The hidden lives of artist-teachers in higher education in the UK

Resumen

This paper investigates the hidden lives of artist-teachers working in higher education (HE) in the UK through a constructivist grounded theory study. Using the Artist-Teacher Likert Scale (ATLS), a visual tool that conceptualises the dual artist-teacher identity on a continuum spanning numerical, conceptual, and visual dimensions, this research offers new insights into the identity of artist-teachers in this sector. Originally designed for use in adult community learning (ACL) (Cairns, 2023), the ATLS is adapted here to examine the HE context. 

Artist-teachers in HE were recruited via gatekeepers and social media platforms such as LinkedIn and X. Participants, drawn from universities across the UK, used the ATLS to position their current and ideal identities, and were interviewed to explore the considerations behind their placements. Data were collected in 2023 and analysed in 2024. 

The findings reveal themes including identity negotiation, definitions of artist-teachers, and time allocation between roles. The paper situates these findings within a literature review and concludes with recommendations for supporting dual professional identities in HE. This work contributes to understanding the complexities of artist-teacher roles and offers practical insights for balancing these identities in higher education.