Contemporary Curating MA

Explore how to curate a compelling and relevant art exhibition within groups and independently. From curating contemporary performance to handling historic art objects, you'll learn how to apply practical skills to a variety of different art mediums and disciplines.

Our Contemporary Curating course gives you the theoretical, research and practical skills to work as a curator anywhere in the world. You’ll get professional experience managing projects in the Winchester Gallery, with unique access to the University’s vast network of practising artists, academics and researchers who will inform and inspire your curatorial practice.

By studying this MA in curating you’ll have the opportunity to:

• curate compelling art exhibitions based on research across disciplines and discourses
• develop critical thinking to collate and curate artworks which challenge the audience
• understand the current concerns and limitations of contemporary curation and culture
• get hands-on experience from practical workshops in object-handling and setting up exhibitions using lighting and tools
• attend visits to local and London-based art exhibitions where you’ll question and debate different curatorial approaches

Your learning will take place in the picturesque city of Winchester, where you'll join a thriving artist community with direct access to practising artists from Winchester School of Art. The Winchester Gallery is based at Winchester School of Art and is open to the public. Your involvement in the gallery will give you real professional experience in understanding the practical and logistical requirements of curating.

You’ll consider your exhibition’s profile, including the theme, whether the location is private, or public, and how your audience interacts with the artwork. Your decisions as a curator will be research-led, referring to theoretical art concepts and critically reflecting on your own practice throughout. We look at digital curation, the way artwork is stored, collected and archived online, considering benefits and limitations of digital curation in contemporary art.

To be eligible, you must hold a 2:1 degree or an equivalent international qualification in one of the following fields: arts, design, humanities, curating, art history, exhibition design, management, philosophy, communication, social sciences, marketing, or psychology. In addition, you must submit a two-page written and visual portfolio that outlines your curatorial experience to date.

Your portfolio should demonstrate your understanding of curating and include:

• A brief description of a curatorial project you have seen in the past year, explaining why it was significant and what you learned from it
• An example of an art historical or curatorial text you have read in the past year
• A recent experience you have had in contemporary curating, detailing your role and responsibilities
• A description of your involvement if you assisted in a curatorial project
• An overview of the curatorial projects you have participated in
• Information about the venues, sources of funding (public or private), and whether your role was voluntary or paid

Please note that we do not accept qualifications in the following subjects: geography, mathematics, engineering, science, performing arts, computing and technology, education, economics, business, finance and trade, law, hospitality, or tourism.