MA Curating Art and Public Programmes and PhD at London South Bank University

This Master of Arts degree in Curating Art and Public Programmes trains emerging curators over a one-year, full-time course. Focusing on curating art and public programmes and culminating in the students’ final exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery, it offers a unique curriculum that stands out from other curating courses. The backbone of the programme is a professional placement, an exclusive opportunity to learn in a real-life environment at an internationally renowned public contemporary art gallery. Students work alongside highly-experienced staff across the Gallery over a period of 20 weeks in addition to attending other taught modules.

The course comprises eight practical and theoretic modules: Exhibition Making, Exhibition Histories, Working in the Art World, Professional Placement, Themes in Contemporary Art, Engaging the Public, Survival Toolkit for the Creative Industries and Practical Project. These are delivered through lectures and workshops by Whitechapel Gallery staff, distinguished academics and industry professionals who introduce students to specialised aspects of curatorial practice.

This programme allows students to apply the knowledge, understanding and skillset acquired through this course in the workplace. Candidates enter the professional field with practical knowledge, confidence and a strong global vision as they are connected with professional networks from the outset.

Applications are now open for a September 2022 start. Apply now.

A touchstone for contemporary art internationally, Whitechapel Gallery plays a central role in London’s cultural landscape and is pivotal to the continued growth of the world’s most vibrant contemporary art scene. The collaboration with London South Bank University (LSBU) reflects Whitechapel Gallery’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Programme highlights:
–Access to Whitechapel Gallery and its staff, the UK’s leading public gallery for contemporary art.
–First-hand exposure to the devising, researching and implementation of art exhibitions and public programmes.
–Insight into a wide range of curatorial strands such as commissioning art and new media, curating archives, public and private collections, emerging artists’ and writers’ residencies as well as solo and survey group exhibitions.
–Gain cultural awareness and critical understanding of all aspects of working in an art institution, including developing communications and fundraising strategies in a vibrant international location.
–Attain the practical, intellectual and critical skills required for a competitive field, through hands-on experience with Whitechapel Gallery’s rich network of curators, artists, critics and academics.
–Free access to the Whitechapel Gallery’s diverse programme of public talks and events.
–Student Staff card provides free access to numerous museums and galleries across the UK and abroad that are part of the Whitechapel Gallery’s network.

Full program details and fees, financial support and entry requirements are available on the Whitechapel Gallery and LSBU websites. Those who are interested are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Places on this course are limited and interviews are conducted on a rolling basis.  

An open day will be held at Whitechapel Gallery on March 19, 11am GMT and online on Zoom at 2pm GMT on the same day. Please register in advance by emailing MAadministration@whitechapelgallery.org. 

PhD opportunities at London South Bank University
Graduates from the MA Curating Art and Public Programmes can continue their research by registering for a PhD at LSBU.

The School of Arts and Creative industries at LSBU is an ideal place to undertake PhD research. Our applied research tackles real-world issues and encompasses a wide variety of methodologies and approaches, including practice-based research, empirical work on audiences and cultural institutions, as well as theory-driven analysis. Much of the research is developed in collaboration with cultural partners including, for example, The Photographers’ Gallery, Serpentine Galleries, and Whitechapel Gallery.

There are two Research Centres in the department reflecting distinct areas of specialism—Centre for the Study of Networked Image and Creative Technologies Research Centre.

For course enquiries, please contact the Program Administrator at Whitechapel Gallery: MAadministration [​at​] whitechapelgallery.org.