MA Curating and Collections
Course summary
MA Curating and Collections at Chelsea College of Arts focuses on developing the skills needed to curate a range of art and design objects within the context of public and private collections.
You will work alongside the established curatorial team at Chelsea Space, our on-site gallery. You will handle a range of collections held by UAL. This will help you explore current debates and practices in curating.
Dr David Dibosa and Donald Smith talk about MA Curating and Collections at Chelsea.
Student work
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MA Curating and Collections students working with Clive Phillpot. -
Lynton Talbot leading a discussion on the curatorial aspects of an exhibition. -
Cairo Clarke leading a student curated public programme. -
Exhibition Studio Workshop - Students installing Blue to Blue.
MA Curating and Collections Stories
Course details
What you can expect
- Practical skills to sit alongside critical reflection. This will help you develop a balanced approach to curatorial methods
- A course that focuses on working with contemporary and historic collections, exhibition design, concept development, marketing, press releases and budgeting
- To explore current critical debates. You will keep up to date on issues such as participation, the artist-curator dynamic and thinking about the public realm
- The curatorial team at Chelsea Space to provide training within an active and supportive curatorial environment. Through this you will engage with the best examples of contemporary practice
- To handle a range of collections held by the UAL
The UAL collections include:
- Chelsea's Special Collections, which have a strong emphasis on modern and contemporary art and design
- Camberwell's ILEA collection of ceramics and glassware
- Central Saint Martins' Museum and Study Collection, which include early printed books, prints, illuminated manuscripts, embroideries, 1920s German film posters, textiles and garments
Course units
- Phase 1: Analysis of curatorial practices
- Phase 2: Methods of curatorial display
- Phase 3: Enacting curatorial strategies
Throughout the 3 assessed units of the course, you will study in the following ways:
- Exhibition studio workshop: practical sessions focusing on exhibition-making
- Curatorial studies: ‘think-tank’ sessions focusing on historical and theoretical framing of curatorial practice
- Collections visits: engagement with museums, events, exhibitions and displays
- Lecture programme: lectures from professors, readers and other invited speakers
During the course, you will participate in individual and group tutorials developing your skills through the taught sessions alongside the professional practice activity with staff at Chelsea Space. Individual research will be guided to help you make the most of the Special Collections, as well as, library and learning resources across UAL.
Learning and teaching methods
- Collaborative work with peers
- Gallery, museum and other visits
- Presentations and crits
- Research topic groups
- Self-directed study and research
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Visiting artist and practitioner talks and tutorials
Assessment methods
- Critical writing
- Presentations
- Project portfolios
Staff
- Dr David Dibosa - Course Leader
- Donald Smith - Director of Exhibitions, Chelsea Space
- Lynton Talbot - Senior Lecturer
How to apply
Opportunities for all
We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.
Entry requirements
The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:
- BA (Hons) degree in a related subject or equivalent academic qualifications
- Personal statement
- Study plan
Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your personal statement and study plan.
APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning
Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
- Related academic or work experience
- The quality of the personal statement
- A strong academic or other professional reference
- A combination of these factors
Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.
English language requirements
All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:
- IELTS level 6.5 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our English language requirements).
Personal statement
This should be about 500 words long and include:
- Your reasons for choosing the course
- Your current creative practice and how this will help with your future plans
- If you do not have any formal academic qualifications please describe your relevant education and experience
Study Plan
The study plan is a statement of approximately 800 words describing your current practice and an opportunity for you to explore potential areas that you want to develop in your studies.
The plan is the starting point for discussions about your postgraduate studies and will evolve during the time you study with us.
When writing your plan you are not expected to have complete answers to all the questions.
However, you should be able to:
- Examine your knowledge and experience in relation to your practice
- Identify questions and areas that you do not know about
- Demonstrate how you may intend to tackle these questions and areas
How to structure a study plan
You should include links to referenced text or images where appropriate.
Each of the following sections should be approximately 200 words.
Introduction
- Briefly describe your work
- Outline recent developments
- Identify those aspects you would like to take further at postgraduate level
Development
Describe specific areas, issues and critical ideas that are central to your area of interest.
Methods
How will you go about exploring your area of interest?
Are there particular methods you will use? For example - drawing, model making, photography.
Resources
Are there resources or equipment that you need to access in order for you to successfully engage in your research?
Selection criteria
- The ambition and commitment to develop and challenge work in curation and collections at Master level
- An awareness of current debates and practices in curation and collections
- The potential to devise and develop a self-directed programme of curatorial practice and related research
- The ability to analyse and evaluate in both visual and oral terms
- The ability to develop and contextualise work in written form
- An eagerness to engage in the critical debate surrounding contemporary and historical practices as well as to develop a critical framework for their practice
- The potential to develop a range of skills and competencies to a professional level
Making your application
You should apply by making a direct application.
Application deadline
We recommend you apply by 31 July for equal consideration.
However, this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.
This course will give consideration to deferred entry application. If you are interested in requesting a deferral, you can only request this if you are successful at application.
What happens next
Communicating with you
After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.
Initial application check
We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you’ll be invited to or asked to book onto a suitable date to attend an interview selection event.
Interview Selection Event
Please be prepared to discuss your personal statement and study plan. You may also be asked to talk about what inspires you and your influences. We may not discuss all of these topics at the event.
More details about your interview selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen or been allocated your date.
Selection for Home/EU applicants happens in a variety of different ways:
- In person at Chelsea College of Arts
- By phone or Skype
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.
Please note that applications made to this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.
There are 2 ways international students can apply to a postgraduate course at Camberwell College of Arts:
- Through one of our official representatives in your country
- By direct application
Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.
Application deadline
There is no deadline for international applications, but students are advised to apply as early as possible.
This course will give consideration to deferred entry application. If you are interested in requesting a deferral, you can only request this if you are successful at application.
What happens next
Communicating with you
After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.
Initial application check
We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you’ll be invited to or asked to book onto a suitable date to attend an interview selection event.
Interview Selection Event
Please be prepared to discuss your personal statement and study plan. You may also be asked to talk about what inspires you and your influences. We may not discuss all of these topics at the event.
More details about your interview selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen or been allocated your date.
Selection for international applications are available in a variety of different ways:
- By phone or Skype
- In your country, if your application was made through one of our official representatives
- In person at Chelsea College of Arts
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.
Please note that applications made to this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.
Fees & Funding
Home / EU fee
£10,890 (2019/20).
International fee
£19,930 (2019/20).
Course fees may be paid in instalments.
Additional costs
In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.
Accommodation
Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.
Scholarships and awards
Use our search tool to find out more about the scholarships and awards available to students.
Careers and alumni
Many MA Curating and Collections graduates go on to work as curators either, independently or within galleries, museums or other art and design organisations.
Some of our course alumni develop public programmes, while others choose further study and research exhibitionary practice and typically focus on collections research, exhibitions history and curatorial practice.
MA Curating and Collections at Chelsea provides students with the critical, historical and contextual studies needed to advance their careers.
Alumni
- Daisy McMullan - graduated in 2012. Received the Ashley Family Foundation Research Fellowship at Chelsea Space. Works at Camberwell Space
- Doro Globus - graduated in 2008. Works at the publishers Ridinghouse
Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.