Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students, according to the Dublin Descriptors for the bachelor’s degree (First cycle - European Qualification Framework Level 6), with adequate knowledge and understanding of the curator’s job, and curatorial practices in relation to the role of the museum in contemporary society, from the challenges of digital technology to issues related to the skills required for the care and management of museum collections (1° Descriptor - Knowledge and understanding).
At the end of the course, the student must be able to:
• demonstrate, by applying knowledge and understanding, to be professionally able to solve through the creation of arguments, different kinds of issues relating to the performance of the curatorial profession and transversal skills applied to cultural heritage (2° Descriptor - Applying knowledge and understanding);
• have the ability to independently collect and understand the sources on curatorial practices and curatorship through different case studies, including the consideration on connected social, scientific or ethic issues (3° Descriptor - Making judgements);
• communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions in the field of curatorial practices to both specialist and non-specialist audiences (4° Descriptor - Communication skills);
• improve the learning skills that are necessary to continue undertaking further study with a high degree of autonomy in the field of curatorial practices and curatorship, with specific attention to the accomplishment of curatorial projects (5° Descriptor - Learning skills).
The minimum threshold of learning is the student's ability to cross the different curatorial practices, through knowledge of the history of the curatorial profession, its origins and specific functions, with reference to the management and enhancement of museum collections.
Prerequisites
None.
Course unit content
The course aims to provide the basic knowledge for a first approach to contemporary curatorial practices, in relation to the museum as a place and as an institution closely connected to changes in society.
A first introductory part (5h) will focus on the history of the curatorial profession, with particular attention to the first forms of the profession, up to the definitive consecration of its role, as we understand it today, with particular attention to the distinction between the figure of the curator in the service of permanent museum collections, and that of the independent curator, freelancer, in the conception of temporary exhibitions.
The rest of the course (25h) will focus on the museum as a place of relationship and social welfare and on several cases of related curatorial practices. Particular attention will be given to the practice of museum collection management, which today requires a range of knowledge and skills alongside the traditional ones to address issues of accessibility, inclusion, sustainability, communication and digitalization.
During the workshop (36h) the student will be able to explore all these aspects through the case study CSAC (Study Centre and Communication Archive) of the University of Parma, to then arrive, in the final workshop exercise, at the elaboration of a potential curatorial project.
Full programme
Introduction (5h)
A Brief History of curatorship. Curators and curatorial practices from XVII century till today.
Course (25h)
1. Notions of the museum as a place and as an institution
2. The cultural heritage: legislative references, the notion of cultural heritage
3. Museum/society/heritage: protection, valorization, the ICOM code of ethics, the Digital Library
4. The museum as a place of relationships: accessibility, reception, narrative sustainability
5. The digital museum: virtual reality/augmented reality; artificial intelligence
6. The museum without place: open access, copyright, aesthetics of the virtual
7. Competencies for a museum of the future: organization, soft skills
8. The curator’s job: a de-centered view.
Workshop (36h)
The workshop will be characterized by the application of knowledge acquired through direct experience in the Archive-Museum of the Communication Study and Archive Centre (CSAC) of the University of Parma. There will be talks aimed at framing the specific context and getting to know some authors of the Media Section - in particular graphic designers of the film industry. Each student will be able to elaborate their own curatorial proposal on these authors. The proposals will be presented and discussed during the workshop, leading up to the realization of an exhibition, using archival artworks, which will be set up in one of the spaces of the CSAC. Students will thus be able to experience all aspects of the curator's job.
Bibliography
Attending students
Subject matter (1 digital dossier + 2 books):
• A DIGITAL DOSSIER: PowerPoint slideshows containing images and sources shown during frontal lessons (available at the end of the course on the platform for blended learning Elly DUSIC);
• ONE: L. Solima, Le parole del museo. Un percorso tra management, tecnologie digitali e sostenibilità, Roma, Carocci, 2022.
• TWO: Become a curator, a cura di G. Romano, Milano, postmedia books, 2019.
Attending students (but NOT the workshop):
Subject matter (1 digital dossier + 3 books):
Students who do NOT attend the workshop and therefore do NOT present the group curatorial project are also required to study:
• A DIGITAL DOSSIER: PowerPoint slideshows containing images and sources shown during frontal lessons (available at the end of the course on the platform for blended learning Elly DUSIC);
• ONE: L. Solima, Le parole del museo. Un percorso tra management, tecnologie digitali e sostenibilità, Roma, Carocci, 2022.
• TWO: Become a curator, a cura di G. Romano, Milano, postmedia books, 2019.
• THREE: F. Pirani, Che cos’è una mostra d’arte, Roma, Carocci, ed. 2022.
Non-attending students
Subject matter (1 digital dossier + 4 books):
• A DIGITAL DOSSIER: PowerPoint slideshows containing images and sources shown during frontal lessons (available at the end of the course on the platform for blended learning Elly DUSIC);
• ONE: L. Solima, Le parole del museo. Un percorso tra management, tecnologie digitali e sostenibilità, Roma, Carocci, 2022.
• TWO: Become a curator, a cura di G. Romano, Milano, postmedia books, 2019.
• THREE: F. Pirani, Che cos’è una mostra d’arte, Roma, Carocci, ed. 2022.
• FOUR: E. Bonacini, I musei e le forme dello storytelling digitale, Roma, Aracne, 2020.
Please note that the online lessons of some parts of the course from previous years are no longer current and therefore do not replace this course.
Erasmus and Foundation Year students
Erasmus and Foundation Year students are requested to study the DIGITAL DOSSIER (in Italian) and the following book (in english):
• J. Taylor, Visual arts management, London, New York, Routledge, [Collana Mastering Management in the Creative and Cultural Industries, ed. by R. Rentschler], 2018.
Teaching methods
Classroom lectures, with PowerPoint projections (sources, works of art, video, documentaries). PowerPoint slideshows containing images and sources shown during frontal lessons are available at the end of the course on the platform for blended learning Elly DUSIC).
Assessment methods and criteria
** Given the high number of students and related organizational problems, no additional exams dates will be granted. Students are therefore advised to view the dates and arrange accordingly. After registering for the exam, cancellation for that exam is possible by emailing the teacher **
Oral exam.
The exam (20 minutes max) concerns the entire course and aims to test the student knowledge on the first part and on the second part of the course.
Students who don't attend the classes on regular basis must refer to the list of recommended reading.
In Italian Universities grades are given on the basis of 30 points (30/30). When the student's performance is considered outstanding, laude can be added. The minimum passing grade is 18/30. Grades below 18 are a failure and are not registered.
A failure is determined by 1. a lack of understanding of the basic content of the course; 2. the inability to express oneself adequately; 3. by a lack of autonomous preparation; 4. the inability to solve problems related to information retrieval and its decoding; 5. the inability in making judgements independently.
The minimum passing grade (18-23/30) is ascribed when the student's performance is acceptable, according to the 5 evaluation indicators expressed above. Middle-range scores (24-27/30) are assigned to students who show more than a sufficient level (24-25/30) or a good level (26-27/30) according to the 5 evaluation indicators expressed above. High scores (from 28/30 to 30/30 cum laude) are assigned to students who show a very good or an excellent level according to the 5 evaluation indicators expressed above.
Other information
Do you have any doubts?
For any further guidance on the bibliography, students are requested to come to office-hours (in-person and online). Response to questions sent via e-mail or other platform (Teams, etc.) is not always assured. Relying on Whatsapp group chats is not always the optimal solution for exam success.
For any further information please contact the teacher during the Office hour (https://personale.unipr.it/it/ugovdocenti/person/186653).
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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