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Approaches to Curatorial Practice - HOA00009C

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  • Department: History of Art
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

This module introduces the history and current practice of art curation. Through a range of case studies and texts, it exposes you to relevant methodologies and conceptual problems, and equips you to critically assess the collection and display of visual objects.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module introduces the history and current practice of art curation. Through a range of case studies and texts, it exposes you to relevant methodologies and conceptual problems, and equips you to critically assess the collection and display of visual objects.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module you should have:

  • Familiarity with a range of case studies and secondary texts concerning art curation
  • Understanding of how art objects of varying kinds have been assembled and displayed in the past, in comparison with current practices in different types of galleries and institutions
  • The ability to analyze and evaluate different methodological approaches to the collection and display of art objects

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

You will receive feedback on assessed work within the timeframes set out by the University - please check the Guide to Assessment, Standards, Marking and Feedback for more information.

The purpose of feedback is to help you to improve your future work. If you do not understand your feedback or want to talk about your ideas further, you are warmly encouraged to meet your Supervisor during their Office Hours.

Indicative reading

Eilean Hooper-Greenhill, Museums and the Shaping of Knowledge (1992)

John Elsner and Roger Cardinal, eds, The Cultures of Collecting (1994)

Peter Vargo, ed., The New Museology (2011)

Hans Ulrich Obrist, Ways of Curating (2014)

Paul O’Neill, The Culture of Curating and the Curating of Culture(s) (2012)

Paula Marincola, ed., What Makes a Great Exhibition? (2006)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.