Professor of Exhibiting, Curating and Mediating in Contemporary Art

The Academy of Fine Arts of the University of the Arts Helsinki is recruiting

a Professor of Exhibiting, Curating and Mediating in Contemporary Art

for a full-time position valid until further notice as of 1.8.2025. 

The Academy of Fine Arts of the University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) is an international fine arts academy that has trained visual artists since 1848. The teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts combines theory and practice as part of the student's development. The curricula emphasise individual teaching and learning. As a result, students can receive long-term personal guidance and work independently. The Academy of Fine Arts has a lively relationship with the field of visual arts, as the Academy's teachers work actively in the art field alongside their teaching work.   

Central to the studies is the student's own artistic work and research and their constructive facilitation. At the Academy of Fine Arts, the individual study paths of the students are supported through the combination of different study formats such as lectures, seminars, workshops, studio visits and group discussions. Through these various approaches, students learn to understand the connections between art forms, their tradition, history and presentational means.

Job description

The Professor of Exhibiting, Curating and Mediating in Contemporary Art position is located in the Academy’s area of Art Mediation Education and Theoretical Teaching. This area provides teaching across the whole Academy. This includes teaching and learning in the Bachelor's Programme in Contemporary art history and theory and the Praxis Master's Degree Programme in curating and art writing in contemporary art, as well as in the bachelor's and master's Degree Programmes of Fine Arts.

The Professor of Exhibiting, Curating and Mediating in Contemporary Art takes part in conducting and planning the teaching activities at the area of Art Mediation Education and Theoretical Teaching. The professor’s tasks at the Academy include providing and developing teaching in the bachelor and master programmes, carrying out independent artistic, curatorial and/or research activities as well as supervising and examining theses. In addition, taking part in the collaborative activities at the Academy (e.g. being a member of committees and administrative bodies, and being involved in the student selection process) and more widely within the University as well as its networks is expected. The professor is expected to follow current developments in the contemporary art field and the field of own expertise as well as to promote community interaction and international collaboration and apply for external funding.

Requirements and selection criteria

The Professor of Exhibiting, Curating and Mediating Contemporary Art has expertise in curatorial practices and has significantly contributed to the field. The professor is required to have knowledge and expertise in curatorial practices and related discourses, exhibition histories, writing, publishing and contemporary art. The professor is required to have a doctoral degree. In addition, prior experience in teaching and learning at the university level is required.

The Professor of Exhibiting, Curating and Mediating Contemporary Art is expected to have proven management and leadership skills in an academic and/or multi-professional community, excellent writing competence, good communication and cooperation skills, and the ability to plan teaching in the area and at the university level.

At Uniarts Helsinki, professors are expected to have a broad range of teaching skills and pedagogical experience, the ability to provide teaching based on visionary artistic activities and/or research, and evidence of the development of education. In addition, good evidence of the development and management of artistic or research and pedagogical activities, obtaining competitive funding, domestic and international cooperation and networking, and influencing society is expected from a professor.

The professors' teaching skills are assessed both on the basis of the available documentation and, for the shortlisted applicants, in a separate teaching demonstration and interview. The teaching demonstrations and interviews will be held on the first week of June 2025 at Uniarts Helsinki's Sörnäinen campus in Helsinki.

Language skills

Uniarts Helsinki's language policy promotes happy multilingualism. The languages of instruction are Finnish, Swedish and English. The position of Professor of Exhibiting, Curating and Mediating Contemporary Art requires excellent English language skills. Language skills are assessed in relation to the work tasks.

Pay and working hours 

Working hours correspond to the total working time specified in the collective agreement, which is 1,612 hours per year. The salary of the position is based on levels 8-9 of the requirement chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal performance is paid. The yearly gross salary at the start of the employment relationship is between 71 000 EUR and 85 000 EUR, depending on experience and qualifications. 

The position requires working in Finland. The position therefore requires the professor to be officially based in Finland for the duration of the employment relationship.  

How to apply 

Apply for the position no later than 21 April 2025 at 23.59 (EET) through Uniarts Helsinki's electronic recruitment system. Attach the following to your application as PDF files in English: 

• Free-form motivation/application letter (max. three pages) 
• CV according to TENK guidelines 
• Complete list of publications according to Research Council of Finland’s guidelines 
• Teaching portfolio 
• Portfolio presenting 5-7 most relevant artistic, research and/or curatorial projects. Maximum length 30 pages. If the portfolio includes video material, please add the video link directly into the portfolio. Total length of included video material is max 30 min. 

Further information 

For further information on the position, please contact Vice Dean for Research Mika Elo and on the recruitment process, please contact HR Specialist Leena-Kaisa Paananen, our e-mail addresses are in the form firstname.lastname@uniarts.fi   

Further information on working at Uniarts Helsinki please visit our website.