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Job Description
Grand Central Atelier - Bruce Cole Postdoctoral Instructor in Cultural History H-Net Job Guide • 06/05/2026 Job Institution Grand Central Atelier Institution Type Nonprofit Location New York, United States Position Post-Doctoral Fellow Grand Central Atelier invites applications for a Bruce Cole Postdoctoral Instructor in Cultural History and the Humanities, a two-year appointment within the Bruce Cole Humanities Initiative. The position begins September 2026 and is based in New York, NY. About Grand Central Atelier Grand Central Atelier (GCA) is the leading center in the United States for the rigorous study of classical drawing, painting, and sculpture. For more than a decade, GCA has trained artists in the methods and ideas of the European studios from the renaissance to the 19th c., and has built a community of practitioners, scholars, and patrons committed to the continuity of the Western representational tradition. About the Bruce Cole Humanities Initiative The Bruce Cole Humanities Initiative is a two-year program honoring the late Bruce Cole, former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities and one of the most influential American art historians of his generation. The Initiative brings the study of art history and cultural history into direct conversation with the working studio through two postdoctoral instructorships, weekly studio lectures, a public lecture series, and a capstone symposium in 2027. The Position The Postdoctoral Instructor in Cultural History and the Humanities will pursue independent scholarly work, serve as a co-editor of the Initiative's online journal, contribute to the intellectual life of GCA, and engage directly with ongoing research and publications on classical realism under the supervision of painter and scholar Jacob Collins. The Instructor will help students and the broader public situate artistic practice within its cultural, historical, and philosophical context. The Instructor will work with a Bruce Cole Project Director and dedicated Artist Fellows who together will bring humanities to GCA artists to enrich and deepen their creative process and bring the fruits of that interaction to a broad public. We are seeking a historian, classicist, intellectual historian, or humanist in a kindred field whose work speaks to the tradition that GCA's artists inhabit.
This is a distinctive role:
the right candidate is a serious scholar who is also drawn to teaching beyond the seminar room and to engaging audiences who care passionately about Western culture but do not necessarily come from the academy. Responsibilities May Include Serve as a co-editor of the Initiative's online journal: shape its intellectual direction, commission and edit contributions, and write essays of your own Participate in ongoing scholarly dialogue, offering critical responses to developing research Deliver bi-monthly studio lectures to GCA students on a regular schedule, on topics in cultural, intellectual, or political history relevant to the artistic tradition Hold regular office hours for students and teachers Help coordinate panel discussions in which students develop themes and compositions, contributing intellectual and historical framing Help plan and execute the Initiative's Public Lecture series and Symposium Qualifications Ph.D. in History, Classics, Intellectual History, or a related humanistic field, in hand by start date Demonstrated scholarly excellence: dissertation, publications, or work in progress of clear quality Teaching experience and a strong interest in pedagogy Genuine engagement with the Western humanistic tradition and an interest in how it informs artistic practice Research interests touching on classical antiquity, the Renaissance, Enlightenment, or nineteenth-century European intellectual culture Experience with public humanities, public-facing writing, or non-university teaching Editorial experience (journals, magazines, online publications) Comfort working alongside practicing artists in a studio environment Ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships with students, teachers, staff, and advisory board members Compensation Annual stipend: $75,000 Health benefits Studio access and full participation in GCA programming To Apply Please submit the below materials to info@grandcentralatelier.org. Please write "Application for Bruce Cole Postdoctoral Instructor" in the subject line of the email. Cover letter (addressing intellectual fit with the Initiative's mission) Curriculum vitae Writing sample (≤ 25 pages) Three letters of reference (sent directly by recommenders) A short video introducing yourself and explaining your interest in the position. Review of applications will begin May 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply early. Grand Central Atelier is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Contact Information Email:
info@grandcentralatelier.
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//grandcentralatelier.org/opportunities/bruce-cole-postdoctoral-instructo… Website https://grandcentralatelier.org Posting Date June 5, 2026 Closing Date September 1, 2026 Disclaimer H-Net, in accordance with its policies and procedures , reserves the right to reject, edit, and/or delete any posting that is found to violate its policies and/or procedures, and/or is found to violate federal or state law. Additionally, the pages and documents posted on this site often include links to information created by other public and private organizations. The inclusion of any material is not intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services. These materials may contain the views and recommendations of the individual subscriber/user, as well as links or references to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. The opinions expressed in any of these materials do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of H-Net .
