Curating Now

Module code: MU7004

Curating Now brings the expert (discussed in Becoming Expert) into the institution, and considers how the curator can creatively engage in producing art experiences both with contemporary art and historical collections. Might the curator unite these two separate art worlds through her actions? Or perhaps she'll throw them into conflict?

Here you'll look at monographic exhibitions with their possibilities for new commissions and retrospective selection, and examine group exhibitions based around ideas and themes. This will involve exploring public projects, temporary and travelling exhibitions and the different roles institutions, curators and artists play in these. Curatorial engagement with artists – such as artist as curator, artist as maker, artists and social engagement – is an important aspect of the module.

This module considers the challenges of proposal writing, exhibitions research, of working with different media and considering the ethical implications of curating. Our aim is to discuss curating as it is practised now and to inclusively consider both the contemporary and the historic. You'll also look more generally at communication theory, learning, evaluation and programming.

Topics covered

• The stages of curating
• Exhibition form and style: from monographic to group show
• Exhibition planning and making, and the selection of works
• Text and interpretation
• Critical reflection
• Critical practice
• Exhibitions, learning, communication, evaluation and programming