Studentship at RCA/V&A

RCA/V&A Conservation studentships for 2003/2004

RCA/V&A Conservation <URL:http://www.conservation.rca.ac.uk/> offers
MA, MPhil and PhD degrees in a range of specialist areas.
Applications are currently invited for entry to the programme in the
academic year 2003/04 in the following subjects.

MA studentships:

    MA studentships are for two years full-time, although in
    exceptional cases three-year courses of study (full and
    part-time) may be available. The places listed are based in the
    institutions indicated:

Conservation of Textiles and Tapestries in Historic Interiors (in
collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces)

    Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) is a Royal Charter Body with
    charitable status charged with the care of the five unoccupied,
    London-based royal palaces and their contents. HRP has a
    well-established Textile Conservation Studio within Hampton
    Court, reflecting the richness, scale and importance of the
    textiles used in the courts of Henry VIII, George II and William
    and Mary. This studentship will focus on the particular needs of
    tapestries and other textiles (e.g. bed hangings) held and
    displayed in the historic house context.

Conservation of Costume (with the V&A)

    The V&A has one of the world's most comprehensive collections of
    textiles including early archaeological fragments, costume of
    many periods from Europe and Asia, furnishing textiles,
    upholstered material, and examples of every type of textile
    technique. In one of the largest sections of the V&A
    Conservation Department, students have the opportunity to work
    on objects as diverse as the collections but these objects are
    selected to help them gradually develop all the essential skills
    of the textile conservator. Students are primarily supervised by
    the Head of Section but receive guidance from other Studio
    staff, with different areas of interest and expertise.

Sculpture Conservation (with the V&A)

    The Victoria and Albert Museum holds one of the most important
    collections of sculpture in the world. This includes not only
    European sculpture in stone, wood and terracotta but also
    sculptural objects in a wide variety of materials - often
    polychromed - from many cultures and periods. The responsibility
    for the care and treatment of these collections (other than
    metals) falls to the Sculpture Conservation Section of the V&A
    Conservation Department. Students are primarily supervised by
    the Head of Section but receive guidance from other Studio
    staff, with different areas of interest and expertise.

Research studentships

    MPhil research programmes are for a minimum of two years
    full-time or the equivalent part-time. PhD research programmes
    are for a minimum of three-years full-time or the equivalent
    part-time. RCA/V&A Conservation aims to support research in
    three broad subject areas. We welcome enquiries about these and
    will also consider novel research proposals from individuals.

Materials and Practice in Art

    Applications are invited for research that focuses upon
    materials and/or practices within the fields of art, craft, and
    design.  We are particularly keen to advance the studies that we
    have made through our post-graduate and post-Doctoral research
    into the production, conservation, and documentation of modern
    and contemporary art.  We also encourage research that explores
    the interrelationship between artists' materials, practices, and
    intentions and sound conservation decision-making.

Historical, Social, and Artistic Contexts for Conservation

    Current debates within Conservation intensify the need for
    rigorous analyses of conservation practices and principles from
    historical, social, and practical perspectives. Our established
    research in conservation ethics and principles leads us to
    support further investigation into this significant topic. Other
    concerns of primary interest within the area of contexts for
    conservation include: objects and their meanings within the
    realms of artistic production, consumption, and conservation;
    histories and theories of conservation, including national
    traditions and professional trends; and public art and the
    object in the social environment.

Decision Contexts for Conservation

    RCA/V&A Conservation has led the way in examining and promoting
    models for decision-making within conservation.  We are
    committed to expanding our knowledge and understanding of how
    and why conservation decisions are made and invite research
    projects that question elements of risk analysis, collections
    management and organisation, and processes of decision-making.
    As a result of recent and current post-graduate research, we
    provide a vigorous environment for those who wish to examine
    such related vital issues as definitions of value; allocation of
    resources; concepts of damage and deterioration; and computing
    applications within decision-making.

Further areas of MA study may be announced and potential applicants
are encouraged to contact the Programme.

1st Contact:

    Joanna Baden
    Administrator
    Conservation Department
    School of Humanities, RCA
    Kensington Gore
    London SW7 2EU
    joanna.baden [at] rca__ac__uk

Deadline for Applications: February 7, 2003.

Joanna Baden
Department Administrator
Conservation Department
School of Humanities
Royal College of Art
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2EU
+44 20 7590 4532
Fax: +44 20 7590 4490


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:40
                Distributed: Thursday, December 19, 2002
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