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Seminar BA2: Collecting in the Contemporary Museum

Vak
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Same as admission requirement for the BA Art History/BA Arts, Media and Society

Description

This course will focus on the practice of collecting in the contemporary museum and how it has informed public and private museums of the 20th and 21st centuries. A broad range of collection categories will be considered against the backdrop of new museum types, buildings and exhibiting spaces, the art market, and institutional acquisition goals and their application, including but not limited to artist commissions, donations and restitutions. Theoretical questions about the value and significance of collections for museums and the public will be addressed, as well as issues related to future collecting practices at museums.

Course objectives

In this course, students will gain:

  • a broad understanding of the significance of collecting and exhibiting for the modern museum and the meanings museums attach to collections;

  • knowledge about the variety of ways that collections are brought to museums and why;

  • knowledge about the process of acquiring art and artifacts for museums and from whom;

  • a broad understanding about transactions and relations between collectors, museums and artists;

  • basic knowledge about issues related to collection management at museums, such as provenance and rightful ownership, record keeping and market value.

  • a broad understanding of how collections, museum buildings and exhibit design influence each other and contribute to museum meanings.

  • a theoretical understanding of museum collecting and practical knowledge to critically assess present and future collecting practices and how they reflect societal awareness.

  • transferable skills in critically looking at museum displays together and presenting their insights to peers.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of Instruction

Workgroup.
Important: attendance in seminar sessions and excursions is mandatory! In case of no-show, the tutor should be informed by e-mail about your absence and the reason prior to the actual seminar session. Moreover, this course cannot be successfully completed by students that were absent more than twice. Only in exceptional cases, the Examination Committee may consider the possibility of an additional or substitute assignment. See also the Course and Examination Regulations.

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Midterm Reflective Essay

  • Final Exam

Weighing

  • Midterm Reflective Essay (25%)

  • Final Exam (75%)

The weighted average should be at least a passing grade (5.5 or higher, rounded to 6.0).

Resit

It is possible to apply for a resit for the failed reflective essay and/or final exam, only if both of the following conditions are met:

  • the end grade is insufficient (5.4 or below), for either the reflective essay, final exam or both;

  • and the weighted average is insufficient (5.4 or below)

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will be organized.

Reading list

Readings will be posted on Brightspace.

Registration

Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website

Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange

Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.

Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.

Contact

Remarks

All other information.