Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities

Host organisation: Edinburgh Printmakers

Project title: Value of Printmaking and the Arts Stage 2

Project description

This internship will build on work carried out by our current SGSAH intern Mahtab Karami who is developing a research framework to evaluate the social, cultural and economic benefits of funding for arts organisations, using Edinburgh Printmakers as a case study. The Year 2 Doctoral Intern will respond to this framework and design and deliver a series of projects to identify new ways of measuring “triple bottom line” value for small and medium-sized arts organisations in Scotland, helping to capture their wider impact beyond traditional financial metrics.

The project aims to investigate how creative activity contributes to community well-being and cohesion, how artists and cultural organisations benefit from enhanced support and opportunities for innovation, and how the sector generates economic value through employment and its contribution to the wider visitor economy. The project involves engaging with key partners, such as local authorities, government bodies, and academic research centres, to provide further context and depth.

Outputs

  • Development of triple bottom line research projects in collaboration with the CEO and staff at Edinburgh Printmakers, and external partners.
  • Delivery of research projects working with Edinburgh Printmakers team as part of a two-year approach to monitoring and evaluating impact and value.
  • The delivery of a Stage 2 report capturing impact to date.

In person/remote/hybrid

Hybrid.

The research will take place physically at Edinburgh Printmakers. The Intern will be able to work remotely if needed. Some work will take place offsite at activity or partner locations.

Benefits to the researcher

The research intern will be able to research the social, cultural and economic impact of the arts and understand how creative activity contributes to cultural identity, well-being, and equality.

It will provide opportunities to contribute to meaningful research and evaluation while building professional connections across Scotland’s cultural and policy sectors —experience that will support long-term goal of working in roles connecting art, society, and policy.

They will have the opportunity to work with a key institution in the city, alongside a skilled network of staff and freelancers. As part of this they will have the opportunity to understand printmaking as a practice and the value that community-based visual arts organisations offer to society.

Key relationships

The researcher will work with the Chief Executive and Senior Team from Edinburgh Printmakers as well as other key staff and community stakeholders including artists, creative practitioners, gallery audiences and participants in courses, workshops, talks and tours.

Introductions will be made to key cultural theorists and policy makers including in academic institutions, national funders, local authorities and trusts.

Subject areas

This opportunity would be relevant to the following subject areas:

Architecture; Creative Writing; Dance; Design; Drama & Theatre Studies; Music; Visual Arts; Curating; Cultural History; Museum and Gallery Studies; Museum Policy & Management; Heritage Management; Conservation of Art and Textiles; Art History; Policy, Arts Management and Creative Industries; Archives; Information and Knowledge Management.

Person specification

A1. Knowledge Base
  • Essential: Research methods – Practical application; Information Seeking; Information literacy and management; Academic literacy and numeracy.
  • Desirable: Research methods – theoretical knowledge; Subject Knowledge.
A2. Cognitive Abilities
  • Essential: Analysing; Critical thinking; Evaluating; Problem solving; Synthesising.
A3. Creativity
  • Essential: Inquiring minds; Intellectual insight. 
  • Desirable: Innovation; Argument construction; Intellectual risk.
B1. Personal qualities
  • Essential: Enthusiasm; Perseverance; Integrity; Self-reflection; Responsibility.
  • Desirable: Self-confidence.
B2. Self management
  • Essential: Preparation and prioritisation; Commitment to research; Time management; Responsiveness to change; Work-life balance.
B3. Professional & career development
  • Essential: Continuing professional development; Responsiveness to opportunities.
  • Desirable: Career management; Networking; Reputation and esteem.
C1. Professional conduct
  • Essential: Ethics, principles and sustainability; Respect and confidentiality; Attribution and co-authorship; Appropriate practice.
  • Desirable: Health and Safety; Legal requirements; IPR and copyright.
C2. Research management
  • Essential: Research Strategy; Project planning and delivery; Risk management.
D1. Working with others
  • Essential: Team working; Collegiality; Equality and diversity; Collaboration.
  • Desirable: Influence and leadership.
D2. Communication & dissemination
  • Desirable: Communication methods.
D3. Engagement & impact
  • Desirable: Public Engagement; Enterprise; Policy; Society and culture; Global citizenship.

First published: 28 September 2026

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