Synopses & Reviews
is the essential handbook for curators and curatorial students, mapping every stage of the process of putting on an exhibition, no matter how traditional the venue, from initial idea to final installation. An introduction explores curatorial work from its origins in the seventeenth century onward and outlines the various roles of the curator today. Twelve chapters then trace the various stages of the exhibition process in clear, informative language and using helpful diagrams and tables, from developing the concept to writing contracts and loan requests; putting together budgets and schedules; producing exhibition catalogues and interpretation materials; designing gallery spaces; working with artists, lenders, and art handlers; organizing private views; and documenting and evaluating a show. With advice and tips from a cast of international museum directors and curators--including Daniel Birnbaum (Moderna Museet, Stockholm); Aric Chen (M+, Hong Kong); Elizabeth Macgregor (Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney); Hans Ulrich Obrist (Serpentine Gallery, London); Gao Peng (Today Art Museum, Beijing); Jennifer Russell (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York); and Nicholas Serota (Tate, London)--this volume is a crucial guide for anyone involved in, or studying, the dynamic field of curation.
Review
"Informative . . . Readers are taken through the curation process with precise writing and a formidable wealth of experience. Any student or novice curator will find this a vital part of their curriculum; it is a resource that should be on the shelf of any curator working in a museum in the 21st century." Library Journal
Synopsis
A step-by-step guide to every aspect of putting on an art exhibition, with tips from a range of influential curators
About the Author
Adrian George is Deputy Director and Senior Curator at the UK Government Art Collection in London. He previously held curatorial posts at Tate Liverpool; Tate Modern, London; and the New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York.