COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA Fine Art (Curatorial Practice) at Bath Spa University is a one-year, three-trimester program designed to develop advanced skills and professional expertise in curating within contemporary art contexts. In the first trimester, students are introduced to key issues in art and curatorial practice, exploring how their specialism connects to the wider field. This stage emphasizes professional development, including governance, proposal writing, collaborative processes, display methods, contracts, and team leadership, alongside critical analysis of current debates and the evolving politics of curating, informed by research and practical engagement. In the second trimester, students continue an experimental approach while narrowing their focus. Guidance from academic staff helps refine curatorial strategies, evaluate initial project developments, and consider practical and conceptual aspects of live projects, including exhibitions, displays, learning initiatives, or residencies in collaboration with campus and external partners. Technical staff support students in producing exhibition-ready outputs for assessment. The third trimester is dedicated to the Master’s Project, where students work independently to create a cohesive curatorial body of work that reflects their professional practice and critical inquiry, culminating in the final Degree Show. Core modules, including Research Methods, Theory and Professional Context, Practice 1 and 2, Research Practice, and Theory and Professional Practices, integrate theoretical and practical learning. Graduates leave with the confidence, professional skills, and expertise to work in galleries, museums, and cultural institutions or pursue further research in curatorial practice.