23 Jan 2014

Open Call: 21° Course in curatorial practice Venice

The School for Curatorial Studies, Arts and Communication is an ambitious and challenging project promoted since 2004 and conceived as a school committed to experimentation and interdisciplinary thinking. The main goals are to spread knowledge in the field of visual arts and to introduce the students to the professions related to the art world, focusing on contemporary curatorial theory and practice and contemporary museology. The School's activities are meant for all those interested and passionate of art, graduate students or professionals who want to deepen their knowledge and improve their practical skills. The centre's teaching staff is formed by Italian and international professionals, scholars, historians and art critics of recognized experience.

The program:
The Course in Curatorial Practice is an English-taught, intensive program on the history of contemporary visual arts and practices of exhibition-making. Through interdisciplinary lectures, the course provides practical training and experience within museums and exhibition settings. Its international faculty includes curators and museum professionals, artists and critics. The course is designed to increase the students understanding of the intellectual and technical tasks of the curator figure related to the set up of exhibitions and projects. The lectures cover both theoretical and practical topics that go from History of Exhibition to Exhibition Management.
The students participate in weekly activities such as artist studio visits, tours of exhibition spaces, networking events, and workshops with a variety of experts and practitioners. The second module of the course includes a three week tour of a specific European area that is of interest for the contemporary art scene (every year a different place is chosen) . During the trip, our school will arrange meetings with artists, curators, museums and non-profit centres. The program culminates with the set up of an exhibition or an art event and the publication of a printed catalogue.

Didactic Modules:
The course is divided in four modules, held by different professional figures. In the first module we will discuss the history of the art exhibition, exhibition design and display and exhibition management. The program will consider how the specific forms of exhibition and curating practices have evolved; how exhibitions engender forms of spectatorship, reception, and transmission; and how exhibitions and curators participate in the development of various theoretical art-historical and socio-political contexts. The school's means are to align these specific theoretical lectures to a practical approach. Students will be offered the possibility of a gallery training, specifically focusing on the setting up of an event and concentrating on the possibilities offered by the chosen space.

The first module:
It involves 250 contact hours:
1. History of curatorial practices
2. Exhibition design
3. Aesthetics and Cultural theory
4. Contemporary art history
5. Cultural events management and organization
6. Curating exhibitions
7. Fine arts management.
8. Fundraising
9. Communication strategies and artistic events promotion
10. New media and digital technologies

The second module:
A different artistic locality will be scheduled for every edition of the course. Visits of national and international exhibitions, symposiums, festivals and events will take place during our visit abroad. The exhibitions will be discussed with the respective curators and project managers. Our intention is for students to be exposed to stimulating and valuable international realities and positively interact with the protagonists of the art world by benefiting of their experience and wisdom.
The 2014 course's edition will organize a three week trip to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The third module:
In between the second and the third module, the students will have ten days to structure their own show project, performance, or any other form of artistic event they have chosen. During this module each participant will present and discuss their curatorial project. After the discussion phase, the students will be guided in the construction and production of their project.
There will be two different workshops on press office skills and on the design of a catalogue for the fulfilment of the project in order to enrich the completeness of the job.

The fourth module:
Before the last module, the participants will have a two months period of time in order to coordinate artists, transportation, insurance policies, promotion and the organization of the final publication.
The peak lies in the production of the event. After the presentation to the public the student will be given the tools to document the professional event.

Duration and structure:
The course has a duration of 460 hours. Lectures will be held from Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 1.30pm and from 02.30pm to 05.30pm. Theoretical lectures will be held in the mornings, in order to provide conceptual and operational tools to independently manage the setting of an exhibition (35 hours per week). In the afternoon, students will attend seminars, workshops, guided tours to museums and exhibitions which animate the rich cultural life of Venice.
The participants will develop the themes as well as concepts, organization, acquisition, communication and the concrete implementation together with the course director and international guests (artists, curators, architects, critics, fine arts scientists and publishers of art journals).
Start date, duration:
The course begins at the 26th May; it involves 460 contact hours and approx. 200 hours of independent study and work.

Course times:
1. module: May 26 – July 11, 2014
2. module: September 1-21, 2014
3. module: September 29 – October 10, 2014
4. module: December 1-12, 2014

How to Apply:
The application for the Curatorial Program is now open! The deadline has been set on March 31th, 2014. We would like to remind you that our program is designed for people with experience in any of the following areas of contemporary art: curatorial studies, theory and philosophy of art, art history, art management and art production, visual arts, fine arts, arts and new media, architecture, interior architecture, photography, interior decoration, installation, design, theatre, scenic design and music, as well as university graduates in the cultural studies field and literary studies.
The program is also suitable for candidates who have acquired certain curatorial skills through practical experience.

To apply it is necessary to submit the application form together with a resume and a cover letter.

The application form must be sent by regular mail or e-mail before the deadline of the Curatorial Program to:

Xac – School for Curatorial Studies
c/o Progetto Venezia
San Marco, 3073, 30124 Venice
Email: curatorialschool@gmail.com
www.corsocuratori.com