Courses
VART3335 Museum Studies (3 units)
- Prerequisite:
- VART2305 Art in the 20th Century I
- Medium of Instruction:
- English
Museums have served many functions, as educational institutions, repositories of artifacts, temples of genuine artworks, and as social agents promoting civic values. How do museums balance their diverse roles and responsibilities against a backdrop of changing social agendas, commercial competition, globalization, and the desires of the public?
This course examines the history and changing mission of museums. Fundamental aspects of museum culture including organizational conventions, collection management policies, documentation systems, interpretation and communication mechanisms, and education and outreach programmes will be introduced. Through case studies, hands-on workshops, and site visits, this course offers students practical knowledge of art administration with an emphasis on operation routines, management skills, and project planning, to bring art to a wider audience. This course also examines how museums can convey standards about the value and meaning of works of arts, shape public understanding of art, and become involved in the production of art and culture. Students will learn about operating mechanisms of museums and reflect on the complex relationship between museums and contemporary practices in the art world and in society.
Looking into various museum practices, such as the acquisition, preservation and displaying of works of art, this course explores how meanings of art are shaped and thus enables students to reflect on their artistic practices. This helps bridging with many practical courses offered by the AVA.