OPEN CALL:Tenure-track Appointment in Media Arts Specializing in Virtual Production at York University

The Department of Cinema and Media Arts, The School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD), York University invites highly qualified candidates to apply for a professorial stream tenure-track appointment in Media Arts specializing in Virtual Production at the Assistant Professor level, to commence July 1, 2022. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval.

The Media Arts BFA combines critical thinking with hands-on experience in innovative studio courses that focus on digital technologies (from social media to diverse screen technologies). The overriding philosophy of the degree emphasizes critical practice, collaboration, flexibility, resourcefulness, and problem-solving across various media platforms. The ideal candidate will have an established artistic and critical practice that engages issues faced by racialized and marginalized communities along with relevant professional and academic experience that addresses these issues.

A PhD, or a PhD equivalent (such as an MA/MFA with a substantial record of professional experience), related to practice in Media Studies, Visual Culture, Communications, Digital Media, Cinema and Media Arts or a related field is required, with a demonstrated record of excellence or promise of excellence in research and in teaching.

We acknowledge that within higher education in Canada, traditional or conventional academic and artistic pathways can reinforce biases in the filling of faculty posts. We encourage applications that may not fit all of the following qualifications and that challenge our ideas of teaching, scholarship, research, and artistic practice. We are particularly interested in colleagues who bring experience in facilitating equity, diversity, and inclusion practices within their teaching practices, and which may include contexts outside of academia, including artistic praxis and community-based work.

Applicants should have a clearly articulated program of research-creation, or professional practice and specialize in two or more of the following media arts areas: virtual production, immersive media, expanded cinema, media installation, interface design, sound design, AR/VR design, creative coding. Expertise in the use of game engines, 3d modeling, and motion capture technologies, and/or programming for creative projects is required. The applicant’s experience in working with racialized and marginalized communities in the creation of media, storytelling, archives, narrative experiences, community-led research, and other forms of advancing social justice and equity will be considered a significant asset. The applicant having experience teaching with these tools and techniques, and developing curriculum for virtual cinematography, production, and environment design at the post-secondary level will be an asset.

The successful candidate will have the capacity to engage in outstanding, innovative, and, as appropriate, externally funded research-creation at the highest level. The position involves graduate teaching and supervision, as well as undergraduate teaching and the successful candidate must be eligible for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Candidates are expected to provide evidence or promise of research-creation excellence as demonstrated in a submitted professional practice statement; a record of publication, exhibition, digital productions which may include community presentations, festival presentations, awards and accolades, and strong recommendations from referees of high standing.

Evidence of excellence or promise of excellence in teaching will be provided through the teaching statement; teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations including in high priority areas such as experiential education and technology enhanced learning; teaching evaluations; and strong letters of reference.

The candidate will be expected to develop and support a virtual production lab at the York University AMPD Motion Media Studio at Cinespace Film Studios at Cinespace Kipling, one of the largest privately-owned film studios in North America. The AMPD Motion Media Studio is a dynamic state-of-the-art facility devoted to the invention, convergence, and application of next-generation, new entertainment media technologies, with a special focus on film production, mixed reality spaces, and immersive environments.

York is a leading international teaching and research university, and a driving force for positive change. Empowered by a welcoming and diverse community with a uniquely global perspective, we are preparing our students for their long-term careers and personal success. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet and our future.

York University has a policy on Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities and is committed to working towards a barrier-free workplace and to expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons with disabilities. Candidates who require accommodation during the selection process are invited to contact the Chair of the Department of Cinema and Media Arts, in the School of the Arts, Media Performance and Design at fmsearch@yorku.ca.

York University is an Affirmative Action (AA) employer and strongly values diversity, including gender and sexual diversity, within its community. The AA Program, which applies to women, members of visible minorities (racialized groups), Aboriginal (Indigenous) people and persons with disabilities, can be found here or by calling the AA line at T 416 736 5713. Applicants wishing to self-identify as part of York University’s Affirmative Action program can do so by downloading, completing and submitting the form found here.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Indigenous peoples in Canada will be given priority. No application will be considered without a completed mandatory Work Status Declaration form which can be found here.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications has been extended to March 15, 2022. A letter of application with an up-to-date curriculum vitae, a statement of research and teaching portfolio (including teaching philosophy, syllabi, and sample assignments) and names of three referees should be sent to the Chair of the Department of Cinema and Media Arts in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design, York University at fmsearch@yorku.ca.