Studiegids

Content

The course is an introduction to curatorial practices that is both theoretical and practical. It queries what exhibition making means today by looking at various practices from diverse (geocultural) contexts and institutions. Guest speakers, field trips, virtual visits and close readings expose the students to variety of topics that define the field. Special attention will go to the significance of transhistorical and transcultural approaches, the issue of decolonization and restitution, gender, cultural economics, and on- and offline curating. The course is anchored in a global perspective, which means it mixes Belgian and European viewpoints with perspectives from the Americas and the Global South. The aim is to give a broad view on the curatorial and demonstrate how cultural, economic and social contexts affect practices. The course is not focused on one medium or period but deals with art in general, including performance, film and video, modern and contemporary art. By providing a broad view on the curatorial, it prepares students for curatorial positions and situations. It gives them a solid theoretical and practical foundation to conceptualize an exhibition and critically reflect on the practice of curating.

One of the main activities throughout the semester is a group assignment that is directed at developing an exhibition concept, based on challenging artifacts from a museum. It concerns objects that are rarely exhibited, about which there is limited or no information available, or which have a troubled pedigree, raising political, economic, social and cultural issues around a national/regional collection.

The course lasts one week (full-time) with a presentation moment later in the semester.

Course material

Outline of the course on Toledo

A reader

Language of instruction: more information

The course is in English because it is open to international students.

Format: more information

It is intensive one-week course (five days full-time), consisting of field trips, museum visits, guest lectures, discussion sessions and a practical exercise.

Active and critical participation during the lectures is expected and encouraged.

Students prepare a group presentation. To provide sufficient time for the assignment, the presentations take place later in the semester. The date is set together with the institutions that are involved and the students but falls no later than 3 months after the end of the week.