Curatorial Practice (Art & Design) MFA

Program Overview

The MFA in Curatorial Practice (Art & Design) from the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design immerses students in the diverse aspects of curating through a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, and practical projects. By emphasizing real-world engagement with local and international art institutions, the program equips graduates with the skills, knowledge, and professional experience necessary for diverse career paths in the art and design world, including curator, exhibition designer, and arts administrator.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program is a full-time, 12-month Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Curatorial Practice (Art & Design) offered by the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) at the University of Dundee. It explores curating as a creative and collaborative practice in response to a range of real-world contexts and communities. The program emphasizes the diversity of curatorial approaches, encompassing everything from working with collections to temporary commissions, events, and publications. It caters to students at various stages of their curatorial practice and career, whether working with or as artists. The program emphasizes developing skills in creative, critical, and technical aspects of curating, along with practical experience in exhibition-making and event production.

Outline:

• Program Content: The program delves into diverse aspects of curatorial practice, including:
• Exhibition Formats & Curatorial Platforms:
Exploring various exhibition formats and platforms for presenting art and design.
• Event-Based Curating & Public Programming: Focuses on curating events and public programs that engage audiences effectively.
• Experimental Curating: Investigates innovative and experimental approaches to curating, challenging traditional methods.
• Collaborative Approaches to Curating: Emphasizes the importance of collaboration in curatorial practice.
• Working with Media Art Archives & Collections: Provides practical skills for working with media art archives and collections.
• Curating Research & Research Exhibitions: Explores curating as a vehicle for research and the creation of research-driven exhibitions.
• Different Modes of Writing within Curatorial Practice: Develops skills in various writing forms relevant to curatorial practice.
• Curatorial Activism: Examines the role of curating in social and political activism.
• Artist as Curator: Explores the role of artists as curators and the intersection of artistic practice and curatorial work.
• Design Thinking for Curators: Applies design thinking principles to curatorial decision-making and practice.
• Project Planning, Marketing, and Fundraising: Provides practical skills in project management, marketing, and fundraising for curatorial projects.
• Working with Publics: Emphasizes the importance of audience engagement and working effectively with diverse publics.
• Installation and Documentation: Covers the technical aspects of exhibition installation and documentation.
• Commissioning: Focuses on the process of commissioning artworks and working with artists.
• Course Structure: The program includes a mix of lectures, workshops, seminars, and practical projects.
• Lectures: Delivered by internationally experienced practitioners and researchers in contemporary art, design, writing, and performance.
• Workshops: Offer hands-on experience and skill development in various curatorial practices.
• Seminars: Provide opportunities for discussion, critical analysis, and engagement with current issues in the field.
• Course Schedule: The program is a full-time, 12-month course starting in September 2024.

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The program employs a diverse range of teaching methods, including lectures, workshops, seminars, practical projects, and guest lectures.
• Faculty: The program is taught by internationally experienced practitioners and researchers in contemporary art, design, writing, and performance.
• Unique Approaches: The program emphasizes learning through real-world engagement with local cultural institutions and organizations.
Students have the opportunity to work on projects in partnership with the V&A Dundee and other art and culture organizations in Dundee.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths: The MFA in Curatorial Practice (Art & Design) prepares students for a variety of career paths in the art and design world.
Potential roles include:
• Curator
• Exhibition Designer
• Arts Administrator
• Arts Journalist
• Arts Educator
• Independent Curator
• Arts Consultant
• Opportunities: Graduates from the program will be well-equipped to pursue careers in a range of institutions, including:
• Galleries
• Museums
• Arts Organizations
• Universities
• Cultural Institutions
• Private Collections
• Outcomes: The program aims to provide graduates with the skills, knowledge, and professional experience necessary to succeed in the highly competitive field of curating.

Other:

• Learning Environment: Students benefit from the art school environment of DJCAD, which includes a shared curatorial studio space, workshops, library, exhibition, and learning spaces.
• Unique Access: DJCAD offers access to unique archival holdings, including:
• The Alastair MacLennan Performance Art Archive
• REWIND Archive of Early Video Art
• Digital Demarco Archive
• The Artists' Book Collection Dundee (abcD)
• Institutional Partners: The program has a strong partnership with the V&A Dundee, a major cultural institution in Dundee.
• Placement Opportunities: Students have the opportunity to develop their final projects through negotiated placements during the summer.