Theory tutor

ArtEZ University of the Arts is one of the largest art academies in the Netherlands. ArtEZ offers bachelor and master programmes in the fields of visual art, fashion, design, architecture, music, dance and theatre. Its broad range of courses offers scope for multidisciplinary collaboration. The university has approximately 3000 students and 900 lecturers and other staff. Education is provided in Arnhem, Enschede and Zwolle. The Executive Board and the supporting services are concentrated in Arnhem. 

BEAR, Base for Experiment, Art and Research. BEAR is the Fine Arts programme of ArtEZ Arnhem. It is built on a belief in the importance of contemporary art for society. Art is a domain that constructs knowledge by experimenting with new ways to intervene in the world. BEAR offers space to young artists to embark on a journey, together with teachers and peers, to investigate and experiment, to build a position within the field of art. Each study trajectory is a personal one, yet no art practice exists on its own, so in the programme individual and group work are closely linked. As a community working with and through art, we together push the boundaries of creative possibilities and experiment with the role of artists in society.

BEAR is looking for a theory tutor starting from September 2025.

Theory tutor (0.4 FTE)

Theory education at BEAR is twofold. First of all, it offers the tools to reflect on the role of art in society, combining art historical and art theoretical perspectives. Secondly, it aims to develop the crafts of reading, writing, and thinking in a way that is useful for practising artists -  for instance to support artistic research, or contextualising and conceptualising one’s practice. It is often useful to bring in sources from other disciplines such as philosophy, art theory, media theory, sociology, and psychology.

The theory program starts in BEAR 1 with THiNK, a series of four blocks, each one focusing on the place of art in society in a specific historical period. In BEAR 2 and BEAR 3 students follow Theory Blocks, choosing between four thematic theory workgroups. These explore topics relate to contemporary visual art, politics, philosophy, sociology, and beyond. The student takes a total of four thematic workgroups in the course of the second and third year.

From BEAR 2 to BEAR 4, theory is also integrated as part of the Artistic Research component, which supports students in their individual research. Artistic Research, which aims to develop a toolkit of methods and frameworks for making, thinking, talking, and contextualising. It asks the question: What is research for you, as an artist? At BEAR, research is always practice-based. Besides a discursive and textual component, it can include things that are sometimes considered non-artistic, such as exercise routines, family histories, activism and gardening.

Your work 

The Theory tutor should build a supportive and empowering environment in which students can develop individually and in connection with others. The theory tutor performs a number of roles dependent on the makeup of the theory team, these include: teaches and updates 1st year THiNK blocks, develops and teaches thematic 2nd and 3rd year Theory Blocks for the students, is an artistic research tutor for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students. In all of these tasks the Theory tutor brings examples of contemporary artistic practices, asks questions, supports, connects and guides both the group and individual processes of the students. The Theory tutor is also responsible for assessing the students.

You will teach weekly classes on Thursdays and Fridays. There are also other commitments, such as joining assessments, participating in the introduction day, team development days, open days, and the admissions and graduation committee that take place on other days than Thursdays or Fridays.

Your profile 

All our tutors are art professionals with a strong position in the (international) field. Each tutor represents a particular area or approach in fine art. We are looking for someone who is capable of inspiring, informing, and supporting students in developing knowledge and skills within the domain of theory and artistic research. We are looking for someone with a wide knowledge of the field and a unique personal perspective.

In this role, you will become an important part of our small BEAR team, in which we together plot the future direction of our education, and through that stake-out an evolving proposition about the future of art, and the role of the artist in society. It’s important that you are committed to the development of the next generation of artists and to innovating educational practices. We see BEAR as an ever-changing and evolving program, and you would be expected to be part of the driving force of this evolution. We expect that you must be energetic, collaborative, caring, open-minded, creative and have a deep knowledge of the field in which you work. With this role comes a responsibility in terms of availability and commitment to the students and the team. You preferably have teaching experience and/or a BKE certificate or are prepared to participate in this in due course. 

Our offer 

You will be given a temporary contract for 12 months for 0.4 FTE. Upon mutual satisfaction, there is the possibility of extending the temporary contract. The gross monthly salary is a minimum of € 4,535.76 and a maximum of € 6,359.47 (Position Tutor B, scale 11) based on a 36-hour working week. Besides an informal and open working atmosphere, we offer attractive employment conditions in accordance with the CAO-HBO such as a holiday allowance of 8%, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and good study and development opportunities. The work takes place mainly at the location in Arnhem.

What else do we offer?

•       Extensive opportunities for professionalization, personal development, and attention to sustainable employability.

•       A great place to work, with highly motivated and qualified (teaching) teams, with whom you shape the educational process together.

Application and information 

Do you have the knowledge, skills, and experience to get started as a Theory tutor? If so, we warmly invite you to apply, especially if you also have an enthusiastic team spirit and a strong professional mindset. You are requested to write your cv and motivation letter in English.

ArtEZ values a diverse and inclusive organisation. Working in diverse teams makes us more effective, innovative and the work more enjoyable. Anyone who feels inspired by this is invited to apply. The position is English-speaking.

The closing date for applications is the 7th of July 2025. The first interview round takes place on July 14th. A second round of interviews may take place. The language of communication during the interviews is English. 

Information can be obtained from Edward Clydesdale Thomson or Priscila Fernandes, Heads of Department BEAR, e.thomson@artez.nl or p.fernandes@artez.nl

For more information on the study program BEAR: 
https://www.artez.nl/en/courses/bachelor/bear-fine-art

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.