New PhD opportunity for Europe's artists and curators
Release Date 08 December 2011
Those involved in the world of contemporary art can now study for a unique PhD thanks to a partnership between two renowned institutions.
The University of Reading's Department of Fine Art and the Postgraduate Program in Curating at the University of the Arts in Zurich have joined forces to offer a practice-based PhD programme in curating, one of few models currently offered in Europe. The programme offers established curators, artists, writers and art critics from all disciplines to earn a Doctorate from the University of Reading through a combined theoretical and practical approach.
By studying across two departments and two countries students will receive a unique learning experience from two major European Art centres. Students will draw inspiration from Reading's close proximity to London, the hub of international contemporary art, and the vibrant art scene in Zurich.
Both institutions attract students of the highest calibre through their expertise and extensive international research networks. The new PhD emerged through longstanding research collaborations between Reading's Professor Susanne Clausen, Head of the University's Department of Fine Art, and Zurich's Director of Postgraduate Programme in Curating Dorothee Richter.
Professor Clausen, Head of the University of Reading's Fine Art said: "We are excited to have won a partnership with the renowned Curating Programme at the University of the Arts in Zurich. We are especially delighted to be working with Dorothee Richter, who is an internationally renowned curator and writer, as well as Director of one of the most exciting curating programmes in Europe."
This innovative PhD module will provide a platform for cutting edge collaborations between curators and artists. It is also closely related to the internationally renowned web magazine ON CURATING www.on-curating.org and provides possibilities for participants to engage critically with its broad international network.
Dorothee Richter said: "We have designed this PhD program as a shared platform of knowledge production where the specific contexts of the respective institutions will provide many exciting research opportunities. Participants will be encouraged to make use of resources such as the Curating Degree Zero Archive that was recently required by the University of the Arts in Zurich, which contains materials of about 100 curators, artist/ curators and curatorial groups. See http://www.curatingdegreezero.org/archive.html
For more information visit the http://www.reading.ac.uk/art/pg-research/art-postgraduate-rsearch-zurich-phd.aspx or contact the Department of Art: fineart@reading.ac.uk
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For all University of Reading media enquiries please contact James Barr, Press Officer tel. 0118 378 7115 or email j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk
Notes to Editors:
The University of Reading's Department of Art comprises the former long established departments of Fine Art and History of Art. It has a shared history with its origins in the Reading School of Art, established in 1860 the founding school of the present University.
It has developed a distinctive approach to Art through a combination of practice, theory and history. All of the academic staff are actively engaged as artists, researchers, historians and curators. Its special strengths lie in exhibition history and curatorial practice, in artists' writing and in theoretical and historical approaches to art.
Art at Reading has illustrious alumni from artists Walter Sickert and Terry Frost to Turner Prize nominees Mike Nelson, Cornelia Parker and Richard Wilson.
Zurich University of the Arts is a vibrant centre for teaching, research, and production excellence. While firmly anchored in Greater Zurich, its influence extends well beyond Switzerland to the wider international stage. It offers a broad range of degree programmes and further education courses in education, design, film, art & media, dance, theatre, and music.