The Statement of a Curator

Why have you burdened me with this task?

1. It's a requirement of the course
2. Refining your ability to describe artistic works is a critical skill.  As an artist you will be called upon to not only describe pieces of work, but articulate how they go together.
3. At Cornish, you will be well served to develop an interdisciplinary arts vocabulary.

How long is a curator's statement?

They vary in length. For the purposes of our class, your document should be at least 850 words (see the curator's statement from the Victoria and Albert below)

What should my Statement contain?

• A Title.  Put some thought into this, as you would in titling an original composition
• A clear statement of focus and purpose
• A concise discussion of the subject and contents
• A description of the intended outcome. What will people experience?

What structure should I follow?

The first paragraph is critical.  What are the details people should know?  You are trying to immediately inform and capture the attention of a visitor.  Define the topic, the scope of your exhibition (years, regions, people, movements), and state the purpose.  That’s a lot to pack into one paragraph.  Be direct and efficient.

The following paragraphs are up to you, but my suggestion would be:  

• You might take 2 paragraphs to describe the importance of the topic.  Why should this interest someone?
• The body of the paper (5 or so paragraphs) should describe the contents of the show.  You might choose to lay out the different components of the program.  Alternatively, you might organize this section according to different themes that run throughout your retrospective.  
• A final paragraphs should state the goals and intentions of your retrospective.  This might also serve to conclude your proposal.  Importantly, be conscientious about your organization.  What do you need to say and how are you going to devote space to saying it?

What is included in this document?

You need to select three of the proposals from your colleagues, in addition to your own. Be conscientious about your selections. How will they go together? Do you want programs that are closely related or items that show contrasting ideas about sex and rebellion. The curator’s statement for the Gauguin show (linked below) is instructive as to content, voice, and level of detail.

Who is my audience?

You should address your proposal to an audience that is literate in the arts, but not necessarily fully informed about the individuals and artists you are discussing.  Your voice should be formal and confident.  Avoid the first person, “I.”  The whole document is a reflection of your ideas.  

Will you look over an outline, first paragraph, or draft?

Yes, gladly.  The writing center is also a great resource for a project like this.

Where can I read more suggestions?

Any flyer or playbill you receive at a professional show might provide a model for this kind of writing.  How does the curator, producer, choreographer, etc describe the selections they’ve chosen to put on display?  Here are a few examples, taken largely from realm of the visual arts.

Postmodern Exhibit at Victoria and Albert (this length is perfect)

Gauguin Retrospective @ SAM (describes the displays effectively)

Out (o) Fashion @ the Henry

Guidelines from the RISD writing center (they have a shorter length in mind, but the idea is there)

And Another Thing (a bit vague, but interesting content)

What are you looking for in a good curator's statement?

First, polish and completeness.  Second, a working knowledge of your topic and the contents (in your own words).  Third, I want to see you synthesize these pieces.  How do they go together?  Do they interact and speak to one another?  Perhaps they present a contrasting image of the same topic.  

When is it due?

Check the schedule