University of the Arts London
About the Project
Based at London College of Communication in partnership with London Community Video Archive.
Project overview
Portable video recording — now a technology routinely embodied in smartphones — became available for the very first time in the early 1970s, making it possible for individuals and communities to make their own ‘television’. This new video recording technology was taken up by people ignored or under-represented in the mainstream media – tenants on housing estates, community action groups, women, black and minority ethnic groups, youth, gay and lesbian people, and people with disabilities. ‘Community Video’ deals with issues that still have a contemporary resonance including social justice, climate action and building solidarity and resilience through innovations in art and creativity.
Fifty years later, this rich heritage is under threat of disappearing, both because of the physical decay and disintegration of the half-inch reel-to reel-tape that was used to record it, and the aging memories of the original Community Video practitioners. In 2016 The London Community Video Archive (LCVA) was set up to preserve, archive and share community videos made by, from and for underrepresented and marginalized communities in London and the South East, it is an online archive with over 100 videos from the 1970s to the late 1980s made accessible for screenings, events and research.
The mission of the LCVA and the methodology of this PhD studentship is to recover and reactivate this history so the archive can be made accessible as a resource for contemporary debates and artistic production.
Archives offer us the possibility to learn from past modes and experiences to develop creative processes and meaningful work in the present. Following the recent digitisation of over 80 new archival video tapes for the London Community Video Archive, this studentship will provide a key moment for original contributions to knowledge to be produced on archives and materials that have been left out of mainstream historiography and to expand knowledges outside of the restrictions often produced by traditional archival practices.
This practice based/led PhD Studentship invites applications from students who are interested in the field of ‘archive studies’, contemporary alternative/activist screen histories in the UK and the ways in which changes in moving image technology have been, and continue to be, used to develop new forms of self-representation and modes of cultural production.
This studentship has a focus on ‘reactivation’ as a methodology; referring to a practice of both restoration and of setting-in-motion, this term provides a useful metaphor for the reflexive process of working with archival materials in contemporary contexts to explore how historic approaches to making and sharing non-fiction moving image projects continue to provide translatable and adaptable methods of making and representation.
Potential Research Questions or areas of research
- How can archival reactivation contribute to new community-led arts and cultural projects?
- What could the ongoing role of community video production, exhibition and distribution be in response to social and climate justice issues?
- What specific practices might sustain and develop accessibility and inclusion for moving image archives?
Partnership and Supervisors
The London Community Video Archive are the partner organization for this studentship. Professor Tony Dowmunt, who co-founded and continues as co-director of the archive, will be available as the third supervisor alongside Dr.Ed Webb-Ingall who will be the director of studies based in the Screen School at London College of Communication, UAL and Dr Pratāp Rughani, associate Dean of Research & Professor of Documentary Practices.
Webb-Ingall is a filmmaker and researcher working with archival materials and methodologies drawn from community video. He collaborates with groups to explore under-represented historical moments and their relationship to contemporary life, developing modes of self-representation specific to the subject or the experiences of the participants. He previously carried out the first in-depth study of the history and practice of community video in the UK and will publish a monograph on the history of video activism with the BFI and Bloomsbury in 2025.
Application Process
Applicants for this Studentship should first read the project brief and selection criteria in that document. In selecting applicants, the panel will be looking for skills and experience that directly address the themes and concerns outlined.
All applications for this studentship must be received by UAL by 20 May 2024.
PhD Applications submitted to the College where the project is based via one of the links below:
Applications should also include the following:
- The project title and reference
- A personal statement of up to one side of A4 demonstrating what they will bring to the project, how it fits with their skills, previous experience and interests.
- A CV to be uploaded to the UAL online application system
- A project proposal (no more than 1000 words) that addresses the ‘project brief’ as set out and articulates your particular emphasis or approach.
Your proposal should include the following:
- Your focus/emphasis in relation to the Research Question(s)
- Research context: Your how your proposed research relates to existing research on the subject
- Methodologies/Methods that will be used
- The contribution your research will make to your discipline and area of study
- A short bibliography of any sources/publications you refer to in your proposal. (note, a full bibliography of works to be consulted in the course of the proposed PhD is not required)
Interview
Applications selected for interview will be considered by a panel convened by UAL and the selected applicant will be offered a place at UAL.
The offer will include full supervision, mentoring and support from UAL and for the duration of studies.
We aim to recruit from diverse backgrounds, including race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief.
Queries regarding these studentships: [email protected]
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email – cover/motivation letter where (globalvacancies.org) you saw this job posting.