THE COURSE FOR CURATORS OF CONTEMPORARY ART

The course offers the basic knowledge related to the work of the curator when dealing with conceptualising and setting up exhibitions. A maximum of six or seven participants can enrol in the course each year. The duration of the course is ten months (from October to July) and it is the unique form of such education in Slovenia.

The pedagogic process is adjusted to the contemporary artistic practices. The course is introduced through modules at which the invited experts present the practical work of a curator through workshops and lectures (organising exhibitions, public relations, financial planning, documentation, editorial and layout preparation of the catalogue). The introductory part is followed by the 'weakly séances' with the tutors and the head of the program. The course also comprises meetings and discussions with artists and curators, special guided tours of exhibitions and discussions with the curators of exhibitions as well as performing useful tasks during the process (analysis of contemporary art galleries, attitudes of the directors and curators, concepts of the exhibitions; focused reading of expert literature, conceiving and presentation of a virtual exhibition project, etc.)

The central part of the course lies in the preparation of the concluding exhibition together with the tutors: the concept (presenting the arguments, adjusting to a team work, reaching consensus) and the realisation of the exhibition and accompanying program (working with artists, preparation of texts, financial planning, public relations, marketing and technical execution).

The course includes also two study excursions abroad - as a rule one to the East and one to the West - on which the participants get acquainted with the specifics of the art system and scene as well as with the art production in a chosen city or country.

The course brings forth challenges on several levels. Firstly, the participants obtain the knowledge and tools necessary for independent operation in the world of art. The concrete knowledge and skills gained by the participants on the basis of the tutorial work, theoretical lectures and workshops are tried out in practice while they are setting up the exhibition. Their knowledge and skills usually exceeds the knowledge expected from an average curator working in a gallery, however they are absolutely necessary for efficient operation outside the frame of an institution.

The second challenge is placing the participants into the very heart of the Slovene art scene, which, due to the lack of self-initiative on behalf of the youth much to often remains (at least at first glance) hermetically closed for any newcomers. The working posts occupied by our former participants confirm that we are successful at this challenge. During the ten months of work the participants get acquainted with the Slovene art scene, meet numerous protagonists and plot their map upon which they also place themselves. They get aware of the art system as well as the mechanisms that make it move forward. They also get the picture of the contemporary visual production and infrastructure. The study trips abroad and direct contacts with foreign experts enable the participants to get to know the art scene and production as well as functioning of the art system outside the local boarders and offer them the possibilities for future co-operation and research.