Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aims of the module are to provide students with:

- A practical introduction to the logics of curatorial and educational practices in art’s institutions and
sites.

- Practical experience of understanding how to design and realise a public project by working with artworks and
artists, with institutions, audiences, and stakeholders.

- The ability to design and deliver a public project from research and conception to realisation.

- The ability to articulate, discuss and critically evaluate competing logics of practice in art museum and
gallery professions, and to measure and evaluate their practical, ethical, and professional consequences

Outline Of Syllabus

This module enables students to understand professional practice in art museums and galleries. It provides students with an introduction to the practical and philosophical problems of curating art by designing a real-time exhibition project.

The first section of the project examines the problems of curating and reinterpreting artworks, with reference to collections and/or works of art.

The second section examines the nature of problems of display, interpretation, communication, and promotion of works of art and artists.

The third section examines problems of documentation, legacy, and evaluation of curated projects.

The module has been organised in order to:

1) introduce students to working with artists, artworks, institutions, and audiences.

2) enable students to develop an understanding of practices in art curating in relation to professional debates and wider issues and problems within the sector

3) allow students to respond to challenges and problems in the sector through practical activities, group discussions and individual reflection.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students successfully completing the module will have had the opportunity to:

-       Undertake situational analyses to understand what problems should be addressed through exhibition and
event organisation, and to design a brief able to synthesise multiple problem areas in museum and
gallery work;

-       Develop and demonstrate sophisticated critical understanding of museum and gallery professionals’
multiple responsibilities to artists, audiences and stakeholders;

-       Develop understanding of the logistical, practical and philosophical debates concerning the practice of
public display and interpretation of art and artworks;

-       Develop understanding of the problems and challenges involved in designing appropriate and imaginative
exhibitions in particular situations with particular artworks and artists;

-       Develop understanding and application of key principles and debates within curatorial and educational
practice in art museums and galleries, as debated in museological and curatorial literature.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students successfully completing the module will have developed:

-       subject-specific skills in relation to contemporary curatorial practice;

-       the cognitive skills to apply this knowledge in the real-time, practical situation of realising a public
project;

-       conceptual, practical and professional skills appropriate for work in the sector.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module employs a combination of Scheduled Learning and Teaching and Guided Independent Study, with the methods used as follows:

Module talk: This teaching method will be used to introduce the module and brief students about the assessment.

Lecture: This is a core teaching method, used to achieve the knowledge learning outcomes.

Workshops & practicals: This is a core teaching method, used to allow students to put key knowledge and skills outcomes into practice in a broader context (e.g., in relation to their own experiences and practices and not set tasks).

Seminar: This is a core teaching method, used to allow students to consolidate knowledge (e.g., the learning outcomes) and to meet the skills outcomes via set opportunities and task that encourage students to critically apply knowledge outcomes.

Directed research and reading: This teaching method allows students to independently complete set reading/other tasks to support the seminars, workshops and fieldwork, and to deepen knowledge outcomes.

Guided Independent study: This teaching method enables students to deepen knowledge and skill outcomes, as well as to apply self-management skills.

Assessment preparation and completion: This teaching method allows students to prepare for and complete their assignments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The module is designed to allow students, working in one or more teams, to complete small-scale interpretive, curatorial and audience engagement projects relevant to the museums sector. The project is normally developed in collaboration with a public cultural venue.

The final summative module assessment is divided between an individual annotated portfolio that critically discusses the project process/product (70%) and an individual reflective report on the personal/professional learning developed during the practice-based component of the module (30%).

Formative assessment: there are multiple opportunities for the students to give and receive feedback during the project process. Formative feedback will be provided through small-group teaching by academic staff and Great North Museum: Hatton practitioners.

General Notes

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