Media’s own Equity and Diversity in the Arts Initiative is available at: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/acm/inclusion-diversity-equity-accessibility-sustainability-ideas.

In addition to being a full member of the UTSC Department of Arts, Culture and Media, the successful candidate will also have a graduate appointment in a disciplinary unit that reflects their training and background with the clear priority in graduate teaching that contributes to their research agenda in Black Creative Practice and Arts Management at the University of Toronto.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The University of Toronto offers the opportunity to conduct research and creative practice, teach, and live in one of the most diverse cities of the world. The appointment is at the University of Toronto Scarborough, which is a research-intensive campus with an interdisciplinary commitment, a multicultural student body, and a modern campus. The Department of Arts, Culture and Media at UTSC is a unique multi-disciplinary research and teaching environment, with programs in Art History and Visual Culture, Arts Management, Curatorial Studies, Journalism (Joint Program), Media, Journalism and Digital Cultures, New Media Studies (Joint Program), Music and Culture, Studio Art, and Theatre and Performance. Please refer to our program website for more information: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/acm/.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking on the link below. Applicants must submit the following:
1) a cover letter;
2) a complete and current curriculum vitae;

3) a research statement outlining current and future research interests (1- to 2-page maximum);
4) an online or PDF dossier of professional work OR a copy of a writing sample (35-page maximum);
5) a teaching dossier that shows evidence of teaching excellence. This dossier must include a statement of teaching philosophy (1 to 2-page maximum), sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities such as listed above;
6) an EDI statement as described above; and
7) the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee the day after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated, and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. If you have any questions about this position, please contact Rosanne King at acm-ca@utsc.utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by February 3, 2025.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.