Call for applications: University of Cape Town masters scholarship

Background

The ICA is an interdisciplinary institute in UCT’s Humanities Faculty that facilitates new collaborative research projects, particularly in the creative and performing arts. Interdisciplinarity, live art and public spheres are key themes of the institute, and projects are imbued with innovation, collaboration and a dialogue with urbanism and community.

Research focus

• Interdisciplinary conversations, inclusive of such hybrid forms as site-specific performance, mixed-media performance, post-dramatic theatre, contemporary dance, live art (or performance art), performance curation.
• Interdisciplinary study in relation to cultural and socio-political contexts.

Sites for study include:

• Interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Performance art/live art.
• Live art in South Africa and other parts of the African continent.
• Decolonial imaginaries, the decolonial body and the body as text and site of contestation.
• Spectatorship and relationships with viewing, audience involvement.
• Site specificity and the creative and performing arts.
• The creation of public spheres: open access for the creation and reception of creative and performing arts events and discourse.

Structure

All students will be required to attend a regular seminar programme throughout the year as well as a studio programme for the first semester of their degree. Students may elect to do the degree by written thesis or a practice-based programme involving practical outcomes (performances/installations/exhibitions for example) and written explication. Students will be based at the Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies at UCT’s Hiddingh Campus, Gardens, Cape Town with co-ordination by Professors Jay Pather and Mark Fleishman.

Scholarship

The ICA announces provision for scholarships valued at R105 000 (about $6400) per annum. Scholarships are for a two-year period: 2023 to 2024. The MA degree must be completed at the end of 2024. There are up to four scholarships available.

How to apply

Applicants should submit their applications here before 31 July along with a proposal, which should include the following:

• Name, surname, nationality, address, contact numbers, ID/passport number and an email address.
• CV.
• Research proposal (max 500 words).
• Indicate whether they wish to pursue the study even if their application for a scholarship is unsuccessful.

Note:

• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
• Scholarship applicants will still need to apply directly to UCT for admission into their programme.
• The scholarship is for South African citizens only.
• All qualifying candidates are encouraged to apply, and in particular black South African women.
• The ICA will not accept applications via email.

All queries should be submitted via email at ica@uct.ac.za with the subject line ‘MA Scholarship Query’.