Content and structure

Course content

Exhibition practices, in various formats and across disciplines, play an increasingly prominent role as a public medium in the negotiation of collective imaginaries and identities. The Major in “Curatorial Studies” provides future curators the fundamentals of a critically engaged, research-based exhibition practice. Throughout the Master’s programme, the focus is on reflecting and developing cultural techniques of “framing”, and on the ability to engage in critical, historical and cultural contextualization and mediation strategies. Students in this programme work with advanced and experimental forms of cultural production in the arts as well with a variety of discourses and disciplines, from cultural studies to historiography. 

Forms of mediation and outreach programmes in the context of exhibitions and museums are recognized here as an independent cultural practice, with the potential to reflect on, expand and transform exhibitions and institutions from within. Students of this programme are empowered to develop new and effective forms of outreach strategies and forms of knowledge production, while they engage equally with the staging of historical narratives and imaginaries, with experimental contemporary arts, or other cultural phenomena of post-digital societies. 

Conceptually, the Curatorial Studies program establishes intersections between various practices, discourses and theories of art, culture, and society. On the level of communication, students acquire the ability for interpretation, reflection and mediation. On the organizational level, the programme offers a project-oriented introduction to the conception and management of exhibitions and mediation programs. The courses aim to systematically combine theoretical and practical knowledge and thus prepare students for a challenging professional field. Project work is an important component of the curriculum. 

Structure of the degree programme

The curriculum of the Major in “Curatorial Studies” is structured in three module groups/competence areas with the following content-related focuses:

“Exhibition and Mediation” module area: Here, the focus is on exploring historical, contemporary and future-oriented practices in curating, research and education. Students develop independent fields of curatorial research, critically examine traditional functions of the museum and study new forms of knowledge and (counter-)narratives. 

“Practice” module area: Here, the emphasis is on building up the students’ practical knowledge in all areas of relevance for curatorial practice. Practical experience follows a logic of its own, and it is in the practical realm that the translation of theoretical knowledge into spatial settings must be put to the test.  

“Transfer” module area: All acquired competencies are brought together in a master's thesis.  The Master’s thesis may concentrate on a theoretical examination or it may be practical, with a comprehensive concept for an exhibition and/or a theoretically well-founded mediation project. It may be related to a research project or to the student’s practice project/internship, or it may be based on a collaboration with an exhibition institution or other relevant contexts. 

Skills

The Major in “Curatorial Studies” enables graduates to position themselves in a dynamic field of different exhibition and art mediation practices. according to their own strengths and interests. In addition, students acquire an expanded notion of curation in the context of contested public spheres. The Major provides tools for engaging with museum-staged historical narratives and contemporary experimental arts discourses, as well as with the cultural phenomena of post-digital societies, and enables students to critically contextualize and mediate them.  

Admissions requirements

Applicants must have a strong interest in public discourse and cultural institutions and a desire to explore issues of representation. They must demonstrate the ability to think critically and have good communication skills and the ability to express themselves confidently both orally and in writing.

In formal terms, they must have a Bachelor’s degree in the arts or humanities in an area or subject matter that can be further explored within, or otherwise be linked to the field of Curatorial Studies.

Further requirements include are a good command of English, and basic German (can also be acquired during the programme), as most courses and research literature are in English.  

Special features of the course

Distinguished by its interdisciplinary approach, the Major in “Curatorial Studies” at ZHdK does not specialize in either contemporary art, or traditional museum work. Instead, it provides an optimal base from which graduates can find their own footing in the field.