Curatorial Studies

Department of History and Theory of Arts at Faculty of Art and Design UJEP in Ústí nad Labem

This master degree possesses of a unique focus and character. Curatorial Studies is a relatively young course which is mainly formed in connection with the development of specifics of operations, production, interpretation and socialization of contemporary fine art. The teaching and creative structure of the course combine two basic approaches – emphasis on the theoretical reflection on current art works and focus on gaining basic skills in production field and institutional work in museum and gallery environment. In this connection, the master degree in Curatorial Studies provides students with a fundamental insight into historical and methodological issues of fine art, especially of the 20th and 21st centuries. Moreover, it also offers a number of workshops and seminars focused both on conceptual idea level and on management and implementation of specific creative exhibition projects.

The specific character of the Curatorial Studies course is reinforced by the combined manner of organisation of the study plan. The study plan combines traditional manners of teaching in the form of lectures, seminars and practical outputs realized in the studios through a study subject Curatorship Workshop. When organising the study course, a fundamental emphasis is put on the production of public student outputs within annual exhibition projects which also provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience with the organisation of exhibition operations. 

One of the interesting merits of the Curatorial Studies is a mutual communication among students who are graduated from different bachelor courses specialised in art creation, history and theory of arts, art education or production and art marketing. Such environment enables to create inspiring and creative multidisciplinary teams and projects. 

Moreover, it is necessary to mention the strong emphasis placed on internationalisation and the opportunity of international and domestic study and work internships through Erasmus+ programme. Faculty of Art and Design UJEP creates and runs a sufficient number of facilities and exhibition institutions for work internships also in Ústí nad Labem, such as The Ústí nad Labem House of Arts, Gallery of Emil Filla, Rampa Ústí nad Labem, BillboArt Gallery Ústí nad Labem. The students of Curatorial Studies gradually join the activities of the named institutions and thus they gain invaluable practical experience already during their studies. 

Furthermore, the portfolio of study programmes at Faculty of Art and Design UJEP allows the graduates of Curatorial Studies course to apply for continuation of studies in the doctoral degree in Visual Communication, which also includes aspects of curatorial work in the field of the current visual art scene and in a wider socio-cultural context. 

The founder and guarantor of the master degree in Curatorial Studies is prof. Mgr. Michal Koleček, Ph.D., who is also the Head of Department of History and Theory of Arts at Faculty of Art and Design UJEP where this course is offered since 2007. Michal Koleček deals with the history and theory of fine art and design with a focus on the issue of contemporary artistic expressions; curatorial studies focusing on the development of methods of contemporary curatorial practice and the socialisation of contemporary art.

Graduates of Curatorial Studies can be employed as independent curators or curators or lecturers in galleries and museums, public, private or commercial sectors. They will gain skills necessary for exhibition preparations both in international and domestic cultural institutions. The graduates will find jobs in the editorial offices of professional periodicals or in publishing houses oriented towards fine arts and cultural history, in journalism and art criticism, or in the field of visual communication and its administration.

ADÉLA MACHOVÁ

Curator and Executive Manager of the Ústí nad Labem House of Arts

JAKUB KRÁL

Curator of Prague City Gallery

OLGA STANÍKOVÁ

Curator of Museum of Modern Art in Olomouc

3CURATORS

Kristýna Hájková, Alžběta Horáčková a Diana Kněžínková
Curators and founders of independent creative platform

TEREZA NOVÁKOVÁ
Freelance curator, programme “Art for the City” (Prague City Gallery)

TEREZA ZÁCHOVÁ
Freelance curator, Curator of Galerie 35m2, Lecturer