The Master of Fine Arts in Criticism & Curatorial Practice combines history, theory and criticism with professional curatorial practice to explore and experiment with the breadth and depth of contemporary art, media and design. OCAD University is uniquely positioned in Canada to offer this program: OCAD U has well-established graduate and undergraduate studio-based programs in art, media and design and has an interdisciplinary liberal studies faculty. It is also located in the vibrant Queen West area of downtown Toronto.
Students entering the program will have an honours-equivalent four-year bachelor’s degree in studio art or design, or art history/visual culture, or a related discipline, and several years of practical experience. They will be interested in augmenting their existing knowledge base through a program of study that facilitates exploration of and experimentation with the full range of contemporary art and/or design curatorial and critical practices and that provides the historical, theoretical and critical armature required.
While the majority of curatorial and museum studies programs in Canada are streams within an art history program leading to a Master of Arts degree, this program focuses on the professional practices of curating and criticism in combination with theory and history, leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree. Graduate faculty teaching in the program and adjunct faculty supervising student internships and international placements include practicing curators and critics.
Key Features:
Partnerships, internships and events at organizations such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Textile Museum, C Magazine, the Toronto Alliance of Art Critics, and various Toronto artist-run centres.
The Summer Internship, which is an approximately four-week placement with a gallery, museum, arts publication or other relevant cultural institution in Canada or abroad. The internship allows students to integrate the knowledge gleaned from first year seminars with the practices of curating and criticism.
The annual Artist-in-Residence program, which brings internationally renowned artists, designers, curators and critics to OCAD U for a one-week residency during which they conduct seminars, attend studio critiques, and give a public lecture/presentation.
Application deadline: January 16, 2012
OCAD University – 135 Years of Imagination
100 McCaul Street
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
416-977-6000 | www.ocad.ca/gradstudies
For more information, contact:
Gale Allen
Office of Graduate Studies
416-977-6000 Ext. 423 or [email protected]
