Curatorial Project

Course code: ART 445

Semester and Year: Fall 2023

Term and year: Fall 2024

Day and time: Every other week according to schedule below

Instructor: Christelle Havranek

Instructor contact: christelle.havranek@aauni.edu

Consultation hours: Upon agreement

 

Credits US/ECTS	3/6	Level	Advanced
Length	15 weeks	Pre-requisite
Contact hours	42 hours	Course type	VAS Required

 

Art fee: 2500 CZK

Art fees for this course will be used to cover: gallery and museum visits, guest lectures, final curatorial projects.

 

1.    Course Description

 

This course provides practical and theoretical knowledge about the role of curators and introduces students to the various activities involved in curating. It gives an overview of different forms of exhibition-making, including the creative development and research of a curatorial project. Furthermore, the course integrates concepts from visual art history,  theory and criticism as well as ethical and social considerations. The course takes place within a museum setting in Prague dedicated to modern and contemporary art, using its current exhibitions and programming as case studies. Completion of the course is marked by  the production of a curatorial project, which may manifest as an online publication or a physical display at a potential venue.

 

2.    Student Learning Outcomes

 

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

●      Understand the responsibilities and tasks associated with curatorship in modern and contemporary art institutions.

●      Gain knowledge in curating and related topics, such as educational program, exhibition design, and audience engagement.

●      Understand the different formats of exhibitions, such as collection based project, monographic solo exhibition, or commisionned site-specific installations.

●      Explore theoretical frameworks and critical perspectives relevant to curatorial practice. Address ethical and social considerations in exhibition programming, including issues of representation, cultural sensitivity, and accessibility.

●      Develop skills in creative development and research for curatorial projects, including identifying themes, selecting artworks, and shaping narratives.

●      Produce a curatorial project which demonstrates ability to plan, organize, and present an exhibition concept effectively.

3.    Reading Material

Recommended  Materials

●      Balzer, D., Curationism. How Curating Took Over The Art World and Everything Else, 2015

●      Obrist, H.U., Ways of  curating, 2014

●      Bruce Altshuler (ed.), Salon to Biennial. Exhibitions that Made Art History. Volume I: 1863–1959, London: Phaidon 2008

●      Bruce Altshuler (ed.), Biennials and Beyond. Exhibitions that Made Art History, Volume II: 1962–2002, London: Phaidon 2013

●      Andras Szanto, The Future of Museum : 28 dialogues, 2020

●      Ivana Goossen and Christelle Havranek (ed.),  Kunsthalle Conversations, 202

●      Lucy Cotter, Reclaiming Artistic Research – Expanded Second Edition (2024)

●      Bishop, C.,  Installation Art , 2014

●      Steed, L., Exhibition – Documents of Contemporary art, 2014

●      Doherty, C., Public Art (Now): Out of Time, Out of Place, 2015

●      Ana Janevski, Roxana Marcoci, and Ksenia Nouril,  Art and Theory of Post 1989 Central and Eastern Europe, a critical Anthology, 2018

●      Afonso Dias Ramos and Tom Snow , Activism - Documents of Contemporary Art, 2023

●      Maja and Reuben Fowkes, Art and Climate Change (world of Art), 2023

●      Gilda Williams, How to write about contemporary art, 2014

 

 

 

4.    Teaching methodology

 

Five of the class sessions will be held at the museum with the instructor and each one of them are to follow a structured format consisting of three parts:

1/Presentation focusing on a specific theme related to curating

2/Analyse of a case study in situ.

3/ Q&A and/or exercise designed to prepare the curatorial project developped by the students.

The sessions held with the instructor are combined during the semester with a certain number of individual study and task sessions, in which students conduct research and work on their curatorial projects, individually or in a group.

 

5.    Course Schedule

Date	Class Agenda
Session 1 September 6	Topic: Definitions -  The Curator, The exhibition, The Museum Description: This session  serves as an introduction to the Course Curatorial Project.  Explaining  key terms in curatorial practice, it will explore  the  historical evolution of  the curator’s work, and the functions and significance of exhibitions and museums in the art world. Through discussions and case studies, participants will gain a clear understanding of these fundamental concepts essential for effective curatorial work. Reading: Bruce Altshuler (ed.), Salon to Biennial. Exhibitions that Made Art History. Volume I: 1863–1959, London: Phaidon 2008 Bruce Altshuler (ed.), Biennials and Beyond. Exhibitions that Made Art History, Volume II: 1962–2002, London: Phaidon 2013 Andras Szanto, The Future of Museum : 28 dialogues, 2020 Assignments/deadlines:
Session 2   September 20	Topic: Fundamentals of Curating Description: In this session, students will delve into the fundamentals of curating and related topics. They will gain knowledge about exhibition programming, educationnal principles, and strategies for audience engagement. This session provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of curators in modern and contemporary art institutions. Case studies and practical examples will be used to illustrate key concepts. Reading: Balzer, D., Curationism. How Curating Took Over The Art World and Everything Else, 2015 brist, H.U., Ways of  curating, 2014 Ivana Goossen and Christelle Havranek (ed.),  Kunsthalle Conversations, 2020 Assignments/deadlines:
Session 3   October 4	Topic: Exhibition Formats - From Collections displays to Site-Specific Installations Description: This session examines the diverse formats of exhibitions in the context of modern and contemporary art. Students will learn about collection-based projects, monographic solo exhibitions, and commissioned site-specific installations. Through case studies, they will analyze the unique characteristics and considerations associated with each format. Reading: Steed, L., Exhibition – Documents of Contemporary art, 2014 Bishop, C.,  Installation Art , 2014 Doherty, C., Public Art (Now): Out of Time, Out of Place, 2015 Assignments/deadlines:
Session 4 October 18	Topic: Theoretical Frameworks and Ethical Considerations in Curatorial Practice Description: This session explores theoretical frameworks and critical perspectives relevant to curatorial decision-making. Students will examine ethical and social considerations in curatorial practice, including issues of representation, cultural sensitivity, and accessibility. Through case studies and discussions, they will analyze how these factors impact curatorial decision-making and exhibition programming. Reading: Ana Janevski, Roxana Marcoci, and Ksenia Nouril,  Art and Theory of Post 1989 Central and Eastern Europe, a critical Anthology, 2018 Afonso Dias Ramos and Tom Snow , Activism - Documents of Contemporary Art, 2023 Maja and Reuben Fowkes, Art and Climate Change (world of Art), 2023 Assignments/deadlines:
Session 5 November 1	Topic: Project development  Description: consultation , preparation,  of the final exhibition.
Session6 November 15	Topic: Project Launch Description: The finalization, execution, and celebration of the final exhibition.
Session 7 December 6	Topic: Project evaluation Description: meeting to evaluate the exhibition-making process and the outcomes.

 

6.    Course Requirements and Assessment (with estimated workloads)

 

Assignment	Workload (average)	Weight in Final Grade		Evaluated Student Learning Outcomes
Active class participation	30	30%	Understand major current issues and theories in curatorship in its conceptual, institutional and management aspects  Develop an ability to analyze and critique art exhibitions
Presentation	50	25%	Discuss and analyze works of art and the contexts within which they emerged.
Final Project	70	45%	Understand and implement the main steps in the process of exhibition making, such as research, work with text and concept of the exhibition, installation plan etc.   Understand the possibilities of working with an exhibition space, analyze diverse strategies of display and presentation of artworks  Design their own extensive curatorial project proposal
TOTAL	150 hours	100%

*1 = Critical Thinking; 2 = Effective Communication; 3 = Effective and Responsible Action

 

 

7.    Detailed description of the assignments

 

●      Active Class Participation (30% of the overall grade):

 

The students are required not only to attend classes regularly but also to come prepared: they have read the assigned texts and conducted assigned research, prepared questions or comments. They are expected to be active, react to the studied material as well as to the presentations and work of their colleagues, initiate discussions, and ask questions. For every missed class, a make-up assignment should be proposed by the student.

 

 

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Physical presence in all classes	30%
Active participation in discussions, the reaction upon fellow presentations	30%
Questions and comments showing that the student came to class prepared	30%
Individual assignments presentations (Class 2 and 3)	10%

 

●      Individual Presentations (25% of the overall grade):

During the semester, the students will prepare an in-depth presentation on the topic related to their final exhibition project. The presentation should take 15-20 minutes.

 

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
In-depth research and demonstrated knowledge about the presented material	60%
Interaction with the audience, ability to catch attention, present and formulate well	20%
Structure and visual appeal of the presentation	20%

 

●      Final Project  (45% of the overall grade):

Completion of the course is marked by the production of a curatorial project, which may manifest as an online publication or a physical exhibition in a potential venue. Students will be asked to prepare an introductory curatorial text and give an oral presentation of the project to their mentor and fellow students.

 

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Ability to develop a curatorial concept in dialogue with artists.	30%
Ability to organize an art event, prepare PR material, and invite the public.	30%
Grounding of the project in a given context. Curatorial text.	40%

 

 

 

8.    General Requirements and School Policies

General requirements

All coursework is governed by AAU’s academic rules. Students are expected to be familiar with the academic rules in the Academic Codex and Student Handbook and to maintain the highest standards of honesty and academic integrity in their work. Please see the AAU intranet for a summary of key policies regarding coursework.

Course specific requirements

There are no special requirements or deviations from AAU policies for this course.