Online Courses

Curating

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Date
September 3 – October 29, 2025
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Duration
8 Weeks
Program
Online Courses
Mode of Learning
Online - Instructor Led
Price
Price
$1,950
Early Booking Rate
$1,755
if registered by August 20, 2025Payment plans available for early registrations, see More Information below for details.
Language
English
Topic
Curating
Contact Admissions

+1 646-438-7268 online@sia.edu

This course provides an immersive encounter with curatorial practice as it exists in today’s art world with an emphasis on curating Contemporary art.

In addition to learning exactly what goes into the curation of a top-tier exhibit, students will develop an understanding of how curating works by looking back at its history, examining case studies, and hearing from exceptional guest speakers in the field.

Through thoughtful analysis of what successful curating looks like, students will develop the skills needed to navigate the profession, from understanding the roles of the curator to planning an exhibition. The course also discusses the day-to-day responsibilities of a curator and examines how a curator builds a museum-quality collection. Fundamental curatorial skills, including writing effective proposals and developing comprehensive exhibition plans, will be presented. Finally, students will explore the ways in which the field is changing and examine increasingly diverse approaches to exhibition-making such as curating in the digital realm.

Students Will Learn

  • To gain familiarity with the nature of curatorial practice today, including different types of curators and the variety of spaces in which they work, and evaluate the essential qualities of a strong curator through understanding the historical and contemporary role of the curator in relation to recent exhibition trends.
  • To develop an understanding of how collections are built within and outside of museum spaces and how curators make acquisitions.
  • To build a working knowledge of new platforms for digital exhibition-making.
  • To create the critical components of an exhibition, including a written curatorial proposal, wall labels, budgets, and design.

Highlights

Flexible & Interactive Learning

Engage with weekly recorded lectures and faculty-led discussions designed to offer a dynamic and flexible online learning experience.

Specialized Art World Knowledge

Build critical thinking skills and gain in-depth insight into key topics shaping today’s global art market.

Access to Industry Experts

Learn directly from industry professionals and receive personalized feedback to support your growth.

Sessions

Fall

Dates
September 3 – 29, 2025
Status
Open
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Fall

Dates
October 22 – December 17, 2025
Status
Open
Register Link
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Sample Schedule

Week 1

Uncover the history and origins of curatorial practices.

Week 2

Understand the roles and responsibilities of a curator.

Week 3

Learn about exhibition planning and curatorial proposals.

Week 4

Explore methods for acquisition and collection management.

Week 5

Understand how to curate for specific audiences.

Week 6

Examine curation of performance arts and new media arts.

Week 7

Explore curating practices for fashion and luxury goods.

Week 8

Discuss the future of curating with attention to emerging digital practices and social awareness.

Next Steps

Faculty

Adjunct Faculty, Online

Kate McNamara is a curator and educator based in Providence, Rhode Island. She currently holds the position of Visiting Critic at Rhode Island School of Art and Design and is the Executive and Creative Director of My HomeCourt, a nonprofit arts organization working with contemporary artists to revitalize city parks. McNamara is also working as the Curator-at-Large for Providence College-Galleries during the 2021-2022 season. She graduated from BARD College with an MA in Curatorial studies and has worked at MoMA PS1 and Participant and is the co-founder of the critically acclaimed art space Cleopatra’s in New York City.

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Details

About Flexible Courses

This flexible online course is delivered in weekly modules consisting of recorded lectures, instructor-guided discussion boards, and supplementary resources. The course will include a final project with personalized feedback from the course instructor. All participants will have read-only access to the course materials for an additional 90 days after the course end date.

Review the online course Terms and Conditions.

Course Completion

For successfully completing this course, you receive a verified Certificate of Completion from Sotheby’s Institute of Art as well as 14 IACET Continuing Education Units. *

Our digital certificates allow you to share new skills with various social media platforms, including LinkedIn. Successful completion is defined by each instructor in the course syllabus and consists, at the least, of regular, thoughtful participation in online activities and timely submission of assigned papers or projects.

*As an IACET Accredited Provider, Sotheby’s Institute of Art offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.

Flexible Payment Plans

Flexible payment plans are available for individuals who register up to 3 weeks or more before the start of the course and are selected during the online registration process. For any questions, contact our admissions team at shortcourses@sia.edu.

Book a Consultation

We encourage interested individuals to book a consultation time with a member of our admissions team to learn more about this course and our registration process.

Please use this link to book a consultation time via phone or video call.

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