The aim of this module is to introduce students to the core skills of a curator.

The core skills of a curator include understanding objects and how to research them, and to understand collections and the added meaning that forming objects into collections and articulating them in exhibitions can create. The module provides an opportunity for students to acquire such skills through working in groups on object research and documentation projects. Objects for research are drawn from UCL's museum collections, and research groups benefit from the curatorial support of UCL Museums & Collections staff as well as a series of workshops and lectures focusing on different curatorial skills. As with the Museum Studies MA programme as a whole, the module aims to combine academic rigour with professional skills training.

Aims

On successful completion of the module students should:

Understand how to conduct object- and collections-based research
	Be familiar with the appropriate methodologies for researching collections
	Have acquired skills required to conduct research on different kinds of collections
	Have gained experience assembling and articulating collections as part of the exhibition development process
	Have acquired key team-working and project-management skills
Learning Outcomes

As a result of the module, students should:

Understand what is meant by 'curatorship', and what the role of curator includes
	Be able to take responsibility for a collection with confidence
	Be able to research an object
	Be able to facilitate and promote the use of collections as a resource by everyone in the museum through working productively with other specialist colleagues
	Be able to work successfully in a team
	Be able to articulate objects and develop exhibition concepts using collections
	Be conversant with the practices of contextualising museum collections
	Have a working familiarity with UCL's museums and collections
Teaching methods

The module provides an opportunity for students to acquire key curatorial and object-based research skills through group and individual research projects. Research projects are supported by a series of workshops, which include lectures, discussions, research progress meetings, and demonstrations. Group research projects are further supported by a series of 'curatorial surgeries' convened by UCL's curatorial staff. Students are expected to undertake a considerable amount of self-directed learning through contributing to group research projects and working individually on their own exhibition development projects. The module builds upon skills acquired in Term 1 Museum Studies modules, especially The Museum: Critical Perspectives and Collections Management and Care.

Further information is available here https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/study/graduate-taught/courses/collections-curatorship