M+ / Design Trust Research Fellowship 2016
Application deadline: June 30, 2015
The M+ / Design Trust Research Fellowship programme aims to support an original research project investigating issues relating to design and architecture in the Greater Pearl River Delta region, and between the region and other parts of the world. Apart from expanding the current body of knowledge in these areas, it is hoped that the findings from the fellowship will also inform future acquisitions and other programmes at M+.
Applicants should engage in advanced historical research on either a single discipline, such as architecture, graphic design, industrial design and urbanism, or cross-disciplinary developments, taking into consideration the region’s cultural, social, economic and political milieus as well as its international and cross-cultural networks. Although post-1949 topics are preferred, exceptional proposals focusing on issues related to the beginning of the 20th century will also be considered.
The successful applicant will be attached to M+ for three to six months in 2016, conducting independent research, preferably on a full-time basis. The fellow is encouraged to engage in intellectual exchanges with the museum’s curatorial staff and participate in its programmes. While outcomes may vary, the fellowship should at the minimum result in a paper (5,000 words or more) disseminated digitally or in print through M+ and Design Trust’s platforms, as well as a lecture as part of the museum’s public programme.
Eligibility
Applications are welcome from individuals of all nationalities whose areas of research are in design, architecture or a related field. However, the provision of the fellowship will ultimately depend on the result of the fellow’s ability to obtain a visa for Hong Kong.
Applicants should either hold a post-graduate degree in a relevant discipline or an undergraduate degree with minimum three years relevant professional work or academic research experience. Proficiency in spoken and written English is also required.
Stipend
The selected fellow will be provided a lump-sum stipend of up to 40,000 HKD (around 5,150 USD) per month for three to six months to cover research-related and living costs. (The monthly stipend may be prorated for a part-time fellow, depending on individual circumstances.) An overseas fellow may request a one-time travel subsidy of up to 10,000 HKD (around 1,290 USD), covering the cost of transportation to and from Hong Kong.
About M+
A cornerstone of the ambitious West Kowloon Cultural District, M+ is Hong Kong’s new museum for visual culture, encompassing 20th and 21st century art, design and architecture, and moving image from Hong Kong, China, Asia and beyond. From its vantage point in one of the world’s most dynamic regions, M+ will document the past, inform the present and contribute to the future of visual culture within an ever more interconnected global landscape. The museum will take a multidisciplinary approach that both challenges and respects existing boundaries, while creating a meeting point for a diversity of perspectives, narratives and audiences.
About Design Trust
Design Trust is a network of individuals passionate about design and its powerful role in societal transformation. The Trust supports creative projects that promote design talent, research initiatives and content related to Hong Kong and the Greater Pearl River Delta Region. Across a multiplicity of design disciplines from graphics, media, fashion to the built environment, the Trust aims to actively accelerate the creative design and development of meaningful projects.
Enquiries: designfellow [at] wkcda.hk
Full application requirements, and a downloadable application form, are available at www.westkowloon.hk/designfellow.
