Lecturer in Critical Studies; Fine Art, Illustration and Photography

Location: York

Salary: 39,906 to 48,822 per annum (15,962 to 19,528 pro rata)

Part time, permanent.

York St John is an ambitious, modern university at the heart of historic York and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

As one of the fastest growing universities in the U.K over recent years, we have a new strategy for the next decade, emphasising our commitment to widening opportunity through the power of education and contributing our talents to creating a fairer world, and a more prosperous region. We are putting inspirational learning and impactful research at the heart of this strategy, recognising our academic expertise as our greatest asset.

The School of the Arts offers a range of degree programmes including undergraduate, postgraduate taught degrees and research degrees across four departments:
Fine Art (Art, Photography, Illustration), Design (Graphic design, Interior Design, Animation, Games Design, Product Design, UXD, VR/AR), Performance (Acting, Musical Theatre and Music), and Production (Media Production, Music Production, TV and Film Production, Journalism and Sports Journalism). We have a diverse PGT portfolio and a rapidly growing PGR community. As a School, we are committed to student‑centred teaching, applied creative practice, and live industry briefs and challenge our learners to think critically.

We are active in projects involving work‑related learning, including partnerships with a variety of external industries and organisations. We work to decolonise the curriculum and to build supportive and inclusive pedagogies. We have a thriving research community with opportunities for colleagues to share their research, join interdisciplinary and specialist research groups, and develop research‑informed teaching. Both our early career and experienced researchers engage with a range of academic interests that impact our excellent teaching provision and expanding research portfolio.

With around 70 staff in the School in total, we are a friendly, creative and collegiate community.

This role is permanent and part time (14.8 hours per week).

Applications are invited for a Lecturer in Critical Studies for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in Fine Art, Illustration and Photography. The postholder will have the opportunity to shape and deliver lecture‑, seminar‑ and tutorial‑based learning and teaching, and assessment. They will also contribute to research supervision and provide pastoral and academic support to students. The Lecturer will undertake independent research leading to outputs and funding applications and contribute effectively to academic citizenship requirements in the programme.

Programmes in the Fine Art department pride themselves with delivering an ambitious, rigorous and challenging Critical Studies curriculum that enables practice students to produce nationally recognised art‑historical and ‑theoretical writing, for example, winning the 2025 Association for Art History (AAH) UG Dissertation Award and the 2026 Henry Moore Institute PG Dissertation Award.

Candidates will have a track record of contributing to the learning, teaching and assessment provision of Critical Studies modules for practitioners at undergraduate level. The successful applicant will have an in‑depth knowledge of the theoretical, historical and contextual dialogues within contemporary visual practices, and be able to communicate with practice‑based students in clear and engaging ways. The successful candidate will have a PhD in art history, art theory or research‑engaged practice and the ability to develop, teach and organise module content more broadly than their specific research area.

Applicants will be active researchers, who will contribute to the research profile of the School.

Contact for informal candidate queries:
Helen Turner,

The selection process will include a presentation at interview and an observed teaching session. Further details will be provided if you are shortlisted for interview.

It is anticipated that the advert will close on 7th August 2026 and the provisional interview date will be on 7th September 2026. Please note that there will be some time between application submission and invite to interview for successful applicants.

Closing Date: 07 Aug 2026
Category:
Academic