Tom Koren, MA in Curatorial Practice, School of Visual Arts (SVA), New York City
Located at the heart of the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, our learning space is a unique environment consisting of a lounge, an art books library, a seminar room and a modular gallery constructed of movable walls. Over the course of the two-year program, we curate three exhibitions: a solo show in the first semester of the first year, a group show in the second semester and a solo thesis show at the culmination of our studies. For each of these exhibitions we receive a budget, a gallery space and a range of high-end equipment, while we are required to conceptualize the theme, scout for artists, write publication materials, design the space and install the works.
The curatorial practice MA program at SVA is an intensive, hands-on learning experience that truly emphasizes professional training. In addition to advanced scholarly explorations of art history, philosophy and theory, our classes include case-study seminars and workshops in critical writing and professional practice. The program provides us with an encompassing introduction to the curatorial field through a wide range of resources, including roundtable sessions with leading curators, visits to artist residency programs, open studios, galleries and art institutions, as well as mixers with the MFA departments in the school.
During the summer between the first and second year, the department goes on a week-long field trip to a major art exhibition such as the Venice Biennale or the Documenta in Kassel. From there each student embarks on a 2–3-month curatorial internship at an art institution of their choice outside of New York, selected over a long process facilitated by the department chair. Our mentors at these internships will later join the committee for our thesis shows. This process provides us with professional experience as independent curators and gives us insights into the inner workings of large-scale institutions. Lastly, in addition to the endless amounts of inspiration we can absorb from the city, studying at the epicenter of the Western art world grants us valuable exposure to gallery openings and ambitious museum exhibitions, encouraging us to immerse ourselves in the New York art scene in our spare time.
The curatorial practice MA program at SVA is an intensive, hands-on learning experience that truly emphasizes professional training. In addition to advanced scholarly explorations of art history, philosophy and theory, our classes include case-study seminars and workshops in critical writing and professional practice. The program provides us with an encompassing introduction to the curatorial field through a wide range of resources, including roundtable sessions with leading curators, visits to artist residency programs, open studios, galleries and art institutions, as well as mixers with the MFA departments in the school.
During the summer between the first and second year, the department goes on a week-long field trip to a major art exhibition such as the Venice Biennale or the Documenta in Kassel. From there each student embarks on a 2–3-month curatorial internship at an art institution of their choice outside of New York, selected over a long process facilitated by the department chair. Our mentors at these internships will later join the committee for our thesis shows. This process provides us with professional experience as independent curators and gives us insights into the inner workings of large-scale institutions. Lastly, in addition to the endless amounts of inspiration we can absorb from the city, studying at the epicenter of the Western art world grants us valuable exposure to gallery openings and ambitious museum exhibitions, encouraging us to immerse ourselves in the New York art scene in our spare time.