[Commlist] Collaborative PhD opportunity at Northumbria University and Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children's Books

AHRC fully funded PhD opportunity in the form of a Collaborative 
Doctoral Award (CDA), now available via the Northern Bridge Consortium 
(NBC) Doctoral Training Partnership.


Mapping and Interpreting 90 years of Illustrating and Writing Childhood 
in the Collection of Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children's 
Books.


This PhD project will explore changing historical cultural constructions 
of childhood in books for children, making creative responses to these 
constructions, and looking at contemporary children's understanding of 
them. The context is the Seven Stories collection, a major, unique 
primary resource incorporating material from c.1930 to date, including 
original artwork and writing by key creators such as Edward Ardizzone 
and Judith Kerr. It will map and respond to key changes in the 
illustration and writing of childhood in children's books through 
cultural analysis and creative practice, exploring changing materials, 
techniques and technologies, and the interaction and collaboration 
between those involved in the production process.


The PhD candidate will map cultural constructions of childhood during 
the historical period the collection covers and make creative responses 
to the materials via practical experimentation regarding illustration 
and writing in children's books. This will indicate how adults creating 
books for children depicted and understood childhood and what techniques 
and practices were involved. Further, the candidate's creative responses 
will become a stimulus for contemporary children's understanding of 
children's books, creativity and historical childhoods, so sharing 
research findings beyond academia.


We are seeking a candidate with a background in Cultural Studies, 
Childhood Studies or related disciplines who has experience as a 
creative writer and/or illustrator. The candidate will be able to work 
with specialist staff at Seven Stories in archival work, outreach and 
exhibition curation. Supervision will involve guidance from experts on 
children's books and other media, and the creation of illustrated 
poetry, illustrated books and picture books.


To apply please prepare a 2-page CV, a short sample (up to 2,000 words) 
of creative written work, two pieces of indicative artwork, and a 
personal statement of no more than 1000 words indicating preparedness 
for this project and setting out the contribution that will be made.The 
first stage will involve submitting the prepared CV and personal 
statement to the Northumbria portal 
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply 



You will need to identify that you are applying for this specific NBC 
CDA using the code NBC22/GIBSON. Those called for interview will submit 
their creative work ahead of the interview stage. Full details of the 
application process are here 
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/studentships/nbc-dtp/ 




The deadline for applications is 28th January 2022.


The studentship will be awarded to the successful applicant subject to 
ratification by the Northern Bridge Consortium studentship committee.


Please contact principal supervisor Dr Mel Gibson with any queries 
(viamel.gibson /at/ northumbria.ac.uk) <mailto:(mel.gibson /at/ northumbria.ac.uk)>



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