This studentship offers the candidate an opportunity to carry out a piece of research on New Writing North’s touring programme of theatre and arts activities for under 7s and their families. This programme is positioned in a growing body of research that claims family engagement in educational activities enables parents to better support learning for young children.

The provision of arts programmes for communities marginalised from cultural provision contributes to learning environments that support children’s communication, language and literacy development. This is particularly evident for children from lower-income backgrounds. In times of austerity, as cultural participation offers decrease and community facilities come under budget pressures, the cultural sector is seeking to invent new models of partnership collaboration that protect access to arts and culture in areas of low participation.

The successful candidate will be interested in research methods that span education, social science and creative writing. You will investigate how an audience development model of cultural participation achieves educational and societal impacts for participants, and supports the development of a sustainable infrastructure of cultural participation in areas of disadvantage and deprivation.

The research will also consider whether an emerging partnership model, between New Writing North and libraries and community centres, has an impact on sustainability of and participation in arts and cultural programmes.

The studentship includes a full stipend, paid for three years at RCUK rates (in 2014/15 this is £13,863 pa); tuition fees and research and training support budget. Deadline for applications isFriday 24 July. Informal enquiries regarding this studentship should be made to Dr Caroline Murphy at Caroline.Murphy@northumbria.ac.uk. To apply, see www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=64150