Students will be assessed on the following:

• Exhibition Review weighted at 15%
• Exhibition Proposal weighted at 35%
• Catalogue Essay weighted at 50%


[Learning Outcomes 1-6]
*Students must pass all elements of the assessment criteria

Catalogue
The catalogue will provide you with the framework to communicate a curatorial investigation into a selected area of enquiry, working with existing artworks from collections in the UK, and selecting a gallery to exhibit them in.
Specific content consists of sessions on producing professional exhibition proposals, and reading groups analysing professional catalogue essays.
Curatorial concepts are formulated and vetted via supervisory assistance. The emphasis is on students expanding their understanding of contemporary practice beyond what they are familiar with, via rigorous visual research and research into texts pertaining to the practitioners selected.
Initial research is closely supervised and students are directed to engage in critical analysis of the textual and visual sources they are researching in a manner that is directed by a critical perspective that possesses a significant degree of conceptual depth.

Proposal for an Exhibition
This entails planning an exhibition on paper: formulating a curatorial concept, selecting artists and a suitable venue and explaining and justifying in detail how the show will be hung. It will involve in-depth visual research informed by an in-depth knowledge of contemporary art and key issues relevant to contemporary art. The proposal will then provide a formative assessment point prior to the production of the catalogue.

Catalogue Essay
This essay will be related to the proposal for the exhibition. It will expand on the concept explaining its relevance and importance within a contemporary context. The essay will carry out an informed in-depth critical analysis of how the various artists in the exhibition contribute to the concept(s) informing the exhibition. It will be a serious scholarly essay in which illustrated works by significant practitioners play an integral role in the analysis. In addition analysis of the visual material must be supported by scholarly research into the chosen artists, with an emphasis on library and primary research. References to bibliographic research in the essay must be properly referenced using Harvard Style. Students can also engage in primary research in terms of visiting relevant exhibitions and /or interviewing relevant artists. This essay must exhibit a high standard of research, visual analysis of visual material, and a critical, analytical and questioning approach to all the material that results in a coherent, clear and forward moving argument.

Introductory lecture
Seminars
Workshops
Group critiques
Self-directed seminars
Supervision, individual and small group.
Study guides
External visits
Online resources
Independent study
Formative, diagnostic feedback on students' essays-in-progress and the exhibition proposal

Lecture theatre for introductory lecture
Seminar rooms for formulating proposals
Data projector
Audio, VHS, DVD playback
Library
Slide library
Student word-processing facilities
Internet access
Blackboard VLE

Darling, M. (2011). The language of less (then and now). Chicago, IL, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
Deitch, J., R. Gastman, et al. (2011). Art in the streets. New York, Skira Rizzoli in association with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.
Fournier, A., M. Lim, et al. (2010). Undercurrents: experimental ecosystems in recent art. New York, New Haven; London: Whitney Museum of American Art; Distributed by Yale University Press.
Kuri, G., M. Leckey, et al. (2010). New contemporaries 2010. London, New Contemporaries.
Mark, L. G., P. Schimmel, et al. (2011). Under the big black sun: California art, 1974-1981. Los Angeles
Pangolin, L. (2011). Women make sculpture. London, Pangolin London.
Obrist, Hans Ulrich (2010). A Brief History of Curating, JRP|Ringier & Les Presses Du Réel, Zurich.
Smith, Terry. (2015) Talking Contemporary Curating. Independent Curators International

1. RESEARCH A TOPIC THOROUGHLY AND CRITICALLY, SELECTING KEY TEXTUAL AND VISUAL EVIDENCE.
(Knowledge & Understanding, Visual Analysis)

2. COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE WORK OF SEVERAL VISUAL ARTS PRACTITIONERS ACCORDING TO A THEME, ISSUE OR QUESTION THAT DEMONSTRATES A REASONABLE DEGREE OF CONCEPTUAL DEPTH.
(Reflection)

3. EXPLORE A PARTICULAR THEME, ISSUE OR QUESTION VIA A WELL-STRUCTURED AND INTEGRATED COMMENTARY SUPPORTED BY CRITICALLY ANALYSED AND PROPERLY REFERENCED TEXTUAL AND VISUAL EVIDENCE.
(Analysis, Visual Analysis)

4. NEGOTIATE AND LIAISE WITH AN INSTITUTIONAL BODY.
(Communication, Working With Others)

5. DEMONSTRATE AND EVIDENCE THE ABILITY TO EVALUATE CURATORIAL STRATEGIES.
(Knowledge & Understanding, Reflection)

6. UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY AND SOPHISTICATION OF A CATALOGUE, DEMONSTRATING WRITTEN AND VISUAL ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS.
(Knowledge & Understanding, Visual Analysis)