PhD Studentship: Digital Cultural Heritage

C&T, Prospero and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London have an opportunity for a PhD studentship as part of our collaboration establishing the innovative Centre for Performance, Technology and Equity (PTEQ).

This collaborative doctoral project contributes to C&T’s research in the area of applied theatre and technology, with particular focus on widening access to cultural heritage in a variety of locations. The research will investigate how dramatic techniques, genres and methodologies can be integrated with emerging digital approaches such as augmented reality, virtual reality, AI, and gamification in order to enhance engagement with museums or cultural heritage sites. The researcher might explore how digital tools can be used to widen participation and diversify normative viewing patterns through virtual curation, challenge established historical narratives, intervene in museum display practices, question boundaries between tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and/or better represent the pasts of marginalised communities.  The relationship between physical and digital curation will be interrogated and potential interdependencies with applied theatre methodologies, with a particular focus on lowering technological barriers to entry for both curators and audiences.  It will open up opportunities for practice research using C&T’s Prospero digital curation and arts facilitation platform, in relation to independent practice or existing C&T projects, as appropriate to the inquiry.

Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, and a Masters-level qualification or equivalent. We also encourage applicants with relevant work/professional experience who are considering doing a PhD to apply. Applications from candidates of underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged.

Studentships can be either full or part-time. The studentship includes a stipend for living costs at the UKRI Home rate plus fees and up to one studentship can cover international fees.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) should be submitted by 10am on Tuesday 28 May, 2024 via Central’s online portal, selecting the PTEQ funding route. EOIs should indicate which PTEQ studentship is of interest, and speak to the experience and research investments that would inform their work on that project. Applicants invited to next-stage interviews will be asked to submit references.

Further questions regarding the studentships can be directed to kate.elswit@cssd.ac.uk

Further information about PTEQ and the studentship can be found on Central’s website.