MA Curatorial Practice  MA Curatorial Practice Falmouth University ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1567407777University-College-Falmouth-1.jpg

Curatorial practice has become an increasingly diverse, collaborative and creative activity - the dynamic interface between contemporary art and its audiences. MA Curatorial Practice puts ongoing dialogue with artists and exploration of art-world structures at the heart of the learning process. The course encourages students to develop a curatorial position through practice, by testing ideas in real situations. The combination of partners involved in the delivery of this course creates a marvellous learning opportunity for students. MA Curatorial Practice collaborates with three main partners ? Tate St Ives, Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, and ProjectBase ? to provide opportunities for students to develop the critical and practical skills required for professional curating in the field of contemporary art. The course puts ongoing dialogue with artists and exploration of art-world structures at the heart of the learning process. How is the course taught? The course is taught through a series of seminars, workshops, lectures and tutorials given by UCF staff, partner organisations and guest speakers. While assessment tasks require students to demonstrate critical and reflective thinking, they are also indicative of the kind of tasks curators might be expected to perform in real situations. The first study block encourages the development of critical and imaginative thinking through Curatorial Models, a series of tutor and student-led seminars, which introduce curatorial strategies and concepts, and provide a forum for peer group discussion. Complementing this unit, Curatorial Practice explores curatorial roles and contexts through visits to a range of art world professionals, in addition to tutorials on the practicalities of exhibition making. Students will also learn research skills and methodologies, and pursue independent research ? visiting studios and galleries as well as libraries ? which feeds back into all their assignments. The second study block comprises two projects which aim to give students direct experience of professional curatorial process. Firstly Professional Practice, delivered in collaboration with staff at Tate St Ives (or another partner organisation), will typically involve each student devising a hypothetical display of contemporary art for the gallery, using Tate?s collection. Complying with Tate procedures, students will also produce a range of curatorial writing to support a presentation of their proposal. Secondly, students will work collaboratively to initiate, develop and deliver a Group Project (a 5-10 day exhibition or other curatorial project) with a public art venue such as Newlyn Art Gallery. Students will be assigned roles and work as a team to deliver all aspects of the project. The process will be supported as appropriate by tutorials, but will require a high level of commitment as students will be responsible for the successful delivery of the exhibition project. Through a review process students will receive evaluation from art world professionals. Study block 3 comprises the MA Project, which encourages the individual student to identify and explore an aspect of curatorial practice relevant to their own interests and desired career path. To this end students may negotiate the form of their MA Project from a number of options, including a curatorial dissertation an extended arts based essay, an independent exhibition project, and a fully-developed exhibition or curatorial project proposal. Professional Practice Industry-facing, MA Curatorial Practice is designed to foster professional skills and awareness from the outset. Through contact with collaborating partners and a range of other national and international art-world professionals ? artists, curators, educators, critics ? the course provides opportunities for students to both develop and critique curatorial practice, and to establish networks and contacts relevant to their individual areas of interest. How is the course assessed