Week 1. Introduction

• Introduction to the program and course overview.

This is a one-hour-only welcome session. The lecturer will introduce the program and participants will introduce themselves. No prior preparation is necessary.

Week 2

• A brief history of collections and collecting 
  
• Defining the role of a curator and collector: who collects, and why? 
  
• Collection models and how they impact collection development 
  
• Overview of course assignment: how to write and deliver a curators exhibition proposal
  

Week 3

• Developing connections and curating collections
  
• Reading a collection’s lifespan and using it to develop curatorial approaches 
  
• Understanding collection development and curatorial evolution 
  

Week 4

• Collection impacts: funding, bequests, loans, conservation 
  
• Best practice for collection management: archiving, conserving, assessment writing, and more 
  
• Collection ethics: challenges considerations, and approaches for politically sensitive items 
  

Week 5

• Re-interpreting old concepts to develop new approaches 
  
• Keeping collections relevant: learning to read curatorial trends and debates 
  
• Collection-based educational programmes
  
• Moving beyond the display through events, initiatives, and engagement