Birkbeck students gain exclusive access to art world experts
Visits and personalised tours to iconic cultural venues ensure that students combine theoretical learning with real-world expertise in the art world.
An innovative curating module at Birkbeck is giving students exciting opportunities to learn from leading figures in the art world, with visits to high-profile exhibitions and cutting-edge digital curation techniques.
Students studying Birkbeck’s BA Art History with Curating programme have been engaging with influential voices in the arts through a series of exclusive gallery visits and interactive sessions as part of The Politics of Display module for the course. The visits serve to bridge academic study and practical experience, offering students unique insights into the art world.
A visit to the Turner Prize 2024 exhibition at Tate Britain, led by judge Sam Thorne, allowed students to hear directly about the decision-making process behind one of the most prestigious awards in contemporary art. Thorne, Director General and CEO of Japan House London, shared his expertise and reflected on the prize’s 40th anniversary, giving students a rare insider perspective.
At Whitechapel Gallery, students were given a personal tour of Peter Kennard: Archive of Dissent by Kennard himself, whose politically charged work has shaped decades of activist art. Students also heard from Whitechapel curator Carolina Laia Jozami, who introduced the exhibitions Sonia Boyce: An Awkward Relation and Lygia Clark: The I and the You, enriching their understanding of curatorial approaches.
A further visit to Somerset House provided students with a deep dive into Making a ruckus! Black Queer Histories Through Love and Resistance. The exhibition was guided by Kinnari Saraiya, who curated the show in collaboration with freelance curator Topher Campbell. Saraiya offered behind-the-scenes insights into the development of the display.
The students will also have the chance to engage with emerging technologies, with a session on digital curation scheduled for later this term partnering with Birkbeck’s Virtual Reality and Immersive Learning team. Students will use the augmented reality software ‘ThingLink’ to create virtual exhibitions in Birkbeck’s Peltz Gallery.
Dr Helena Bonett, who teaches The Politics of Display module to both BA and GDip students, commented: “It’s been a pleasure to draw on industry connections to arrange these experiences for our students. These visits and connections are a vital way of helping students engage with real-world issues in curating while considering potential career pathways.”