History of Art with Curating (Taught)

This MA History of Art with Curating is ideal if you wish to learn practical skills essential in the museum workplace, while studying the rich and dynamic discipline of the history of art.

Why choose this course?

• You will develop professional skills in curatorial practice, including how to design and pitch your own exhibition proposal and how to write text for diverse audiences.

• You will work closely with internationally recognised experts in the field.

• You can choose from a wide range of option modules from the medieval to contemporary period. You can also explore different media, including painting, sculpture, print culture, architecture, digital art, photography and performance.

• Your studies will be enriched by site visits, guest speakers and screenings and, if you choose to study on campus or via flexible learning, you will have the opportunity to apply for a 10-week supervised work placement in a museum, gallery or archive.

What you will learn

This course trains you in key historical approaches and will give you a solid grasp of the issues and skills involved in curating practice and an insight into the working practices of museums and galleries.

You will master methods and sources, including those related to archives, collections, historical and contemporary texts, and a broad spectrum of artistic media from cathedrals to digital installations, and learn about the role of the curator.

You will draw upon curatorial theory to design and pitch your own exhibition proposal, including optional training on digital design platforms such as ThingLink.

How you will learn

The course is available to study full- or part-time. Classes are normally held in the evenings, but the Curating module is taught intensively during the daytime over a one-week period during the spring term.

Classes include lectures and seminars with an emphasis on debate. You will also devise your own research project.

This course is part of our Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.

Highlights

• Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

• We offer a number of bursaries, and funds are available to cover research expenses.

• You can attend a wide range of events, including the Postgraduate Research Seminar, the Murray Lecture, Murray Seminar on Medieval and Renaissance Art, and at the Peltz Gallery and Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities, and become involved in our lively research culture, through the Centre for Museum Cultures.

• You will have access to resources and renowned art collections, monuments and study facilities in London.

• You will have the opportunity to apply for a work placement and we offer an exciting study trip abroad every spring.

Careers and employability

On graduation you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including:

• highly developed visual skills

• understanding and applying complex theories

• use of analytical tools

• the ability to research and write professional documents

• collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented assignments and fluent critical arguments.

Graduates can pursue career paths in the museums and heritage sector, arts management, conservation and policy; education, marketing and publishing; and research and academia. Possible professions include:

• museum/gallery curator

• museum registrar or collections manager

• arts administrator

• auctioneer

• researcher

• lecturer in higher education

• advertising account executive.