Painting and Printmaking: Teaching and Research Faculty
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts in Qatar

Position: Teaching & Research Faculty
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Assistant/Associate
Salary: Commensurate with experience and training. Generous international benefits available.
Promotion: Eligible for promotion in academic rank
Department/Program: Painting and Printmaking
Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: August 10, 2025

Review of Applications: Review of applications continues until position is filled. For best consideration, applications are due January 17, 2025.

This full-time, 9-month position is non-tenure-eligible (term), and begins August 10, 2025.

The Opportunity
We are actively seeking an accomplished and dynamic Assistant/Associate Professor of Research-Based Practice in Expanded Visual Arts, including but not limited to digital art, installation art, interactive art, and experimental and documentary video, and 3D fabrication, with a strong grasp of contemporary issues within art practices in the Arab and Muslim world, contextualized within the broader framework of globalized contemporary art discourse. The ideal candidate will not only demonstrate a high level of proficiency in research-based practices within the visual arts but will also exhibit a deep commitment to fostering a rich learning environment for undergraduate students, rooted in a diverse and culturally nuanced context.

The successful candidate will bring a profound understanding of the rapidly evolving landscape of contemporary art, with the ability to incorporate cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary perspectives into the curriculum with emphasis on the local and regional cultural inclinations. Their expertise in merging traditional techniques with modern tools, while drawing upon contemporary art theory, will help create an inclusive and stimulating learning environment. This atmosphere will support students in engaging in interdisciplinary dialogues, receiving meaningful critique, and embarking on personalized artistic explorations in this innovative and interconnected field of creative expression.

The curriculum for this program is adapted from the BFA in Painting and Printmaking degree program offered to students in the School of the Arts at the main campus of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. VCUarts Qatar, a branch campus located in Doha, extends this program to its students in Doha, Qatar. Faculty are expected to collaborate with five other undergraduate art and design majors and the MFA graduate program at VCUarts Qatar.

There are generous benefits associated with this faculty position:

• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities

Major Responsibilities

• Contribute to creating a dynamic, exploratory, interdisciplinary studio-based environment for expanded media practices;
• Promote excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement;
• Engage in curriculum development for courses in Visual Arts, Expanded Media, New Genres, and Technology.
• Ensure that the curriculum aligns with industry best practices and standards;
• Teach courses within the Painting and Printmaking program corresponding to the needs of the program and the candidate’s expertise;
• Contribute to teaching in academic units outside the Painting and Printmaking program, as assigned, including Art Foundation, BFA, and the MFA programs;
• Contribute to new knowledge in the field through research and/or creative work, with impact at the national and/or international level;
• Participate actively in institutional service, including governance committees and special task forces, as well as service to the creative/academic discipline;
• Engage in collaborative relationships across VCUarts Qatar departments and Qatar Foundation partner universities in Education City;
• Support collaborative relationships with the Painting and Printmaking program on the Richmond, VA campus and the VCU School of the Arts at large;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• MFA, PhD, or equivalent terminal degree in in practice-based fine arts or related fields, or a combination of professional training, experience, and education that equates to a terminal degree.
• Candidates must have at least 3-5 years of full-time university-level teaching experience, beyond adjunct roles. Professional experience with established art and cultural institutions, including non-profits in the arts sector, is essential.
• Knowledge of the higher educational landscape, research and professional practices in in expanded visual arts;
• The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse environment, supporting VCU's emphasis on global perspectives and teaching methods that are historically and contextually relevant to the Gulf region.
• The candidate should have a demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment, or a strong willingness to do so as a faculty member at VCU and VCUarts Qatar. This includes the ability to work collaboratively within a multicultural academic setting.
• A well-established research agenda, with clear potential for securing external funding, and a demonstrated potential for scholarly work or creative expression that complements and expands the expertise within the department/unit, is essential.
• Proficiency in both verbal and written English is required, as all courses at VCUarts Qatar are taught in English.
• Strong collaboration skills and a demonstrated enthusiasm for working within a multicultural environment are highly valued.
• Excellent time management, writing and communication skills;

VCUarts Qatar:
VCUarts Qatar is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts (VCUarts). Located in Richmond, Virginia, VCUarts (confidential is a top-ranked public art school in the U.S. VCUarts Qatar was established in 1998 through a partnership with the Qatar Foundation and offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design, interior design and painting & printmaking; a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history; and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design. It is currently in the process of establishing a BFA in Kinetic Imaging program. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUarts Qatar is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The current student body represents a diverse range of nationalities with students coming from 34 countries.

VCUarts Qatar is dedicated to global outreach and education and provides students with an environment for cross-cultural exchange that fosters inquiry, discovery and innovation. Examples of this mission are the two significant international conferences hosted by VCUarts Qatar—the biennial design conference, Tasmeem and the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art. VCUarts Qatar attracts globally recognized designers, artists and scholars while fostering partnerships within the region, and beyond, that enhance the educational, economic and cultural vitality of Qatar. Having established itself as a center of excellence for education and research, VCUarts Qatar has substantial involvement with the influential art and design world of the Middle East and is a catalyst for the growth and development of these fields in the region. VCUarts Qatar has over 120 full-time faculty and staff and a student body of over 300 students. VCUarts Qatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2500-acre multiversity campus. VCUarts Qatar was joined by Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Carnegie-Mellon University, Texas A&M University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Northwestern University, and HEC Paris.

Qatar, with English as the standard second language, is a progressive country in the Arabian Gulf and remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region. Doha offers all the conveniences found in a contemporary and cosmopolitan city, while honoring a rich tradition that is evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. Al-Wakrah Stadium, a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, designed by the defunct deconstructivist architect Zaha Hadid was inaugurated in 2021. The National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel, opened in March 2019 while the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008 and the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf) opened in 2010. The U.S. Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.

VCUarts:
Ranked by US News & World Report as a top five arts and design school, VCUarts (arts.vcu.edu) includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts. Students are taught by over 175 full-time teaching and research faculty members and the school is supported by over 70 staff members that assist in daily processes. The school includes two campuses; one in Richmond and one in Doha, Qatar. The Richmond campus is located on the university’s 75-acre Monroe Park campus situated in the city’s historic Fan District. Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business.

Consideration Process and Instructions:
Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity and inclusion – an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence.

VCU strongly encourages applications from all racial, ethnic, gender, and social identities. Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between 150-300 words) providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share how your lived experiences, and academic and professional activities will impact your contribution to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and inclusion.

Note: Examples include working with others to further the goals of equity and inclusion; leading in any capacity that tangibly promotes an environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated; creative activity, research and scholarship that promotes equity and parity; teaching and mentoring students, and/or engaging with faculty and/or staff from traditionally underrepresented groups to create a positive and successful organizational experience.

Additional guidance on writing a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion can. Be found here.

To apply, please submit application materials via VCU Jobs Website. Only electronic applications will be accepted.

The following documents should be submitted:

• A Letter of Interest, which conveys relevant academic and professional experience and describes experiences and/or professional service that inform a collaborative and community-engaged approach to teaching
• Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (see above for details)
• Current CV/Resume
• A list of three current references including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses (references will not be contacted prior to applicant’s approval)
• Portfolio of work— a link to appropriate selections of documentation of the applicant's experience in their area(s) of expertise. This could include traditional and/or non-traditional examples of one's work from a broad cross-section and/or combination of experience from a variety of roles.

Only electronic materials submitted via the VCU Jobs Website will be accepted. For best consideration, please submit materials by January 17, 2025. Materials will be continue to be considered as they are received until a faculty is identified.

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to providing accessible and equitable living, learning and working environments free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability.