Curatorial, Public and Visual Cultures

Curatorial, Public and Visual Cultures Curatorial, Public and Visual Cultures department is inherently interdisciplinary which pursues academic enquiry that begins with looking closely at images and objects. Contact Us

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Curatorial, Public and Visual Cultures

The Department currently offers undergraduate courses in History of Art as a major within the Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts degree, as well as elective courses for general BA students. Grounded in Johannesburg, our teaching explores diverse themes, theories, histories and visual cultures, while challenging established paradigms and narratives.

Our programmes take a critical, interdisciplinary approach to visual and public culture, encouraging students to think with and beyond art. Through decolonial, intersectional and collaborative methods, students engage with art histories, curatorial practices, heritage, exhibitions, artistic research and contemporary cultural production. The Department fosters innovative approaches to learning that draw on multiple sites of knowledge and practice.

Ground(ed) Elsewhere Symposium

A Ground(ed) Elsewhere is a 3-day multidisciplinary and cross-university symposium in the fields of curating, heritage, and visual cultures from and with the global south together with members of the Expanded Artistic Research Network (EARN) curatorial studies group. The Visual Cultures and Curatorial Studies symposium is a collaboration with colleagues from Michaelis School of Arts, Tshwane University of Technology, and Rhodes University hosted at the ��ý School of Arts, Johannesburg from 7-9 September 2026. READ MORE

History of Art

Curatorial, Public and Visual Cultures is an inherently interdisciplinary field of academic enquiry that begins with looking closely at images and objects. The stories they tell give us insight in the lives of their makers, viewers and users, as well as the spaces and times in which they are rooted. In a world powerfully shaped by the visual, a degree in art history provides the skills to understand, critically analyse and intervene in the visual world and its impact on how we think and act. Students can apply for the following degrees:

Honours
Masters by course work
Masters by dissertation
PhD

Contemporary Curatorial Practice

Contemporary curatorial practice has become an integral part of the work of galleries, museums, festivals and other large or small-scale events. This is increasingly being foregrounded in the way that artists, critics, designers, filmmakers, curators and cultural practitioners think about the articulation and presentation of their creative work in public. As a result, this has made curating a complex field that requires specialised training, as well as critical engagement and theorisation. Although administered within Curatorial, Public and Visual Cultures, the degree programme is a cross-disciplinary master’s degree in curatorial practice, engaging all ��ý school of arts disciplines. Students can apply for the following degree:

Master of Art in the field of Contemporary Curatorial Practice
Master of Art in the field of Contemporary Curatorial Practice by dissertation

Heritage Studies

In recent years staff in the department have overseen the heritage programme. This has offered invaluable experience and exposure for students interested in heritage studies angled from curatorial perspective. The programme introduces students to the concept of heritage and its critical study, exploring the role of heritage in contemporary societies with a view to examine what constitutes heritage as well as ways in which the study its study can lead to and inform social action. Site visits, research excursions and fieldtrips are a vital part of the programme. Students can apply for the following degrees:

Honours
Masters by course work
Masters by research
PhD

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