Arts Commission 2026/27: Artist Callout
Arts and Culture, University of Exeter Closing date: Sun, 29 Nov 2026
- Part time
- £50k+
- Apply now
Tue, 10 Nov 2026 "> published -
Job Summary
Job Description
Arts and Culture is seeking a creative practitioner with a particular interest in organisational cultures (ie. how people work together in formalised settings, and how those cultures can be disrupted, adjusted and reimagined) to work with academics in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) at the University of Exeter to explore the following areas of interest:
Taking as your starting point the unique contribution of Humanities scholarship in contemporary UK universities, examine:
- The role narrative infrastructure plays across departments, networks and systems
- How interdisciplinary research cultures are being shaped by Humanities expertise
- How these practices collide with established or entrenched institutional norms
- How these practices benefit challenge-led strategic priorities in the sector
A fee of £14,000 (including VAT) covers the creative practitioner's time to deliver the commission, as well as travel, subsistence and accommodation as required.
A separate budget of up to £4,000 (including VAT) is available to cover production and presentation costs, such as technical and collaborative support, materials, transport, venue hire, hospitality, etc.
Job Requirements
The expectation is for new artwork to be created and shared with broader audiences, in a format appropriate to both the commissioned artist's practice and the lines of enquiry followed during the commission period. The creative practitioner is required to spend time in person and online with relevant HASS staff with a minimum commitment of two days per month, occurring January-June 2027. Engagement can take a range of forms, such as but not limited to: 121 conversations; participation in team meetings, site visits and teaching; and leading workshops with staff, students, and publics. A small working group of academics from HASS will provide introductions to colleagues, insights into specific disciplines, and potentially collaborative input to the artwork.
Commissioned artwork, to remain the property of the artist, is to be completed and presented before the end of July 2027. The format will be dependent on the artform (e.g. public performance, exhibition, reading or screening).
Job Responsibilities
The commission objectives are:
- Develop ambitious and striking artwork/s and experiences of quality and legacy.
- Bring creative practitioners into the work of the University of Exeter, devising collaborations across disciplines that value in-depth engagement and new perspectives.
- Build partnerships and reach new audiences, raising the profile of creative programming at the University of Exeter.
For the application criteria please see the full callout.
Useful Links
Job Overview
- Job Title: Arts Commission 2026/27: Artist Callout
- Salary: £50k+ (pro-rata)
- Hours: Part time
- Artform: Combined arts
- Role: Creative
- Contract: Contract
- Closing date: Sun, 29 Nov 2026
-
Location:
| view on Google MapsSouth West
Job: Arts Commission 2026/27: Artist Callout
Job: Arts Commission 2026/27: Artist Callout
Organisation: Arts and Culture, University of Exeter
Postcode: EX4 4PY
How to Apply
Creative Practitioners are invited to submit a 1-2 page statement, addressing their interest in this commission and how they meet the selection criteria, as well as a CV, and 3-4 examples of their work that show suitability for this commission (images, videos, audio links, etc).
Submit work to [email protected], with e-mail subject 'Arts Commission 2026' by 5:00pm (17:00) on Sunday 29 November 2026.
A selection panel, made up of 3-4 academic and professional services staff in A&C and HASS, will shortlist and invite selected candidates to an online interview. All interviewed candidates will receive a £100 fee to acknowledge their preparation and meeting time.
- Contact name: Sarah Campbell
- Contact email: [email protected]
About Arts and Culture, University of Exeter
Our work spans the University of Exeter’s four campuses and the surrounding communities in Devon and Cornwall. We work with the University’s community of staff and students, as well as creative practitioners, and South West cultural organisations to help strengthen creative networks, raise the profile of creativity at the University and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.