Postgraduate
ma curating the art museum
The MA Programme is a full-time, 12-month course; teaching is concentrated in three eleven-week terms but work elements of the course may continue at other times, and the dissertation is to be written during the summer months. The Programme is structured as a series of interweaving strands:
term 1
History and Theory of Museums: a series of weekly seminars and visits focusing on the historical and social context of museums, their architecture and modes of display, over time.
Conservation: a series of fortnightly seminars, led by a practising conservator, giving an introduction to the ethics and practices of conservation now.
Virtual Display exercise: four sessions in collaboration with the National Gallery and Tate Britain, led by museum curators; a small-group exercise to a set brief relating to the display of works in the collection .
Internship: a six-month, part-time internship, one to two days per week (approximately 30 days in total), with a leading museum or gallery in London, begins mid-term and runs till April.
Introduction to the Gallery: students are introduced to the various collections in The Courtauld Gallery by Gallery curators
Gallery talks: students plan and deliver two/three gallery talks during the year, for which they receive guidance and feedback, partly through peer review.
Museum debates: a series of public debates, involving experts from outside the Institute, on a theme to be agreed, are planned and organised through the year, beginning in this term.
TERM 1-2
Contemporary approaches to the Art Museum: a series of seminars and visits, also involving curators, artists and other experts from outside the institute, on a range of issues relating to the museum, curating, exhibitions and display.
Term 2
Text and interpretation: a series of seminars with a member of the Faculty and an external teacher on the critical analysis of different modes and functions of art writing, and on the role of museum interpretation; involves analysis of museum exhibitions and a practical exercise.
Internship continues through this term
Exhibition project: a group exercise, working to a defined yet open brief with works from the Courtauld collections or elsewhere, resulting in a public exhibition at the end of the year; a concept is proposed, refined and agreed during the course of this term, alongside sessions on practical aspects of exhibition-making and project management.
Term 3 AND summer
Field trip to Europe: the whole student group with the Head of Programme; four/five days, to be decided.
Exhibition Project: continues through this term, leading to a four-week public exhibition, organised, mounted and interpreted by the student group.
Leadership: informal sessions involving presentations from with invited museum leaders and professionals and discussion
Dissertation: preparation for dissertations (10000 words max.) begins this term, and titles are agreed in June. Writing continues over the summer months, with submission in September.
Detailed information about the aims and objectives of the course can be found in the programme specification below:
MA Curating the Art Museum Programme Specification (currently being updated)