Master of Art Curatorship

The Master of Art Curatorship (Coursework and Minor Thesis) provides specialist training and a professional qualification for graduates who are working, or seeking to work in the field, and may also be taken for general interest. This program does not necessarily lead to higher degree study, however high achieving students who complete the thesis option may qualify for entry to a masters by research or PhD.

Students who complete the masters should have a good understanding of:

• the role of the visual arts in Australia as reflected by professional networks, funding bodies, and government departments/agencies at national, state and local level;
• the changing role of art museums/galleries in society and the history of collecting;
• the current discourse associated with issues of access, education and funding within art museums and cultural institutions;
• the organisational structure of a collecting institution and the various responsibilities and tasks of its personnel;
• art conservation theory and practice and its role in storage, transportation, display and interpretation of art objects;
• the theory and practice of cataloguing and presenting art objects in an art museum;
• advanced skills in researching and writing on art objects.

200 point program

Duration: 2 years full-time / up to 4 years part-time

The Master of Art Curatorship (Coursework and Minor Thesis) 200 point program requires:

Coursework Only Option:

• five compulsory subjects (62.5 points)
• minimum of one core subject (12.5 points)
• maximum of 10 elective subject (125 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option:

• five compulsory subjects (62.5 points)
• minimum of one core subject (12.5 points)
• minor thesis (37.5 points)
• maximum of 87.5 points elective subjects

Please note: the minor thesis requires enrolment over two consecutive semesters

150 point program

Duration: 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time

The Master of Art Curatorship (Coursework and Minor Thesis) 150 point program requires:

Coursework Only Option:

• five compulsory subjects (62.5 points)
• minimum of one core subject (12.5 points)
• maximum of 75 points of elective subjects

or

Minor Thesis Option:

• five compulsory subjects (62.5 points)
• minimum of one core subject (12.5 points)
• minor thesis (37.5 points)
• maximum of 37.5 points of elective subjects

Please note: the minor thesis requires enrolment over two consecutive semesters

100 point program

Duration: 1 year full-time / up to 2 years part-time

The Master of Art Curatorship 100 point program requires:

• five compulsory subjects (62.5 points)
• minimum of one core subject (12.5 points)
• maximum of two elective subjects (25 points)

Please note: the Minor Thesis Option is available in the 200 point program or the 150 point program only.

Capstone Requirement:

All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (at least 25 points). Students must complete one capstone option -

Capstone Stream 1: Co-requisites: MULT90018 Internship 1 (Placement Only) (12.5 points) and ACUR90002 Art Museums and Curatorship (12.5 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to acquire a theoretical grounding in art curatorship and management practice and apply this knowledge in a professional context in order to develop an integrated understanding of art curatorship theory and practice.

Capstone Stream 2: ACUR90004 Minor Thesis Art Curatorship (37.5 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and research skills to address a specific art curatorship research question. Pathway to the PhD.

Capstone Stream 3: Co-requisites: MULT90018 Internship 1 (Placement Only) (12.5 points) and ACUR90006 Exhibition Management (12.5 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to acquire a theoretical grounding in arts management practice and apply this knowledge to solve problems that arise in a professional context in order to develop an integrated understanding of art curatorship theory and practice.

Capstone Stream 4: Co-requisites: MULT90018 Internship 1 (Placement Only) (12.5 points) and ACUR90005 Interpreting Exhibitions

Purpose: An opportunity to engage critically and theoretically with exhibition practices and strategies and apply this in a professional context in order to develop an integrated understanding of art curatorship theory and practice.

For policies that govern this degree, see Academic Services Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Framework. Students also should also refer to information in the Student Policy Directory.

The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to successfully pursue the course using the following criteria:

For the 200 point program

An undergraduate degree (equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree) or equivalent, in a cognate discipline with at least H2B (70%) average.

For the 150 point program

An undergraduate degree (equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree) or equivalent, in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average, and, and the Postgraduate Certificate in Art History or equivalent;

or

An undergraduate degree (equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree) or equivalent, in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average, and one year of documented, relevant work experience or equivalent.

For the 100 point program

An honours degree (equivalent to a four year Australian Honours Degree)or equivalent, in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average;

or

An undergraduate degree (equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree) or equivalent, in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average, and two years of documented, relevant work experience or equivalent.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students who complete the thesis option may be eligible to undertake a PhD.

http://www.unimelb.edu.au/about/attributes.html

Students who successfully complete the Masters will:

• be able to demonstrate an advanced development of research skills;
• be able to define areas of inquiry and create relevant methods of research in the preparation of essays;
• be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations;
• be able to demonstrate highly developed skills in presentations;
• be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay writing and seminar discussion;
• be able to participate productively in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.