starting October 1, 2027.
The position is to be filled on a full-time basis for a fixed term of six years. In accordance with §71 (2) of the Saxon Higher Education Act (SächsHSG), first-time appointees may be employed on a probationary period of up to two years.
The Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig (HGB) is one of the oldest art academies in Germany. It currently enrolls approximately 550 students across four diploma programs, a master's program, and a study program for refugees, and employs around 100 staff members.
The position is assigned to the advanced studies programme within the Department of Media Art. The professorship is intended to serve for a period of six years, to develop a new academic profile and to lead a temporary project-based class in the context of contemporary art, the body and technologies, thereby promoting an experimental engagement with current performative practices. The professorship is therefore limited to a term of six years.
We are seeking an internationally active artist or artist collective who specialise/s in live art – in particular, body-based situations, expanded forms of performance and their interconnection with digital cultures and technologies. A diversity-sensitive, global perspective is desirable, as is a willingness to engage with local contexts.
The term ‘performance’ is understood as an open field – ranging from live situations and forms of physical movement, through performances in digital and physical spaces in the age of AI, to participatory formats, role-play or gaming. Of particular interest are approaches that harness bodily and affective knowledge, interrogate the body as a social and political site, critically reflect on the reductionist logics of technological systems, and in doing so may also incorporate alternative or speculative worldviews.
The duties include, in particular:
- Teaching on the foundation (Grundstudium) and main studies programme (Hauptstudium) of the Media Art degree programme
- Developing and leading an independent teaching format in the field of performative practices in intermedial environments
- Offering interdisciplinary courses at the intersection of the performing arts, media and technologies
- Promoting an experimental engagement with historical and contemporary trends in media- and performance-oriented art
- Teaching artistic performance practices within the visual arts, including digital and hybrid formats
- Organisational skills and a very good command of both German and English are required
The appointment requirements, in accordance with §59 SächsHSG, are as follows:
- a completed degree in the arts (Master’s, art academy diploma or equivalent)
- demonstrated pedagogical competence and knowledge of teaching methodologies at the university level
- a distinguished artistic practice, evidenced by an artistic oeuvre and outstanding contributions to contemporary art
- additional artistic and creative achievements, demonstrated through experimental artistic engagement with historical and contemporary developments in the context of contemporary art, the body, technology, and their histories.
The teaching load is set by the Saxon Service Regulations for Higher Education Institutions (HSDAVO) in its current version and currently amounts to 20 teaching hours (60 minutes each) per week during the lecture period.
In addition to teaching and supervising students, the successful candidate will be expected to play an active and responsible role in the Academy’s self-governance, including participation in examination procedures, appointment committees, and other academic bodies. Further responsibilities include student advising and mentoring emerging artists, contributing to the development of curricula and teaching formats, supporting quality assurance processes, and securing and managing external funding. The language of instruction and administration is German. A very good command of German is therefore essential. Organisational skills and a very good command of English are expected. Strong interpersonal skills, together with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion are required. Given the nature of studio-based artistic teaching, the position requires a strong presence at the Academy and active participation in collegial exchange and collaboration.
