Arts, Activism and Accessibility: Disability Arts in Wales, 1980-Present

Swansea University and the National Library of Wales are pleased to announce the availability of a fully funded studentship from October 2024 under the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme.

This PhD topic explores how the cultural lives of deaf and disabled people in Wales have changed over the past forty years. It examines the ways in which disability arts have contributed to the social organisation of deaf and disabled people and asks what creative works tell us about what it means to be disabled in Wales. The PhD offers a unique opportunity to work with the National Library of Wales to assist Disability Arts Cymru to conserve and widen access to its archive, and to work collaboratively to bring the story of disability arts in Wales to new audiences.

The AHRC award pays tuition fees up to the value of the full-time home UKRI rate for PhD degrees and full maintenance for all students. The National Minimum Doctoral Stipend for 2024/25 is £19,237 (rising in alignment with UKRI) plus a CDP maintenance payment of £600/year. 

The successful student will be expected to spend time at both Swansea University and The National Library of Wales.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable but not required for this studentship. The student would not be employed as a member of staff at National Library of Wales.

Closing Date: Applications must be submitted by 5pm BST on 13 May 2024.

How to apply: Please make an online application for this project through the Swansea University Apply System (swansea.ac.uk).