This Postgraduate Certificate is suitable if you have a first degree and are interested in a vocational qualification, or as a refresher course if you are already working in a museum and gallery.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Curating and Collections Management offers you a unique opportunity to gain practical skills in museum work and to better understand the issues facing curators and collections managers today. It will help you answer important questions such as: How do you pitch a proposal for an exhibition? How would you project manage this and who would need to be involved? How would you organise a loan for an exhibition? What are the different ways of cataloguing a museum object and why does the information you keep matter? How would you store a sacred object, or something that was extremely fragile? You will spend two intensive weeks studying the foundational principles of curating and collections management, debating the challenges and opportunities of contemporary museums and gallery practice, and visiting London museums and galleries. You will listen to experts talking about their working practices, learn skills of documentation and work in groups to develop an exhibition.
HIGHLIGHTS
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), in a joint submission with UCL, Biological Sciences at Birkbeck were ranked 11th in the UK, with a research environment supporting world-leading and internationally excellent research.
Our location in Bloomsbury in central London is ideal for exploring some of the world's best architecture, galleries and museums, collections and art spaces, such as the British Library, British Museum, Sir John Soane's Museum, Foundling Museum, Wellcome Gallery, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern and V&A.
The department hosts a range of events including information evenings for prospective students; the annual Murray Lecture, where speakers have included Gabriele Finaldi, Director of Tate Britain, and Neil McGregor, ex-Director of the British Museum; and exhibitions and displays at the Peltz Gallery, the School of Arts' purpose-built exhibition space. You are also welcome to attend other seminars and events across the School of Arts and at the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities.
CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY
Graduates of this course can pursue career paths in: museums and galleries, the media
the charitable sector, academic research. Our recent graduates have found employment in the Jewish Museum, Geffrye Museum, English National Opera and Bishopsgate Institute as: educators, curators
archivists. We offer a comprehensive Careers Service - Birkbeck Futures - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
