Bachelor of Art History & Curatorship at the ANU

The Bachelor of Art History & Curatorship bridges the gap between the theoretical side of Art History as a university discipline and the practicalities of curating for the public.

The research-led teaching of Art History & Curatorship at the ANU is delivered by academic specialists in the fields of painting; printmaking; Asian arts; portraiture; Australian art; decorative arts and design; theatre arts; Victorian and Edwardian art; Russian art; modern and contemporary art. 

The art historians working at ANU have strong and prolific publishing records as well as being recognised in national awards for excellence in teaching. For more information see the School's People page.

Students will be introduced to painting, sculpture, printmaking, photo and digital media, digital media, and decorative arts within an historical, social, cultural and political context.

ANU has become a leader in Art History & Curatorship studies and for over 30 years has been forging close connections with the key national cultural institutions in Canberra.  ANU has close links with the:

• National Gallery of Australia
• National Library of Australia
• National Portrait Gallery
• Australian War Memorial, Canberra Museum and Gallery
• Canberra Contemporary Arts Space
   

These links ensure that students:

• have access to major national collections for the entirety of their degree;
• can combine academic excellence with a strong vocational emphasis; and
• are at the forefront of current research and issues confronting galleries.
   

Art History & Curatorship students learn to:

• identify and analyse various cultural concepts in Art History, their art-forms and art-making techniques;
• differentiate and critique the historical, social, cultural and political contexts of diverse periods, styles, and methods in Art History;
• construct comprehensive linkages between the study of Art History and the practicalities of curating; and
• evaluate practices and techniques associated with public curatorship through lecturers and visits to galleries and museums.

   

Art History & Curatorship Internship Program

In conjunction with the national institutions and galleries around Canberra, the ANU runs a widely acclaimed internship program. The internship program runs over two semesters and is open to Honours, Graduate Diploma and Masters students. The internship counts towards the overall degree. 

For further information contact the Internship Convenor, Dr Andrew Montana.
 

Career Opportunities

Art History & Curatorship has a strong career orientation.  Many of our graduates are employed in:

• key positions in art galleries, museums and other cultural institutions;
• teaching positions relating to their specialisations, while others have entered;
• the commercial world of culture and art.  With a strong emphasis on critical analysis, research, problem solving and communicating with audiences in diverse ways, this degree provides; and
• valuable training for future managers in the arts, heritage and collections sectors, and more broadly across the public service and private enterprise.
   

Undergraduate

Majors:

• Asian Art
• Art History

Minors:

• Curatorship
• Asian Art

A summary of courses for 2012 can be found on Study@.

For more information please contact the Convenor of Art History, Professor Sasha Grishin.

Honours

The Honours year is an exciting, challenging and rewarding course of study, which includes writing a 15,000 word thesis and presenting research seminar papers.  In this year students also have the opportunity to apply for the Internship Program, which is worth 30% of the overall grade.

Students can choose to enrol in either:

• Art History Honours; or
• Art History and Curatorship Honours.
   

For Information on Honours entry requirements and guidelines see the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) Honours page.

For more information please contact the Honours Convenor, Dr Elisabeth Findlay.
 

Postgraduate:

• Graduate Diploma specialising in Art History
• Graduate Diploma specialising in Art History and Curatorship
• Master of Arts specialising in Art History
• Master of Arts specialising in Art History and Curatorship
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Research opportunities for postgraduate theses topics reflect the interest and expertise of the staff across Asian Art, Australian Art, Portraiture, Modern and Contemporary Australian and International Art, Theatre arts, Victorian and Edwardian Art and Design, Printmaking, and Russian and Byzantine art.

For more information please contact the Graduate Convenor, Professor Sasha Grishin.