OVERVIEW

Temporary art exhibitions are among those activities which enable to deepen the knowledge of cultural assets, to make them accessible, to promote them and to enhance them. The second part of the course will focus on the organizing  steps of temporary art exhibitions as well as on the international profession of the Exhibition Registrar working in exhibition venues.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The first part of the course addresses issues related to the forms of company - business, cultural institution, non-profit organization - used for the management of cultural assets and activities, public-private partnership methods, economic-financial sustainability, specific business models of the cultural and creative industry and the measurement of economic, social and cultural performance. The second part of the course intends to introduce students to the professional figure of the "Registrar" of temporary art exhibitions, tools for the enhancement of cultural heritage and to illustrate, through their work, the various phases organizational and management in the creation of art exhibitions. Topics will vary from the design conception of the curator, to the verification of economic feasibility, to relations with lenders, up to the preparation of the works. In addition to the international reference texts that regulate the movement and exchange of works of art between institutions, the various types of loan agreements, insurance coverage, packaging and transport methods and the bureaucratic formalities to be followed according to the provisions of the Code of Cultural Heritage will be analyzed. Direct testimonies of the figures of the Restorer and the Architect are provided.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at getting students to know the work of the Registrar and at providing  them with a thorough and  practical knowledge of the organization of temporary art exhibitions. At the end of the course, the attendance of the lessons and the participation in the suggested activities, the analysis of case studies of specific exhibitions, the testimonies of professionals and  individual study, will allow students to:

• acquire knowledge of: the evolution and diffusion of temporary art exhibitions in Europe and Italy and of the Profession of the Registrar;  the relevant laws  of the Ministry of Culture; the international rules governing  international loans of artworks; the documents regulating  the relations between  organizers and lending institutions; specialist language, in English too;
• acquire the Registrar’s basic working skills and the various  organizational steps of temporary art exhibitions and related deadlines; elaborate a rough budget and a GANTT; discuss the necessary  actions to guarantee the correct handling and conservation of artworks (packing, shipping, insurance, customs, display rules and conservation parameters of works of art).

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons will take place face to face in the classroom. Testimonies in the classroom by professionals  involved in the organization of temporary art exhibitions  will be planned as well as visits to art exhibitions. Analysis and discussion of specific documents, surfing of interesting websites will be part of the course. Group works or in-depth study of specific topics could be suggested.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

In the second part of the course the following  topics will be tackled:

• Introduction: the concepts of preservation, safeguard, conservation, fruition and enhancement of Cultural Assets. Temporary art exhibitions as instruments of enhancement of Cultural Assets;
• Temporary art exhibitions: historical notes; temporary art exhibitions and guidelines regulating  the loans of artworks between institutions;
• The profession of the Registrar: his/her role and skills. His/her main working  tools
• The stages of realization of an art exhibition: from the concept (by the curator) to the feasibility study and the starting of the operational steps;
• The relationship between organizers and lenders (both public and private); loan requests, facility report; contracts and loan forms;
• Packing and shipping;
• Commercial  insurance and Indemnity Scheme;
• Legislation  of Cultural Assets (relevant articles included in the Codice dei Beni Culturali e del Paesaggio); procedures to get the  authorization for the  loans of artworks; the relationship with the Ministry of Cultural heritage, the Soprintendenze and the customs agents; Immunity from seizure;
• The Architect and the exhibition  instalment project;
• The conservator and the condition report;
• Parallel activities to those of the Exhibition Office.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Specific documents  and bibliography will be provided during the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

RENATA DAMERI (President)

MONICA BRUZZONE

CLAUDIA BOVIS (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

28 September 2023

Class schedule

PROFILES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Oral exams will focus on themes and topics tackled during the lessons and will aim at checking the acquisition of an adequate level of competence and knowledge. Final evaluation will take into account the  following skills: quality of oral presentation, knowledge of specific terminology, personal deepening of some issues also through the view of audio- visual materials recommended during the course; critical analysis skills and personal content processing.

Exam schedule