Part-Time Traditional Arts Practitioner in Residence

Job Description

Salary: £34,610.00 – £39,906.00 per annum, pro rata.

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences / School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures / Celtic and Scottish Studies.

Part Time – 7 Hours Per Week. Fixed Term Contract – 2 years, Tenable from 1 September 2026.

Applications are invited for a part time (0.2) post of Traditional Artist in Residence based in the department of Celtic and Scottish Studies and the School of Scottish Studies Archives. Located within the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, you will contribute creatively to the teaching, research and outreach activities of these areas, while also helping to promote understanding of the traditional arts more widely across the University and beyond.

The Opportunity

The appointee will be an established practitioner in one or more areas of the traditional arts of instrumental music, song, storytelling and dance, with a commitment to exploring and strengthening the links between them. They will have proven ability to engage creatively with a varied cohort of students, and a commitment to promoting meaningful engagement with the traditional arts across and beyond the university. The appointee will interact closely with the rich ethnological materials held within the School of Scottish Studies Archives and other relevant University heritage collections, and will be encouraged to lead on the exploration of these in the creation of new work. They will also have demonstrable organisational skills, as well as established connections in the professional traditional arts performance world nationally and internationally.

The appointment is for a fixed term of 2 years, starting in September 2026. In recognition of the demands of working practitioners, a degree of flexibility will be possible regarding the working pattern, although the appointee will have to be available for student consultations on a regular basis.

We welcome applications for this post from all qualified candidates and particularly welcome applications from members of minority ethnic groups, who are currently under represented in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Your skills and attributes for success

• Expertise as a practitioner of one or more traditional arts (instrumental music, song, storytelling, dance)
• A close familiarity with the traditional arts of Scotland in particular
• Knowledge of and contacts in local, national and international arts practice and performance
• A substantial body of experience and output as a creator/ performer
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with other creative professionals

As a valued member of our team, you can expect

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive staff benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family friendly initiatives, and flexible work options.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 5 June 2026. Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.