Module Outline (Updated 08 May 2018)
This series of lectures and workshops introduces and develops key skills and knowledge in the production of exhibition projects and the management of museums' and galleries' curatorial programming.
A set of carefully choreographed topics runs throughout the term, timed to coincide with the work being done by the MA Gallery Studies exhibition students for their group exhibition project, but for other students the timing of these classes demonstrates the logical hierarchy of priorities for exhibition (or other curatorial projects) organising. The subjects covered in and the content of these lectures and workshops are valuable and useful to all students interested in producing exhibitions and other curatorial projects in their future careers.
Students on the MA Art History & Theory degree are invited to take this module if they wish.
There is no assessment for this module but attendance is compulsory. Students who fail to attend at least 70% of the scheduled teaching events will be regarded as having failed the module.
By the end of the module, students should also have acquired a set of transferable skills, and in particular be able to:
- Define the task in which they are engaged and exclude what is irrelevant;
- Seek and organise the most relevant discussions and sources of information;
- Process a large volume of diverse and sometimes conflicting arguments;
- Compare and evaluate different arguments and assess the limitations of their own position or procedure;
- Write and present verbally a succinct and precise account of positions, arguments, and their presuppositions and implications;
- Be sensitive to the positions of others and communicate their own views in ways that are accessible to them;
- Think 'laterally' and creatively - see interesting connections and possibilities and present these clearly rather than as vague hunches;
- Maintain intellectual flexibility and revise their own position if shown wrong;
- Think critically and constructively.
Syllabus
Week 1: Welcome Week
Week 2: Lecture/Workshop: Managing an Exhibition Programme.
Jess Twyman, Curator, Art Exchange.
Week 3: FRIDAY, 11AM, THE MINORIES, COLCHESTER.
Pecha Kulcha session: Meet Local Curators
James Ravinet (FocalPoint), Harriet Cooper (Firstsite), Kaavous Clayton (Minories), Jess Twyman (Art Exchange).
Week 4: Funding and Fundraising.
James Martin, Regular and Planned Giving Officer, University of Essex.
Week 5: Lecture/Workshop: Budgeting, Production Timelines and Loan Forms.
Sarah Demelo, independent curator.
Week 6: Lecture/Workshop: FRIDAY 12NOON, V&A, LONDON.
We will meet on the front steps of the museum at 11.50.
Working at a National Museum.
Catherine Flood, Prints Curator, V&A.
Week 7: THURSDAY 10AM
Lecture/Workshop:Working with collectors
Matt Lodder, Lecturer, Art History.
Week 8: Lecture/Workshop: Lecture/Workshop: How to prepare an exhibition proposal.
Jess Twyman (Art Exchange)
Week 9: Lecture/Workshop: Loans, Transport and condition reports.
Emma Berry (Art Exchange)
Week 10: Lecture/Workshop: FRIDAY 10AM
Graphic Media & Working with Graphic Designers
Barry Hurd, graphic designer.
Week 11: Lecture/Workshop: Press and Publicity: Writing Press Releases
Ben Hall, Press Officer, University of Essex.
This series of lectures and workshops introduces and develops key skills and knowledge in the production of exhibition projects and the management of museums' and galleries' curatorial programming.
A set of carefully choreographed topics runs throughout the term, timed to coincide with the work being done by the MA Gallery Studies exhibition students for their group exhibition project, but for other students the timing of these classes demonstrates the logical hierarchy of priorities for exhibition (or other curatorial projects) organising. The subjects covered in and the content of these lectures and workshops are valuable and useful to all students interested in producing exhibitions and other curatorial projects in their future careers.
Students on the MA Art History & Theory degree are invited to take this module if they wish.
There is no assessment for this module but attendance is compulsory. Students who fail to attend at least 70% of the scheduled teaching events will be regarded as having failed the module.
By the end of the module, students should also have acquired a set of transferable skills, and in particular be able to:
- Define the task in which they are engaged and exclude what is irrelevant;
- Seek and organise the most relevant discussions and sources of information;
- Process a large volume of diverse and sometimes conflicting arguments;
- Compare and evaluate different arguments and assess the limitations of their own position or procedure;
- Write and present verbally a succinct and precise account of positions, arguments, and their presuppositions and implications;
- Be sensitive to the positions of others and communicate their own views in ways that are accessible to them;
- Think 'laterally' and creatively - see interesting connections and possibilities and present these clearly rather than as vague hunches;
- Maintain intellectual flexibility and revise their own position if shown wrong;
- Think critically and constructively.
Syllabus
Week 1: Welcome Week
Week 2: Lecture/Workshop: Managing an Exhibition Programme.
Jess Twyman, Curator, Art Exchange.
Week 3: FRIDAY, 11AM, THE MINORIES, COLCHESTER.
Pecha Kulcha session: Meet Local Curators
James Ravinet (FocalPoint), Harriet Cooper (Firstsite), Kaavous Clayton (Minories), Jess Twyman (Art Exchange).
Week 4: Funding and Fundraising.
James Martin, Regular and Planned Giving Officer, University of Essex.
Week 5: Lecture/Workshop: Budgeting, Production Timelines and Loan Forms.
Sarah Demelo, independent curator.
Week 6: Lecture/Workshop: FRIDAY 12NOON, V&A, LONDON.
We will meet on the front steps of the museum at 11.50.
Working at a National Museum.
Catherine Flood, Prints Curator, V&A.
Week 7: THURSDAY 10AM
Lecture/Workshop:Working with collectors
Matt Lodder, Lecturer, Art History.
Week 8: Lecture/Workshop: Lecture/Workshop: How to prepare an exhibition proposal.
Jess Twyman (Art Exchange)
Week 9: Lecture/Workshop: Loans, Transport and condition reports.
Emma Berry (Art Exchange)
Week 10: Lecture/Workshop: FRIDAY 10AM
Graphic Media & Working with Graphic Designers
Barry Hurd, graphic designer.
Week 11: Lecture/Workshop: Press and Publicity: Writing Press Releases
Ben Hall, Press Officer, University of Essex.
- Module Supervisor: Gavin Grindon