COURSE CURRICULUM

Master of Curatorial Studies in Fine Arts at The University of Western Australia (UWA) is research-focused and designed to develop advanced professional skills in curatorial practice, museum studies, exhibition development, and art research. Rather than following a traditional coursework-based structure with multiple taught units, the degree centres on supervised independent research and professional practice in collaboration with UWA museums and public galleries across Western Australia. Students engage directly with curatorial research, exhibition planning, collection management, and gallery presentation while developing specialised expertise in fine arts and museology. A major component of the program involves completing one substantial research project, which may take the form of a fully researched proposal for a major exhibition accompanied by a publishable professional catalogue and scholarly essays, a dissertation on an aspect of museology relevant to curatorial practice, or a catalogue raisonné documenting the works of an uncatalogued artist. In addition to the research project, students complete a professional placement within a public gallery or museum environment, gaining practical industry experience in exhibition and collection practices. Following the placement, students prepare a comparative analytical report based on their professional observations and experiences. Overall, the curriculum combines independent research, critical analysis, curatorial writing, and practical gallery training to prepare graduates for professional careers as curators, exhibition organisers, researchers, and museum specialists.