Albert Dawson Collection Fellowship

This role will be based on the University campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.
Are you interested in nineteenth-century Victorian decorative art, histories of art education and the exploration of thematic display of individual collectors' works? Do you have experience in both academic research and engagement? Do you have a background in archival research?
The Albert Dawson Collection Fellowship is designed for a researcher to make use of the Albert Dawson Archive in Cultural Collections & Galleries at the University of Leeds. The collection is currently being catalogued and the Fellow will have the unique opportunity to work with material not yet made available to the public. We are looking for someone to make innovative use of this small but potentially rich collection.
Peter Rose (1927-2020) and Albert Gallichan (1930-2001) were pioneering collectors of 19th-century fine and decorative arts. They began collecting in the early 1950s and amassed a highly respected collection, which they displayed in their Victorian villa in Brighton. The collection was known as the Albert Dawson Collection to preserve their privacy.
The villa was a remarkable example of their collective vision, where every room was meticulously curated to reflect their tastes and passion for art and objects. - each room was densely filled with the pieces they collected. The collection, central to their lives, was a reflection of their wide-ranging interests and talent for arrangement and display.
After Albert's death in 2001, Peter established the Albert Dawson Educational Trust to support the study of 19th-century arts. Following Peter's death in 2020, the collection was sold, with proceeds going to the Trust. Their archive, including meticulous records of all their purchases, is now held by the Brotherton Library.
The Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to undertake research on this newly available collection. This collection is particularly relevant for those interested in Victorian decorative art, the 20th-century art and antiques trade, provenance research, collecting practices, the role of gender and sexuality in the collection, pedagogical use of fine and decorative arts collections and changes in design tastes post-1950. After completing research into the collection, we would like the Fellow to explore ways to integrate the collection into University teaching and seek collaborative opportunities with other holders of decorative art collections in the local area.
Research could be on, but not limited to, the following themes represented in the Archive:
o Peter Rose's role in art education and teaching.
o Rose and Gallichan's networks and reach of the collection
o Trends in loans and exhibition practices
o The relationship between gender, sexuality and art education/collection in twentieth-century Britain
o Decolonial and postcolonial approaches to Victorian decorative art collection and display
o Connections between the Albert Dawson Collection and wider art and antique dealer archives held in Special Collections
On completion of your research we would like you to explore links and synergies with other holders of decorative art collections in the local area. You will also be required to hold a collection preview event to showcase the collection to academics within the University and external researchers. The Fellow will also write a blog post to promote the Archive and your research for use on the Cultural Collections website. Other social media activity is encouraged during the Fellowship.
Get to know us: Visit Your career at University of Leeds Libraries to find out about our values, culture and ambitions.
Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa. For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent

o 26 days holiday plus 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) - that's 42 days a year!
o Generous pension scheme plus life assurance.
o Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
o Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team, and self-development courses including languages, Creative Writing, Wellbeing Therapies and much more.
o Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.
And much more!