Course Enquiries - UK
Tel: 0207 815 7500
Mode: Full-time
The MA Curating Art and Public Programmes is a unique collaboration between the country’s leading public gallery for contemporary art, the Whitechapel Gallery, and LSBU. Across one year of full-time study, it equips students with the practical, intellectual and critical skills required to work within the field of curating contemporary art and public programmes.
The programme offers current and relevant theoretical knowledge and understanding in the field of curating contemporary art, as well as a range of work-based learning opportunities, developing high quality curators with an applied and relevant skillset. It provides students with hands-on experience of a working, vibrant public gallery such as the Whitechapel Gallery, renowned for its pioneering exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and public events programme. Students are placed in professional networks from the outset, providing an excellent foundation for their future careers.
Mode | Duration | Start date | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Mode Full-time |
Duration 1 year |
Start Date September |
Location
Southwark Campus
|
Employability has been carefully considered for this programme, as one of its main aims is to offer students professional avenues into the artworld and creative industries more widely and support them to achieve professional success within this challenging and demanding context. The course offers transferable skills throughout as well as opportunities to engage with other industry partners and wider networks.
Being industry-facing, engaging directly with employers and interfacing courses with real-world communities are key tenets of London South Bank University.
Students from a similar programme devised by the Whitechapel Gallery, upon completion of the course, were employed at the following prestigious art organisations: Alexis Hunter Estate, Arcade Gallery, Arebyte, Art Gene, Art Logic, Ben Uri Gallery, Bonhams, Camden Arts Centre, Contini Art Gallery, CREATE London, Design Museum, Frieze, Gillian McVey PR, October Gallery, Open Gallery, Pickles PR, Royal Overseas League, Sutton PR, Sotheby’s, V.A.C. Foundation, White Cube Gallery, Whitechapel Gallery.
It is also possible for graduates from this programme to continue their research by registering for a PhD.
We are University of the Year for Graduate Employment for the second year in a row - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, 2019.
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
The programme benefits from the collaboration between Whitechapel Gallery and all its stakeholders and supporters. For example, NEON Organisation in Greece, funds the successful programme NEON Curatorial Exchange, devised and managed by the Whitechapel Gallery. This involves a fully funded trip and professional visits including mentoring and the opportunity to apply for NEON Curatorial Award. This scheme and others, will be offered to a number of students on the course.
Recent activities at the Whitechapel include the exhibitions and public events below:
International art world network includes organisations around the world. We collaborate with numerous museums and public galleries, artists’ run spaces, not for profit organisations and commercial galleries. Students will benefit from access to peers in the UK and abroad. In addition, they will receive a Whitechapel Gallery card which gives them free access to museums and galleries in the UK and abroad for the duration of their studies.
Furthermore, LSBU has close links with the creative industries both in London and internationally, including The Photographers’ Gallery, Fotomuseum Winterthur, British Film Institute, Serpentine Galleries, Live Art Development Agency, transmediale festival for art and digital culture, amongst others.
The programme also benefits from its close association with the research environments of LSBU, including the Centre for the Study of the Networked Image.
The backbone to the programme is a 60-credit placement delivered over two semesters at the Whitechapel Gallery – all of the Gallery’s departments are receiving students who will be developing applied understanding of the various aspects of working in an art institution to develop exhibitions and public programmes, as well as communication and development strategies to promote and support the Gallery’s activities. Other work-based modules at the Gallery include those concerning the practices of engaging and working with diverse community groups and the public.
All programme outcomes are being delivered by a mixture of theoretical and applied modules, through an integrated ‘practice into theory’ approach.
The theoretical modules are delivered through lectures, seminars and tutorials and will feature guest lecturers and contributions from high profile industry professionals in the field, through the Whitechapel Gallery’s rich professional networks.
The applied modules are primarily delivered through work-based learning methodologies at the Whitechapel Gallery, which also include site visits, case-studies and workshops. LSBU uses Moodle as its VLE.
Students will also have access to exhibition studios and lecture rooms at both LSBU and Whitechapel.
The programme is managed by Dr. Nayia Yiakoumaki, the Whitechapel Gallery’s Head of Curatorial Studies and Curator, and Dr. Geoff Cox, the LSBU Course Director and co-Director of the Centre for the Study of the Networked Image.
Students will be assessed on both theory and practice with both formative and summative assessments in the form of essays, blogs, presentations, practical projects, project pitches, reflective writing, portfolio, as well as a final practical exhibition/public programming project and MA report. Formative assessment methods will include presentations, pieces of reflective writing and project pitches.The Practical Project is being assessed through the delivery of a project in the form of a public exhibition of public events programme, together with an MA report reflecting on the students independent research process and research methodologies within a critical, theoretical framework.
Each student will have a personal tutor. Personal tutors have responsibility to work with staff who find students are not attending or submitting work. They also offer support to students with personal problems and ensure that any issues connected with learning and teaching or any progression issues are identified in good time.
The course is taught by leading art professionals, curators and guest lecturers, including:
Though this MA course is new to LSBU, Whitechapel Gallery have run very similar courses in collaboration with other universities. Hear from graduates of the course:
The MA focused not only in aiding in the development of an independent curatorial practice but also on building up the practical skills involved in all aspects of exhibition making. My work placement with the Whitechapel Gallery’s Archive and Exhibitions team was an incredible opportunity to understand the tasks to be performed in an institutional setting while providing many opportunities for network building. I feel I have gained a great amount of knowledge that contributed to my career development.
Ines Costa, Curatorial Assistant, Whitechapel Gallery
The course, through its excellent teaching, allowed for a deep understanding of art and exhibition histories as well as how this theory is carried through into the very real situation of making an exhibition, working with artists and producing catalogues. I gained a thorough understanding of the ecology of the artworld, with its varied institutions and roles and was thus in a strong position to be able to apply for positions after the course that I was suitable for. It was inspiring to be part of the Whitechapel Gallery even as a student and it definitely added to the availability of resource and knowledge.
Habda Rashid, Senior Curator, Create London
A minimum of a BA (Hons) 2:2 degree in a relevant subject; or other international equivalent: we welcome students with qualifications from around the world; or demonstrable equivalent practical experience: mature applicants with relevant practical experience are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate an active interest in a relevant aspect of curating art and public programmes; they will be required to undergo an interview and submit written work in order to secure a place on the programme.
Mode | Duration | Start date | Application code | Application method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mode Full-time |
Duration 1 year |
Start date September |
Application code 5626 |
Application method |
Postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system. Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Students should apply for accommodation at London South Bank University (LSBU) as soon as possible, once we have made an offer of a place on one of our academic courses. Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
It's a good idea to think about how you'll pay university tuition and maintenance costs while you're still applying for a place to study. Remember – you don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as a postgraduate student.
Book a session with one of our specialist Postgraduate Advisors. Over a one on one Advice Session they'll advise you on postgraduate degrees at LSBU that match your interests and experience.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate an active interest in a relevant aspect of curating art and public programmes; they will be required to undergo an interview and submit written work in order to secure a place on the programme.
All candidates will be interviewed by the LSBU Course Director with the Whitechapel Gallery’s Head of Curatorial Studies.
Home/EU postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system.
Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
International applicants should use our international application system. Full details can be found on our How to apply section for international students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Your application will be circulated to a number of potential supervisors who will look at your academic qualifications, experience and the research proposal to decide whether your research interest is something that could be supervised at LSBU.
There will also be an interview either by telephone or at the University. If you are successful you will be offered a place on a course and informed of the next enrolment date. The whole process normally takes between six to eight weeks, from receipt of your application to a decision being made about your application at the School.
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
The excellent Documents of Contemporary Art series published by Whitechapel and MIT Press informs the intellectual core of the programme. Each volume in the series is a definitive anthology on a particular theme, practice, or concern that is of central significance to contemporary visual culture. The artists and writers included in these books, like the guest editors who conceive them, represent the diversity of perspectives, generations, and voices defining art today.
Find more details.
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
Fees are shown for new entrants to courses, for each individual year of a course, together with the total fee for all the years of a course. Continuing LSBU students should refer to the Finance section of our student portal, MyLSBU. Queries regarding fees should be directed to the Fees and Bursaries Team on: +44 (0)20 7815 6181.
UK fee: £10180 | International fee: £17500 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5626 | Session code: 1FS00 |
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 201 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.
The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.
If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Find out more at our postgraduate fees and funding section.
We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.
Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.
The individual fee for this course is shown above. For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 201 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
We have a range of PhD Scholarships available in partnership with businesses and organisations; read notices of PhD studentships.
Course Enquiries - UK
Tel: 0207 815 7500
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