With apologies for cross-posting:

AHRC-funded Collaborative PhD Studentship at Exeter University, UK

Project title: "The practices of carnival: communities, culture and place"

Supervised by Dr Nicola Thomas and Dr David Harvey (School of Geography, University of Exeter), and Daisy Sutcliffe (Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, Arts Programme) The closing date is 12 noon Friday 21st May 2010. Candidates for interview will be notified by Friday 28th May. Interviews are likely to be held over two days on 7th and 8th June 2010.

Following the award of an extended programme of AHRC Collaborative PhD Studentships, the University of Exeter, in partnership with the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Arts Programme, is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified applicant for a doctoral studentship for three years commencing on 1 October 2010. The overall theme of the extended programme is 'The Jurassic Coast and the arts of community engagement: heritage, science, policy and practice on a dynamic coastline'. Of the three PhD projects identified under this broad theme, the first studentship will address 'the practices of carnival: communities, culture and place'.

The extended programme's overall aim is to produce an in-depth investigation of the geographies of arts practice and policy through a sustained collaboration with the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site (WHS) Arts Programme. The Jurassic Coast Team faces the challenge of communicating the nature and value of a 'naturally' changing coastline to visitors and residents. The adoption of a contemporary arts programme by the Jurassic Coast WHS to communicate and engage residents and visitors with the dynamics of this changing coastline offers a strong case study to address the critical role that arts practice can play in the public understanding of science and heritage management. With a long history of carnivals in the towns and villages along the Jurassic Coast, the WHS Arts Programme has tapped into this strong carnival heritage as a means through which both local distinction and international connection can be celebrated. The Arts Programme has now identified Carnival as a key strand in its 2012 Cultural Olympiad efforts. Centering on Weymouth (the sailing venue for the London Olympics), the carnival theme has an agenda of connecting communities along the Jurassic Coast with communities sharing strong carnival cultures across the globe, the aim being to forge a globalised carnival community expressed through embodied performance and arts practice. This vision of carnival, therefore, is seen to have a strong social integrative function, serving to celebrate a keen sense of place, based upon deep historical connection, but which is also contexualised within a relational network of global linkage.

This project should interest applicants with backgrounds in diverse disciplines and subject areas, including, for example, cultural geography, historical geography, anthropology, cultural studies and sociology. Applicants should hold a 1st Class or Upper 2nd Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline and candidates. It would normally be expected that candidates will hold a Master's degree in a relevant area by October 2010. The successful applicant will further benefit from working within a lively and expanding research environment within the School of Geography (Streatham Campus, Exeter) University of Exeter.

The award will cover University tuition fees and provide a maintenance award of at least £13,290 per year for three years in addition to a travel costs for UK based fieldwork and meetings. The terms and conditions of the award will be those of the AHRC's postgraduate studentships. Applicants must therefore have a relevant connection with the United Kingdom, usually through residence.

For further information, or informal discussion about the position, please contact: Dr Nicola Thomas, [log in to unmask], 01392 724449.

In order to apply you will need to complete an online web form where you must submit some personal details and upload a full CV, covering letter, an example of scholarly work up to 4000 words in length (such as a coursework essay, part of a dissertation etc.) and details of 2 referees.

Your covering letter should outline your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake this project.

If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email Helen Pisarska [log in to unmask] or phone +44(0)1392 723310.

The closing date is 12 noon Friday 21st May 2010. Candidates for interview will be notified by Friday 28th May. Interviews are likely to be held over two days on 7th and 8th June 2010.

Details of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and Arts Programme can be found at:
http://www.jurassiccoast.com/

--------------------------
contemp-hist-arch is a list for news and events
in contemporary and historical archaeology, and
for announcements relating to the CHAT conference group.
-------
For email subscription options see:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/archives/contemp-hist-arch.html
-------
Visit the CHAT website for more information and for future meeting dates:
http://www.contemp-hist-arch.ac.uk
--------------------------