History of Art with Curating MA

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, as well as having the opportunity to meet a range of curatorial experts to discuss their work.

* You can choose from option modules from the medieval to contemporary period and 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 will I learn?

You will master a wide range of 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. You will also learn how the role of the curator has expanded beyond its traditional focus on the care of objects to working directly with artists and audiences.

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 will I learn?

Classes include lectures and seminars with an emphasis on vibrant debate, enlivened by the diverse perspectives and experience of Birkbeck students.

This course is available to study full- or part-time in the evenings on campus, online or via flexible learning. The Curating module is taught intensively during the daytime over a one-week period during the spring term. You will also devise your own research project for the dissertation.

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 for postgraduate students. Funds are also available to support research expenses for your coursework on this MA.

* You can attend a wide range of events, including the Postgraduate Research Seminar, the biennial Murray Lecture, the Murray Seminar on Medieval and Renaissance Art, the exhibitions and displays at Birkbeck's Peltz Gallery, and events at the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities.

* You will have the opportunity to apply for a work placement in one of London's museums, galleries or archives and the option to join our study trips, offered each spring. Cities visited include Florence, Paris, Venice, Vienna, Rome, Berlin and Moscow.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating with this course you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including:

* highly developed visual skills

* an advanced critical ability in understanding and applying complex theories

* facility and precision in the use analytical tools

* the ability to research and write professional documents

* strong skills and initiative in collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented assignments and fluent critical arguments.

Graduates can pursue careers 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.