Edinburgh Napier University

  For delivery of practice based degrees in performing arts, Universities often seek to employ lecturerswith a strong professional profile which is considered to add value to the student experience. The performing arts employment context is one which is volatile and unstable, but one where individuals feel their creativity is in demand. In this study, participants’ gave their rationale for a move to academia as a desire to create stability and security, but they find themselves in a neo-liberal work environment where they have to navigate insecurity and increasing demands to conform and perform in a culture of audit and accountability. This study focuses on the transition between these two work environments and explores the ways performing arts academics attempt to navigate the academic environment, and the impact this has on their identity.