Art Exhibition Curating Masterclass
Culture & Arts Management
Upon Request
Masterclass in the design and curation of art exhibitions with Thodoris Koutsogiannis, Chief Curator of the Hellenic Parliament Art Collection. Case Study: Anniversary exhibition “Beholding Liberty!” at the Hellenic Parliament
The Hellenic American Union, in cooperation with Thodoris Koutsogiannis, Art Historian and Chief Curator of the Hellenic Parliament Art Collection, is organizing a Masterclass on the design and curating of exhibitions, focusing on the case study of the anniversary exhibition Beholding Liberty! at the Hellenic Parliament.
To celebrate the historic bicentennial of the 1821 outbreak of the Greek Revolution, the Hellenic Parliament presented its largest-ever exhibition, entitled “Beholding Liberty! at the Hellenic Parliament, two centuries later” (which will remain open to the public throughout 2022). More than 360 movable objects of historical and artistic value (manuscripts, print material, artworks, weapons, etc.), sourced mainly from the Hellenic Parliament Library and Art Collection, but also from private collections and selected loans from abroad, are presented “in conversation” with the Hellenic Parliament’s building and the so-called “Frieze of the Revolution” — the mural decorating the Hall of the Trophies and the Hall of the Adjutants.
In addition to the in-situ exhibition with the original exhibits, also examined will be its online presence in digital media (website and digital repository), designed exclusively for this exhibition. With full 3D virtual navigation and an interactive guided tour option, participants of the Masterclass can explore not only the potential of digital technology in the organization of an exhibition, but also its impact on the overall visitor experience.
In addition, special attention will be given to the design of the exhibition catalogue, both from a scientific and a publishing viewpoint, as the “piece of evidence” that “safeguards” the exhibition after its completion.
Under the guidance of the curator, all stages of the design and organization of an exhibition will be analyzed, from its conception and objectives to its implementation, the creation of catalogues and the broader context of cultural diplomacy in which it belongs. The main aim of the Masterclass is to highlight the ways in which an exhibition conveys knowledge and creates a narrative that is easily assimilated by viewers through their mental and sensory capacities, by making the most of the spatial synergy between art and history.
The Masterclass will be concluded with a visit and tour of the exhibition.
*Photograph: View of the exhibition Beholding Liberty! at the Hellenic Parliament.
- Online attendance
The Masterclass will be held in a lab-classroom at the Hellenic American Union (22 Massalias Street, Athens), offering the option to attend remotely live.
The option of remote attendance is only offered to those who are objectively hindered from being physically present throughout the duration of the program (e.g., residing outside Athens). For educational reasons and for a uniform educational experience, we recommend that each applicant chooses only one of the two modes of attendance, either online or physical presence.
Participants will be required to draw up a brief critique of the exhibition, in the form of comprehensive responses to specific questions.
Unexcused absences allowed: 1 two-hour session.
Bibliography
General museology literature will be assigned, as well as some specialized literature,
namely, various exhibition catalogues (as positive or negative examples).
- Initial concept, objectives and feasibility of an exhibition
- Museological and museographical design
- Setup and functionality. The conversion of utility spaces into museum spaces
- Structure and nodes of the conceptual narrative
- Climax of the exhibition/spatial narrative
- Exhibition catalogues and guides
- Digital media (website and digital repository)
- Exhibition and cultural diplomacy
- Studying and understanding all stages for the design and curation of an exhibition.
- Developing ability to design cultural events.
- Absorbing key concepts/steps in organizing an exhibition.
- Receiving guidance in designing the conceptual narrative and activities that accompany a visual arts event.
- Making use of state-of-the-art digital media in the organization of an exhibition.
- Studying and integrating cultural events in the context of cultural diplomacy.
Thodoris Koutsogiannis
Art Historian and Chief Curator of the Hellenic Parliament Art Collection
Thodoris Koutsogiannis studied archaeology and art history at the University of Athens (BA 1996, MA 2000, PhD 2008). In the context of his post-graduate studies, he attended seminars and conducted stu ...
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