AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) - Collaboration and Competition: The National Gallery and the Regional Public Art Gallery, 1920s-1980s

The University of Leeds and The National Gallery are pleased to announce the availability of a fully funded collaborative doctoral studentship from 1st October 2025 under the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme.

<p>As ‘the Nation’s Mantlepiece’ (Conlin), the National Gallery (NG) has been a dominant presence in the interface between art and diverse publics for 200 years. Behind this profile, the NG has developed extensive collaborations with ‘The People’s Galleries’ (Waterfield), the wide range of regional public art galleries in Britain. Whilst drawing on its status as the UK’s original ‘National Gallery’ and its international connections, the NG has shared its collection and expertise in various ways particularly from the 1920s, episodes which highlight the important mediatory role the NG has played in the development of Britain’s public art galleries. However, this centre-periphery model obscures the multifaceted and complex changing dialogue between the NG and regional public art museums. This PhD will explore the history of these collaborations during a defining 60-year period in the history of the NG to understand better the NG’s positioning as a key national node in a network of collaborations as well as how resulting collaborative initiatives and impulses may also generate networks of competition (for resources, for artworks) between the regional networks of ‘Civic Art Museums’; and how, in turn, these collaborations helped shape the NG’s own practices and programming. The project will utilise understudied primary resources and archives at the NG and key regional partners, as well as interviews with retired museum professionals involved in influential collaborations in the past. By surfacing the benefits and challenges of significant historic collaborations it aims to consider how both collaboration and competition might inform and benefit future NG collaborations and other partnerships between UK regional museums.</p> <p><u><strong>The PhD Project</strong></u></p> <p>The studentship aims to explore the history of collaborations and competition between the NG and national networks, building on existing research developed by scholars such as Giles Waterfield, Jonathan Conlin and Christopher Whitehead. It will focus on a significant period of collaboration and competition between the NG and regional museums beginning in the 1920s with the collaboration between the NG and Southampton Art Gallery.  It will focus on the role of the NG as a key node in a network of collaborations, investigating the influence of the NG on the changing landscape of regional art museums but also how these models of collaboration and the initiatives and impulses generated in the ’Civic Art Museum’ have shaped the practices and programming at the NG.  This project which concentrates on the rich history of collaborative partnerships by and through the NG will be informed by primary research resources held at the NG and key regional partner institutions, potentially including the national galleries in Edinburgh, Dublin and Cardiff; university museums including at Oxford, Cambridge and Birmingham; and other regional galleries such as Southampton City Art Gallery.  It aims to reconsider the perceived benefits and challenges of collaborations over the period 1920s to 1980s and reflect on future models for NG collaborations as well as museum collaborations more generally.</p> <p><u><strong>Research questions</strong></u></p> <p>It is envisaged that the project research questions will be refined by the student in conjunction with the PhD Supervisors, Professor Mark Westgarth (University of Leeds) and Dr Suanna Avery-Quash (The National Gallery); indicative research questions are listed below: </p> <ul> <li>What impact, both in terms of institutional and organisational policies and as a cultural mediator, has the NG had on other UK national art museums in the past and how and in what ways have (regional) public art museums shaped the role of the NG?</li> <li>What role has the NG played in the development of the public art museum in Britain in relation to collaboration and partnership? Are there differences between the NG’s collaborative practices and other national and regional museums in the period under review?</li> <li>What role does collaboration and partnership play in the development of national and regional public art museums?</li> <li>What forms of collaboration (exhibition planning/artwork loans/expertise/training) have enabled productive collaboration?</li> <li>What influences collaboration in the public museum sector, how and in what ways can collaboration give rise to competition (policy/politics/personal advocacy/networks/finances/funding)?</li> <li>What are the historical overlaps and associated issues in terms of collaborative and competitive collecting between the NG and national and regional galleries in Britain?</li> <li>What role does art museum professional knowledge (curatorial, educational, management, interpretation and audience engagement) play in centralized (national) and distributed (regional) public art museums? How have these systems of knowledge shaped the key relationships that the NG has had with other galleries over time?</li> <li>What role does financial support play in enabling collaboration? Are there modes of collaboration that do not involve financial support?</li> </ul> <p>The methodology is envisaged to be primarily historical research drawn from institutional archives (reports, meetings, correspondence files, press cuttings) at the NG and in regional public art gallery archives. This historical lens of the 1920s-1980s can be supplemented by a focus on institutional memory through interviews and surveys of retired museum professionals. Secondary literature focused on museum and institutional histories and heritage studies will provide the wider contextual research material. The student will develop a range of focused case-studies, developed through themed research questions.  A key focus of the doctoral research will be a mapping and analysis of collaborative methodologies in museum and gallery practices, developing a contextual analysis of the interchange and influence of national and regional public art museums.</p> <p>Applicants must be able to demonstrate an interest in the museums, galleries, archives, library and heritage sector and potential and enthusiasm for developing skills more widely in related areas. As a collaborative award, students will be expected to spend time at both the University of Leeds and The National Gallery.</p> <p>The student will be joining a vibrant cohort of CDP PhD students across the UK and will be part of a vibrant community of PhD students in the School of Fine Art, History of Art & Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds.</p> <p>As the CDP programme emphasises work-based skills, the four years of funding (up to six years and eight months part-time) includes PhD research but also development activities, including internships and placements, as applicable to meet the successful student’s needs. At the outset of their PhDs, students will complete an individual training needs analysis and plan. This is a unique opportunity to gain a wide range of transferable professional skills, which may include public engagement and interpretation of collections.</p>

<p>To be considered for the award, candidates must submit their application for the Scholarship by 5pm UK time on <u><strong>Friday 16th May 2025</strong></u> and submit a complete application for PhD study in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies online through the <a href="https://prod.banner.leeds.ac.uk/ssb/bwskalog_uol.P_DispLoginNon">University's website</a>.</p> <p>Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is ‘<strong>Collaboration and Competition: The National Gallery and the Regional Public Art Gallery, 1920s-1980s</strong>’ as well as Professor Mark Westgarth as your proposed supervisor. You will be expected to meet our<a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/fine-art-research-degrees/doc/apply-12"> eligibility criteria </a>for postgraduate research applications and to provide all the required <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/fine-art-research-degrees/doc/apply-12">supporting documents.</a></p> <p>N.B. Since you will be applying for a named doctoral project, your research proposal should take the form of <strong>a letter of application (maximum 1000 words)</strong>, explaining your reasons for applying for the studentship, how your existing scholarly interests relate to the doctoral project, and how your prior education and other experiences have equipped you to undertake it.  You should also outline particular ways in which you would hope to develop the project, in the light of your interests and expertise.</p> <p>Interviews for the Studentship will take place in the week commencing<strong> 2nd June 2025.</strong></p> <ul> <li>Applicants must not have already been awarded, studied for, or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.The awards are available for new Postgraduate Researchers undertaking full-time or part-time research study leading to the degree of PhD. </li> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2025.</li> <li>Applicants for Doctoral Research must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this Scholarship.</li> <li>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</li> </ul> <p>We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, but UK black and minority ethnic (BME) researchers are currently under-represented in our Postgraduate Research community, and we would therefore particularly encourage applications from UK BME candidates. All scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit.</p> <p>NB. All applicants must meet UKRI terms and conditions for funding. See: <a href="https://www.ukri.org/funding/information-for-award-holders/grant-terms-and-conditions/">https://www.ukri.org/funding/information-for-award-holders/grant-terms-and-conditions/</a></p> <p>Please let us know if you require any adjustments for the application process or interview. Support or adjustments may include, but are not limited to:</p> <ul> <li>Opportunity to speak with project supervisors at HEI and CDP Award Holder about the project and the process.</li> <li>Opportunity to speak with contacts within the HEI and/or CDP Award Holder regarding institutional support systems (e.g. neurodiversity, racial diversity and LGBTQIA+ networks, mental health support, support for carers).</li> <li>Access to interview questions and an insight into the interview process (e.g. selection criteria used).</li> <li>Opportunity to speak with active CDP students to ask questions regarding student experience as part of the CDP scheme. </li> </ul> <p>Your application will not be adversely affected by disclosing a disability, and it will be processed in exactly the same way as any other application.</p> <p>Applicants to be encouraged to complete EDI Monitoring Form (<a href="https://forms.office.com/e/tvHq0qB97W">https://forms.office.com/e/tvHq0qB97W</a>) <br />  </p>

The minimum entry requirement for PhD study is a 2:1 undergraduate honours degree, which can be supplemented by a relevant Masters degree or professional experience. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact PGR Admissions prior to making an application team (ahcpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk).

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate study is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 7.0 in writing and 6.0 in the other components (reading, listening and speaking), or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<p>CDP doctoral training grants fund full-time studentships for 4 years or part-time equivalent up to a maximum of 6 years and 8 months.      </p> <p>The award includes:</p> <ul> <li>A standard UKRI stipend - the minimum stipend level from 1 October 2025 will be £20,780.</li> <li>Tuition Fees - the minimum fee level from 1 October 2025 will be £5,006.</li> <li>A Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG). An additional £750 per year for CDP4 studentships. This can be used to support study visits, conference attendance, training and development opportunities which are necessary for the student’s primary research. </li> <li>A CDA uplift. An additional £600 per year to go towards any additional cost students incur whilst undertaking a collaborative award, e.g. costs of travel between the non-HEI and HEI. HEIs must ensure that students receive this uplift in their yearly stipend amount.</li> </ul> <p>Please note that the award does <strong>not </strong>cover any costs associated with moving to the UK.  All such costs (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa costs, Immigration Health Surcharge/medical insurance, flights etc</a>) would have to be met by the student.</p> <p>You need to meet the AHRC’s UK residency requirements. </p> <p>The student is eligible to receive an additional travel and related research expenses grant during the course of the project courtesy of The National Gallery worth up to £1000 per year for 4 years.  There is also a CDP Enhancement of £600 per year.</p> <p>There is no fee for applying for this Postgraduate course.</p> <p>If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship. DSA helps to cover the cost of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result of a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty. You can read more about DSA: <a href="https://www.ukri.org/publications/disabled-students-allowance-dsa-framework/">https://www.ukri.org/publications/disabled-students-allowance-dsa-framework/</a>.</p> <p>The successful candidate will be eligible to participate in events organised for all Collaborative Doctoral Partnership students who are registered with different universities and studying with cultural and heritage organisations across the UK.<br />  </p>

<p>For further information about eligibility and applications for this Scholarship please contact the Admissions team (ahcpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk)</p> <p>For further information about this PhD research project please contact Professor Mark Westgarth m.w.westgarth@leeds.ac.uk or Dr Susanna Avery-Quash at The National Gallery susanna.avery-quash@nationalgallery.org.uk </p>