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Contribute to vital historical research in a thriving institution with the Victoria and Albert Museum's doctoral placement opportunity.
Overview
Salary No salary declared 😔
Location Cromwell Road, London
Expires Expires at anytime
Organisation summary
The V&A is a globally-renowned museum, demonstrating continued growth and influence that provides impressive support to clients nationwide. This vibrant institution truly values its contribution to academia through early-career researcher support and hands-on curatorial experience. You will be part of this dynamic and progressive organisation as it continues to expand.
Role Summary
- Perform in-depth investigation of the National Art Library’s acquisition of German books during the Nazi era.
- Assess the cultural significance of these materials and the ethics of their acquisition.
- Determine whether purchases followed a defined collection strategy or occurred opportunistically.
- Focus on identifying whether books by artists labelled 'Degenerate Art' in Nazi Germany were actively collected.
- Contribute valuable findings to the museum's work on institutional transparency, historical accountability, and future provenance research.
Role Requirements
- Applicant must be a PhD student or early-career researcher.
- A strong interest and background in historical research.
- Able to conduct independent research and analysis.
- Comfortable working with archives and collections.
Application Process Details
- Applications close on Friday 30 May 2025.
- Interviews are scheduled for 11 June 2025.
- The position is temporary and full time.
The Role The V&A is pleased to announce a new doctoral placement opportunity for the 2025–2026 academic year. As part of our commitment to supporting early-career researchers, the V&A offers a range of doctoral placements designed in collaboration with museum staff. These placements provide PhD students with opportunities to contribute to live research projects while gaining hands-on experience with collections, archives, and curatorial work.
This placement will investigate the National Art Library’s acquisition of German books during the Nazi era (1933–1945), examining the ethical context of these acquisitions at a time marked by the widespread dispossession of cultural property from persecuted communities. The researcher will analyse acquisition records and assess the rarity and cultural significance of these materials to determine whether purchases followed a defined collecting strategy or occurred opportunistically. A particular focus will be on identifying whether books by artists labelled Entartete Kunst (Degenerate Art) in Nazi Germany were actively collected. This research will make a valuable contribution to the V&A’s work on institutional transparency, historical accountability, and future provenance research.
The Company The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country.
Application Details Applications close on Friday 30 May 2025. Interviews: 11 June 25. This is a Temporary, Full Time vacancy that will close in 15 days at 23:59 BST.
