Director of the Slade School of Fine Art and Slade Professor

About us

About the Slade School of Fine Art

UCL’s Slade School of Fine Art recently celebrated its 150th anniversary and is one of the world’s leading fine art departments. The Slade has been a formidable and radical presence on UCL’s Gower Street campus since its inception, and previous Slade Professors include Edward Poynter, William Coldstream and Susan Collins. Still occupying the North Wing of UCL’s Grade I listed main Gower Street campus, the Slade approaches contemporary art practice and the history and theories that inform it through experimentation, imagination, and research–oriented practice. With a thriving and dynamic practice-led culture, staff are practising artists, writers and theorists with notable research outputs and exhibition profiles.

The Slade has around 270 students registered for taught programmes across the undergraduate BA and BFA in Fine Art and the Graduate MA and MFA in Fine Art and approximately 20 MPhil/PhD researchers. Taught programmes are practice-based, and students develop their own work through tutorials, seminars, crits, lectures, workshops and technical support according to their individual needs. Our studios are based at our central London location close to many significant cultural institutions.

The Slade studio UCL EAST will be the base for our new undergraduate BA Art and Technology programme launching in 2025. This studio will also be used for a 29-week widening participation programme taking place across the academic year and an intensive widening participation summer school for young people in London.

The Slade’s practice-led research culture facilitates an ongoing commitment to individual excellence in art research while also supporting collaborative research which increasingly addresses pressing societal and cultural challenges. Find out more about our research themes and collaborations at www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/research/research-at-the-slade.

About the role

We are looking to recruit someone with a genuine appreciation of how to lead and nurture all aspects of the Slade’s work. The appointee will bring a strong commitment to equality, equity, diversity and inclusion and possess a demonstrable openness in how they engage with students, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders. The new Director of the Slade will bring and will maintain a significant practice and research profile.

Reporting directly to the Dean, the Director is responsible to the Council of UCL, via the President and Provost, for the organisation and general conduct of the Slade School of Fine Art. This key leadership appointment will help shape the strategic direction and management of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and will contribute to the delivery of UCL’s strategic objectives, ensuring alignment with the UCL Strategic Plan 2022-2027.

The Slade Director will develop and implement a robust Diversity and Inclusion strategy and cultural change programme, including curriculum design, research strategy and organisational development. The appointee will foster a strongly collaborative and supportive culture to achieve excellence across all areas and to further enhance the Slade’s standing as an internationally respected art school.

Main Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and management of the Slade and develop a robust and sustainable financial plan aligned to Faculty and University objectives.
• Lead curriculum evolution and development.
• Maintain and implement strong research, impact and innovation strategies that will build on REF2021.
• Maintain and implement a strong ethos of art practice and practice-led research and teaching.
• Prioritise equality, diversity and inclusion policies and practices to ensure alignment with the Faculty’s and UCL’s EDI strategy and goals.
• Through a period of renewal, nurture a culture of openness, supportiveness and collaboration.
• Support practice and education across the full disciplinary range within the Slade
• Put in place external engagement strategies that will enhance the Slade’s global reputation and standing.
• Enhance existing links with employers, alumni and industry partners.
• Lead and strengthen fundraising activities and communication with existing and potential donors, in consultation with the UCL Office Vice Provost Advancement (OVPA)

About you

You will be an acknowledged expert in contemporary art and fine art practice with a track record of research and impact. You will also possess outstanding leadership skills including the ability to champion the collegiality the Slade values, and advocate well. Additionally, you will be committed to and not phased by the commitments the school has made to accelerate cultural change to ensure a just and equitable environment.

What we offer

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the world's leading fine art schools at a pivotal moment in its evolution.

As well as the opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)

Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)

Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan

On-Site nursery

On-site gym

Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay

Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

Discounted medical insurance

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/