M.A. IN ART: CRITICAL AND CURATORIAL STUDIES SPECIALIZATION

UCLA Department of Art offers an M.A. specializing in Critical and Curatorial Studies which emphasizes professional training in curatorship. Emphasis is placed on an integrated approach to the theory and practice of the temporary exhibition including the associated field of publications and public programs which define it as a system of meaning.

The M.A. program in Critical and Curatorial Studies is a two-year program: the first year for course work and the presentation of exhibition/public program proposals; the second year for the development and completion of the exhibition/public program and catalog essay. As part of the Department of Art, the program encourages interaction with practicing artists, which is crucial for curatorial expertise in the production, analysis, and display of works of art.

This program is intended for students who already have backgrounds in art, art history, theory or criticism, and who wish to develop conceptual and practical approaches to art curating and programming. Working with the Department of Art, students benefit from interaction with visiting artists, scholars, and faculty while having access to arts facilities at the University including the UCLA Hammer Museum, the UCLA Fowler Museum and the New Wight Gallery.

AREAS OF STUDY

Students are expected to focus on a specific professional issue and a genre of exhibition appropriate to it. The program also offers a curatorial option in public programs.

COURSE OVERVIEW

At the end of the first year of study, students submit exhibition/public program proposals to a relevant institution for consideration (e.g. contemporary art - UCLA Hammer Museum; works on paper - Grunwald Center; African art - UCLA Fowler Museum). Innovative projects which "mix and match" among the collections are encouraged.

After the exhibition/public program proposal is approved by the comprehensive examination committee, presentation of the exhibition/program (including selection of artists/works, overseeing transport, insurance, etc., devising and working within a budget, installation, publicity and other didactic materials) takes place in the second year. In addition, a written curatorial statement of purpose, summary of research, and bibliography is presented in the form of a catalog essay.

All of the department's courses aim to instill an understanding of and appreciation for the visual arts and their contributions to the history of cultural development and change. Current critical and theoretical thought is the focus of the Graduate Seminar, and a wide range of contemporary issues are addressed in the Visiting Artists Series.

For a complete outline of degree requirements, see "Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees," accessible on the Graduate Division web site at www.gdnet.ucla.edu.