Employment: Qatar Vacancies
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts in Qatar
Position: Director of Painting & Printmaking
Program: Painting & Printmaking
Position Number: F25960
Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: July 1, 2010
Review of Applications Begins: October 15, 2009 and continues until position is filled.
VCUQatar (www.qatar.vcu.edu) is an undergraduate and graduate degree granting campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the leading art and design program among all U.S. public universities. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUQatar is affiliated with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (www.qf.org.qa). Celebrating ten years of operation in 2008, VCUQatar offers BFA degrees in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Painting and Printmaking, and an MFA degree in Design Studies. The majority of students are from the Gulf region with approximately 30% international. The School is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. VCUQatar has substantial involvement with the emerging design industries in Qatar and is a significant catalyst for that growth.
VCUQatar benefits from a funding situation that allows it to be driven by innovative programmatic needs rather than typical fiscal constraints. Externally funded student and faculty research opportunities are expanding with the rapid development of Qatar, now among the wealthiest countries in the world based upon per capita GDP. (www.qnrf.org) The VCUQatar Center for Research in Design has a contract to design the Qatar military uniforms; is involved in the World Design Report with Icograda; has research funding to develop portable, sustainable architecture for labor housing; and is expanding its collaboration with faculty and external partners. The school is the center for design education in the country by emphasizing design entrepreneurship and design awareness through lectures, exhibitions, and conferences, such as the international conference “Tasmeem Doha”.
VCUQatar’s full-time faculty and administrative staff of 120 (60% female), instruct a coed student body of 215. The school maintains an enviable student/faculty ratio of 10:1. Housed in a 96,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, the school has 123,000 square foot addition that will open in Fall 2010. VCUQatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2,500 acre campus community. VCUQatar has since been joined by Carnegie-Mellon University (Business and Computer Science), Cornell University’s Weill School of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Northwestern University (Journalism and Communication), and Texas A & M University (Engineering). Education City is able to continue increasing its international presence as Qatar remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region.
Qatar is a liberal, hospitable and progressive country in the Arabian Gulf. English is the standard second language and the population of Qatar is approximately 1.65 million and growing – 350,000 Qatari, 15,000 US citizens, the remainder expatriates. Doha with a population of 980,000 has all the conveniences found in a contemporary city, and also maintains a traditional Arab flavor, evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. The new Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008. The US Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.
Position Description
The Director of Painting & Printmaking is a new 12-month faculty position that will provide the leadership to implement and develop the new Painting & Printmaking program at VCUQatar. The Director will be responsible for developing the program in concert with the Chair of the Department of Painting & Printmaking at VCU in Richmond. The Director will create a contemporary studio environment for painting and printmaking with a particular focus on teaching methods, techniques and theory with a historic and contextual reference to the Gulf region. Printmaking will include intaglio, lithography, screen printing and digital print media. The Director serves as an advocate for the program while supporting the strategic goals of VCUQatar.
The successful candidate has demonstrated leadership experience in the areas of painting and/or printmaking, research, education, and practice. The ideal candidate can formulate and implement program goals, facilitate interdisciplinary approaches to professional education, initiate new directions and support for research activity, professional development and curriculum development, oversee adherence to accreditation guidelines, and increase the program’s national and international involvement and visibility. In addition, the Director is responsible for collaboration with the Chair of the Department of Painting & Printmaking at VCU Richmond, adhering to university policies and procedures, and day-to-day administrative, academic, and managerial decisions for this team-oriented program and dedicated faculty. This position will oversee two full-time faculty and two technicians. The expertise of the full-time faculty will complement the expertise of the Director.
Other responsibilities include teaching, service to the school, faculty governance and student advising. The Director’s teaching responsibility will be determined each year upon consultation with the Associate Dean for Research & Academic Affairs. The successful candidate will teach courses consistent with his/her area of expertise which could be in any of the areas of painting, drawing and printmaking that the program offers. Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will be an experienced artist and educator at the forefront of contemporary art making with a thorough knowledge of fine art and design education at the University level. The candidate will possess a comprehensive knowledge of contemporary theory; process and application with the ability to teach at all levels of the program. Applicants will have an M.F.A. and an established academic career distinguished by a substantial exhibition record, a record of peer-reviewed publications, or comparable research accomplishments. Applicants are invited to apply with a broad range of expertise in painting and printmaking practices including those that push the boundaries of the field, particularly those with a demonstrated commitment to professional involvement and exhibitions. The successful candidate will teach courses consistent with his/her area of expertise which could be in any of the areas of painting, drawing and printmaking that the program offers. Printmakers should be able to teach a range of print media such as intaglio, screen printing, lithography, and/or computer/digital print media (wide format digital printing and digital laser cutting). Knowledge of contemporary practices is required. Minimum five years of University-level academic instruction beyond the TA level and three years of administrative experience strongly preferred. Strong collaborative and communication skills are required as well as strong experience or potential for working in a culturally diverse work environment.
Benefits
• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement to base salary
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including utility allowance and wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities
Application Process:Qualified applicants who have a record of achievement appropriate to VCUQatar should submit a letter of interest with a curriculum vitae, 20 examples of personal work and 20 examples of student work, unofficial transcripts, and the names of five references including email and telephone contact information to Ryan Ellington (rfellington@vcu.edu), Human Resources Administrator. Only Electronic submissions will be accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
For more information on VCUQatar and this unique international opportunity, please visit
www.vcu.edu/arts/employment/qatar
