Curatorial Studies

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

The term “curate” has become ubiquitous in popular culture. Professional art curators are doing the real work and exist at the heart of the art world; however, their role and daily responsibilities remain mysterious to many. This introductory course will encourage students to know the history of the curatorial field, think critically about the discipline as it exists today, understand the specialized challenges and concerns curators face, and acquire practical skills and knowledge for jobs in the curatorial sector with a focus on the institutional environment. Though contemporary art will often be used as an example, processes learned and issues discussed will have wide-ranging applications. In addition to in-class lectures, exercises, and dialogues on topics such as research methods, executing exhibitions, and collections stewardship, students will visit a variety of area institutions and collections to hear directly from practitioners in the field and those who closely collaborate with them. Assignments will include audience-centered writing, in-depth exhibition analysis, and the production of each student’s own exhibition proposal.