Course Summary:

This interdisciplinary programme will equip you with valuable skills and a critical understanding of issues in curatorship, museology and museum management.

You’ll develop your understanding of the ways in which historians and cultural theorists have interpreted and represented architecture, material culture and museums over the past 2,000 years. You’ll look at different methods of display and interpretation and the methodologies behind museum practice and country house collection

Course Objectives:

• You want to explore emerging critical approaches and shifts in museum practice and theory
• You would like to undertake a work placement in a museum, gallery or related cultural organisation in or around Manchester
• You are interested in the rich museum and cultural scene of Manchester and the opportunities for case studies, fieldwork and networking on offer

Course Outline

Professional Practice Project: Exhibition/Event 

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of functions, roles and practices involved in the production of exhibitions and/or public programmes. 
• Identify key factors within specific local contexts that influence curating, producing and programming practices. 
• Show awareness of relevant practices in other contexts that might inform project development 
• Employ project and time management techniques appropriate for cultural projects 
• Demonstrate competence in at least one specialist function involved in the project (content creation, interpretation, marketing/engagement, fundraising, facilitation, object research, planning, programming) 

Art Curating 

• An understanding of the history and practice of art museum curatorship, including key debates relating to ethics, access and authority; 
• Knowledge of key processes in art collecting and curatorship; 
• Critical analysis and evaluation, on the basis of first-hand study, of the collecting, 
• commissioning, display, interpretative and educational strategies of museums and galleries; 
• Experience in making appropriate and also challenging proposals for curatorial or interpretative projects and programmes within the institutions studied; 
• Further experience in researching and writing essays, team-based work and presentation skills 

Museum Archaeology & Ethnography 

• A systematic and critical understanding of the theory and practice of museum archaeology and ethnography; 
• Critical knowledge of the intellectual and practical issues in the curatorship, interpretation and display of relevant collections in museums; 
• Comprehensive understanding of ethical and institutional issues around restitution, looting and illicit trade of archaeological material; 
• An understanding of the specific issues of appropriation and representation arising from the curation of non-western objects in museums and art galleries; 
• A critical appreciation of the diverse and complex ways that communities and visitors engage and relate to archaeological and non-western objects;
• Further experience in researching and writing essays, team-based work and presentation skills 

Digital Heritage 

• Be able to demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the roles that digital media can have in museums and galleries; 
• Be able to describe, analyse and evaluate digital policies and strategies in museums, the  various stages for the design and production of digital content as well as the usefulness of new media applications in museums; 
• Have critical knowledge of the various issues that emerge from the use of particular technologies in the museum curation, interpretation, communication and learning; 
• Have acquired (further) experience in researching and writing essays, team-based project work, including research, report preparation and presentation skills; 
• Have acquired experience and transferable skills in using social and digital media for audience engagement. 

Business Development  

• Developing the philosophy & values of your business through mission and vision statements 
• Developing the business model: planning tools & approaches  
• Operational management: governances and constitution 
• Humans resources management - recruitment, contracts and employment law Performance management, evaluation & project planning  

Finance, Commercialisa-on and Fund-raising  

• Developing a budget and balancing books 
• Funding, fund-raising and resource development 
• New business models for the arts - sponsorship, philanthropy and partnership development  

Marketing, Communica-ons and Public Rela-ons  

• Market Research 
• Planning Strategies 
• Developing the Brand and Communicating the Product Press and Public Relations 
• Customer Relationship Management & the Box Office