What does an art curator do?
Led by Dominic Smith, Curator / Artist / Arts Professional
This workshop introduces students to what contemporary art curators do and why the role matters today. It combines a brief explanation of core curatorial tasks with a hands-on activity in which students select artworks and create their own exhibition theme.
By the end, participants understand that curating is a creative, idea-driven career open to anyone curious about art and the world around them.
Tell us something interesting about your career to date:
"The most interesting thing is the people that you meet. You are working with people who see the world differently from most. You meet people with unexpected knowledge of the most amazing things, from recreating the surface of Mars using satellite data, how to edit DNA and how to train geese."
What is the best piece of careers advice you have ever received?
"There might not be many jobs in this field, but there is enough work (don’t be scared to go freelance)."
Your pathway into your career:
"I went to art school and got a degree in fine arts. I have a PhD in Curating New Media. But the thing that led me to my career was being offered free studio space in return for curating some exhibitions for an organisation. This led to gaining enough experience to get a job as an assistant curator at the Laing Art Gallery (a long time ago now), and things grew from there."