The graduate program in Criticism and Curatorial Practices (CCP) focuses uniquely on supporting you to acquire advanced research skills in the areas of curation, art history and critical art writing.
In this program you will contribute to new knowledge through the creation of unique research on artists and artworks in changing contexts of display, reception and research. This program positions you to creatively draw on theoretical and historical contexts, as well as creative precedents to be at the forefront of today’s arts and culture landscape.
Criticism stream: you’ll undertake research that may include studio visits with artists, interviews with critics and curators, or contact with archives, museums and galleries, and write a thesis paper focused on a particular issue or topic in contemporary criticism.
Exhibition stream: you’ll conceptualize and curate a gallery exhibition, installation, intervention, public event, performance or community arts project, alongside a written curatorial essay and a support paper.
Through the CCP program you will:
- take courses in curation and in critical art writing, in addition to electives that foreground experiential learning and independent research and writing
- explore your independent research leading to the final exhibition or criticism thesis,
- take electives that connect you with graduate students in other programs
Check out the course calendar here for current courses offered.
Explore the CCP Program Guide here.
Develop your voice as an arts-based researcher with support from faculty and with access to these resources:
- Dedicated workspaces on our downtown Toronto campus.
- Access to the Graduate Gallery, which all graduate students can access to host exhibitions and events year-round.
- Work with students in the Interdisciplinary Art, Media and Design Program and build connection and community through shared projects.
- Seminar and elective courses.
- Events and gatherings, such as exhibitions, guest lectures, conferences, and symposium in partnership with arts organizations.
Students have the opportunity to curate exhibitions in the Graduate Gallery during the course of the year as a part of or independent of their studies. During the winter term second year thesis exhibitions take place in the Graduate Gallery and in art spaces across the city.
The CCP program is a part of a constellation of arts and cultural organizations, which will enrich student networks through partnerships, internships and events at organizations such as The Power Plant, the Textile Museum, The Toronto Biennial of Art, Xpace, C Magazine, or other galleries and artist-run centres nationally and internationally
CCP students can take self- driven internships in gallery, museum, arts publication or other relevant cultural institution as a part of the program.
CCP alumn have active careers in arts and culture sector. Graduates from the program have gone on to start critical art writing magazines, teach in post-secondary settings, and work independently and within galleries, museums and arts and culture festivals as Executive Directors and Curators.