Job Opening: Research Associate II

Research Associate II 

Arts, Access, and Livelihoods 

Image description: A white text box on top of a red and black background. The Re•Vision logo is at the top. The main text reads "We're hiring! Research Associate II: Arts, Access, and Livelihoods. Application deadline: September 12th, 2019. revisioncentre.ca"

Re•Vision: The Centre for Art and Social Justice 

Temporary full-time (28 hours/ week) from [Sept 3, 2019] to [Sept 2, 2021] 

Hiring #: 2019-0462 

Please read the Application Instructions before applying 

We are seeking a full-time (4 days/ week) Research Associate II to join our team to support research at the Re•Vision Centre for Art and Social Justice in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences at the University of Guelph. This position will play a key role in three connected research projects at the Centre related to experiences of access, livelihoods, and technology for people with disabilities in the arts sector.

This position will include working closely with Re•Vision Centre Academic Director, Carla Rice in developing and implementing these interconnected research projects; general responsibilities will include overseeing data collection, tracking, management, and storage, supporting the development and submission of ethics applications to the Guelph Research Ethics Board, liasing with the research teams to coordinate meetings, track communication flow, take notes, and support knowledge mobilization. They will also work with Dr. Eliza Chandler in the School of Disability Studies at Ryerson University on research activities specifically related to the Accessing the Arts project.

RESEARCH: 

The Arts, Access, and Livelihoods Research Associate will work on the following projects: 1) Disabilities and Livelihoods in Canada: Partnership, Knowledge Sharing, Roles & Responsibilities, 2) Accessing the Arts, and 3) Relaxed Performance in Higher Education. These research projects ask what barriers to the arts and artistry exist in Canada for people with disabilities and will examine creative, pedagogical and technological interventions/practices aimed at expanding access. More specifically, the Research Associate will examine the following: how federal and provincial laws intersect with artistry as a livelihood and how disabled artists make a living and a life in the context of ableism (interacting with other oppressions) in structures and discourses; how the creation of an open data national arts listing impacts how people discover, interact with, and distribute information about the arts; and how the implementation of “Relaxed Performance” (RP) curricula in performance and related university programs (theatre, fashion, music) in Southern Ontario impact the uptake/integration of PR principles and practices in and beyond these classrooms.

POSSIBLE METHODS:

For the Disability and Livelihoods research component, the Research Associate will undertake a policy scoping review across Canadian jurisdictions complemented with key informant interviews, identify key questions and outreach strategy for a national survey, implement and analyze a national survey, summarize and share results with community, policy makers and researchers. For Accessing the Arts (ATA), the Re•Vision Research Associate will conduct a literature review on information-seeking behavior of relevant groups to identify current research in the area; interview community partner organizations about the impact of the national art listing in development; and develop an evaluation framework to assess user experiences of this tool. Methods for the Relaxed Performance evaluation process will include literature reviews, interviews with the instructor and students, participant observation of the in-class PR trainings in three university programs, and short audience exit surveys conducted after the final class public performance or show. 

ABOUT THE PROJECTS: 

Disabilities Livelihoods: Partnership, Knowledge Sharing, Roles & Responsibilities is a SSHRC funded case study project (PI: Deborah Stienstra) that asks what barriers to artistry as a livelihood exist in Canada. The research will examine how federal and provincial laws intersect with artistry as a livelihood, exploring relationships between arts funding and disability-related supports and services. 

Accessing the Arts (ATA) is a data initiative funded by the Canada Council for the Arts that aims to amplify accessibility in Canada’s arts sector. We will be developing and using linked open data to create a national arts listing that will impact how people discover, interact with, and distribute information about the arts. Throughout the first year of their project, ATA will translate accessibility information into structured data and then use this data to power a front end accessible event listing. Supporting the development of linked open data will help make information about accessibility in the arts more accurate and easier to find, help artists and organizations expand their reach to communities, and cultivate knowledge about access and innovate more accessible experiences for everyone in the arts. 

Relaxed Performance in Higher Education Research Project: Following up on a research evaluation project on Relaxed Performance practices in Canada, the Re•Vision Research Associate will lead research on the impacts of Relaxed Performance on University students and Instructors at three Ontario University sites - a grad fashion program at Ryerson University, an undergrad music course at the University of Guelph and a performance/theatre course at York University.

MORE INFO ON PROJECT PARTNERS: 

Live Work Well Research Centre: http://liveworkwell.ca/

Creative Users Projects: http://creativeusers.net/

Ryerson School of Disability Studies: https://www.ryerson.ca/disability-studies/

Bodies in Translation: http://bodiesintranslation.ca/

British Council: https://www.britishcouncil.ca/

QUALIFICATIONS: A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (PhD preferred) from a social science, humanities or interdisciplinary field and some related experience working in a community-based, interdisciplinary environment with a demonstrated commitment to critical analysis of disability, gender, social class, sexuality, race/ethnicity, Indigeneity, and body size. Strong written and oral communication skills. Track record of publication in academic journals is required and demonstrated ability to collaborate in research teams and to write technical research reports would be strong assets. Ability to work independently and within a team environment. Regular travel to and from Guelph and Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario is a requirement of the position.