Curating Contemporary Art MA

The Curating Contemporary Art MA at the RCA develops your critical awareness of curating in a global context through collaborative, practice-led study. Working with London-based arts organisations and peers from around the world, you explore both theory and practice including programming, commissioning, advocacy and writing, within an ecology of spaces such as galleries, museums, urban sites and networked cultural platforms. The programme grounds itself in the political, social and cultural conditions of contemporary curating and, in your final term, you deliver a public-facing curatorial project, shaping how audiences experience art. Programme structure: Term 1 In Term 1, you take Curatorial Thinking, exploring dominant and emerging positions in curatorial studies, and developing your critical and analytical skills through lectures, seminars and close reading of texts. You also take Ecologies of Curating, which examines the relationships between spaces, organisations and curatorial practices, asking how conditions of place influence what is curated and for whom. Term 2 In Term 2, you take Curating in a Collaborative Context, developing a curatorial proposal in response to a live brief from an arts organisation, working in groups to research, commission, plan, present and advocate for your ideas. In Term 2, you can also choose from a range of elective units, allowing you to shape your own learning journey and work alongside students from other programmes, bringing your practice into dialogue with different creative approaches. Term 3 In Term 3, you take Independent Research Project, producing a self directed curatorial project. The culmination includes a public-facing event or exhibition, and demonstration of your curatorial research, planning and presentation skills. Referring to the website: Please refer to the programme webpage for the most accurate and up-to-date information about the programme, its structure, modules and any updates or changes. About RCA: The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading postgraduate art and design university, providing students with unrivalled opportunities to develop their practice, build their networks, enhance their career and to deliver art and design projects that transform the world. For 12 consecutive years, the RCA has been ranked as the world’s number 1 art & design university in the QS World University subject rankings (2015-2026) - attracting artists, designers and communicators from across the globe.

Candidates are selected entirely on merit and applications are welcomed from all over the world. The selection process will consider creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your portfolio, as well as your potential to benefit from the programme and to achieve high MA standards overall.You are generally expected to have a good undergraduate degree from an arts or humanities background.If your undergraduate degree is not arts or humanities-based you should be able to articulate its relevance, or how it informs your aim to study Curating Contemporary Art. You also need to be able to demonstrate an active interest in contemporary art and its presentation and mediation, and have some practical experience of working within the visual arts or cultural sector that is relevant to the field of curatorial practice.As a student on this programme you will help to develop the multi-, interdisciplinary and exploratory nature of contemporary curatorial practice and the future of curating. One of the primary aims of this programme is that you develop the skills and confidence to work effectively within this field, to act as an innovative and responsible practitioner, and that you contribute to the valuing of art and culture in your future work.Portfolio requirementsAs part of your application, we want to learn what kinds of curatorial practice and contemporary art interest you. To do this, we ask you to upload two separate submissions:Critical Review (500 words maximum)This text should offer a critical reflection and assessment of a contemporary art exhibition or project that you have recently visited. Tell us why you think it is successful or not in relation to its curatorial approach.Curatorial ProposalYou should upload a proposal for a contemporary art exhibition or project that you would like to curate. Tell us what the rationale behind your proposal is, what your curatorial approach would be (how will you curate), what artists/works/content would it include and where would you like it to take place.You may wish to think about what audiences the project is for and if you will put together a public programme. The submission should be no more than four sides of A4 and include images as appropriate.Personal statementPlease provide a 300-word written personal statement that addresses the following points:Introduce yourself, your interests and your motivations for applying to the Royal College of Art, and to this programme in particular.Briefly summarise any educational background and professional experience to date that will support your application.Tell us what you want to do in the future.Video requirements