Collections and Curating Practices (Research)

Develop your skills and specialist expertise for a career in the arts and cultural heritage sectors while taking full advantage of Edinburgh’s outstanding archives and collections.

This is a programme that directly responds to a growing need for graduates able to work at the interface of academic research and curatorship. Drawing on resources and expertise from professionals and academics from across the University and Scotland’s flagship cultural institutions, you will have the opportunity to combine research-focused study with experience-based learning.

Your chosen independent research topic need not address curatorship or museology as the programme is designed to be flexible. We can support varied interests in the history of art and visual and material cultures, from contemporary photography in West Africa or medieval artefacts from Northern Europe, right through to modern and contemporary art in Britain and beyond.

In addition to addressing current debates in the museum and galleries sector from decolonisation strategies to digital futures, the core courses offer introductory practical training in areas such as object handling, writing interpretation and project management.

You will also put theory into practice by delivering a live research-based project for one of our partner institutions. Past briefs have invited students to test different approaches to displaying digital holdings, develop knowledge about and artwork by organising an exhibition and undertake detailed provenance research on a particular collection.

The only programme of its kind in Britain, Collections and Curating Practices is devised delivered in partnership with:

• Fruitmarket

• National Galleries of Scotland

• National Library of Scotland

• National Museums Scotland

• the University of Edinburgh’s own Heritage Collections and museums, including the Talbot Rice Gallery

If you have a background in the field – either through previous study in a related discipline or work experience (professional or voluntary) – and a desire to deepen your knowledge while expanding your vocational skills and networks, you’ll find our programme offers an ideal balance.