Hogeschool Gent
Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten
Program and institute
Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, University Ghent
Faculty of Fine Arts, University College Ghent
Museum of Contemporary Art (SMAK), Ghent
Curriculum
The postgraduate program ‘Conservation and Exhibition Management of Contemporary Art’ (TeBeAc) was established in 1999 as a collaboration between the University College of Ghent, the University of Ghent and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Ghent (SMAK).
Throughout the program, the close link between conservation and exhibition practice and theory is explored. Theory and museum practice adapted to the variability of artworks are combined in wide range of courses where education, research and practice are key features of the program. Additionally, the trainees are actively immersed in the everyday practice of art conservation and exhibition through seminars and lectures by professionals. The study program is divided into two sections: Exhibition and Conservation Management within an interdisciplinary approach. Seminars and lectures cover specific topics related to conserving and exhibiting contemporary art, including ethics, deontology, law, materials used by contemporary artists, and collection management itself.
The section Conservation Management covers specific subjects, within the framework of new conservation strategies and technologies developed for modern and contemporary art, such as artist interviews, natural science research techniques, decision making and documentation models, knowledge on international networks. Students will perform research in order to manage the conservation and re-installation of contemporary artworks (installations, performative and ephemeral art) by studying cases (ethnographic approach) in order to understand the material structure, history, context (different stakeholders) and concepts of the artwork before decision-making on a preservation strategy can be developed.
The section Exhibition Management covers a range of curatorial approaches and innovative exhibition models, curatorial practice with special emphasis on the selection and presentation of exhibitions of contemporary art, close reading and analysis of philosophical discourses of particular relevance to contemporary art theory, education and reception theory in relation to courses about audience mediation, learning through practical experience with historical, theoretical and critical reflection by analyzing case studies, education and reception theory.
Besides the involvement of the teaching staff of the University of Ghent and University College of Ghent and the members of the professional community of SMAK, the program is also benefitting from the knowledge and expertise of guest lecturers (artists, international museum professionals,…). Also doctoral research (PhD) is involved in the program: Conservation and presentation of contemporary artworks which contain foodstuffs (Julie Gilman), Development of a theory of the (modern) exhibition (Guy Bovyn) and Constructivist mediation in museums of contemporary art (Marijke Van Eeckhaut).
In the framework of the ongoing internationalization process, where study programs are upgraded to meet generally accepted academic standards as set by international accreditation, this postgraduate program will be incorporated as a professional master in art science at University Ghent, but will still be organized in association with University College Ghent and the Museum of Contemporary Art Ghent.
Language
Thorough knowledge of Dutch and English language required.
Links
http://www.kask.be/index.php?/opleidingen/posthogeschool
www.kask.be (University College of Ghent)
www.smak.be (University Ghent)
www.ugent.be (SMAK)
Contact
Coordinator of Conservation and Exhibition Management of Contemporary Art: bram.vandeveire@hogent.be