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Workshop I: ‘Visual Presentation: Editorial and Curatorial Training Programme (ECTP 1)

Vak
2011-2012

Admission requirements

Only for studens of the masters’ programme in Film and Photographic Studies. Only 12-15 student can be admitted to this elective.
There will be a selection procedure.

Description

The Editorial and Curatorial Training Programme (ECTP) is divided into two modules, covering the full 1st semester 1 (5 ECTS) and half of semester 2 (5 ECTS). Both modules start with workshops conducted by Susan Meiselas. Workshop 1 is a one week individual workshop (1 ECTS), in which the student will gain skills in techniques and material used in photographic practice. Project based learning how to describe, select and sequence photographs and create narrative structures with self-made images and found photographs. This production workshop is about engagement through making pictures, editing and sequencing images. During Workshop 1 students are encouraged to work with existing images or photographs to be shot during the week, trying to formulate stories, before all making choices based on visual qualities rather than conceptual considerations (‘sometimes the eye can be ahead of the brain’).

ECTP is focusing on the contemporary practice of editors, curators and imagemakers involved in creating documentary projects for multiple platforms.

ECTP seminars and practicum
During Meet the photographers (a) students will be confronted with the work of contemporary photographers with a documentary background. What does their practice look like: how do they work, what are their objectives, what type of output do they generate and for whom, what are their expectations of the platforms their work can be presented on: press, independent book productions, exhibitions, audiovisuals, the web?
Meet the curators (b) starts with a visit to a festival or museum. Main points of interest: the choices made by this particular institution regarding the functions of the museum (conservation, presentation, education, research). The programme will particularly focus on the museum’s policy as far as exhibitions are concerned. Students are confronted with the curator’s responsibility of getting involved with the work of imagemakers. In what ways can a curator interfere with the work of an artist, what are the boundaries of this engagement.
Meet the designers © provides insight into the role of designers with regard to curatorial practice. When to consult/involve a designer in a project, how to brief a graphic/exhibition/interactive media expert? What to expect, how to collaborate, who is responsible for what? (editing, narrative structure, information provided, contextualization, etc)
Meet the funders (d) represents the final stage of the programme: developing a project that will have to be able to function independently as well as (partly) integrated on multiple platforms (book next to exhibition next to web, etc). The proposal, requires writing an brochure describing concept, audience, budget with coverage as well as sketching/developing visual models for its components. This part starts with (further) discussing the role of the curator and/or curator, aspects of fundraising for the non-profit sector, budgeting, collaboration models, etc.

Elements a and b will be covered during semester 1 (4 ECTS). Elements c and d are part of semester 2 (3 ECTS).

Course objectives

ECTP workshops
Furtherance of professional training and scientific positioning in dialogue with artistic practice. In addition, an objective of the workshop is to provide preparation as a professional photographer and/or visual historian with emphasis on stimulating interdisciplinary thinking, particularly with regard to visual anthropology, media studies, visual culture, journalism and history. The results of the workshop may evolve into the elective Collaborative Project, or can be used as step up to the final project for ECTP. The content may be related to an internship or be art of pre-thesis work.

ECTP seminars and practicum
Acquiring insight into: – the current practice of museum curators, exhibition makers, and/or producers (concept development, financial support, fundraising, collaboration with creative and institutional partners); – the functioning of the interconnected presentation platforms relevant for this practice: exhibitions, internet, print (books, catalogues), film, tablet media (iPad), augmented reality and educational programmes.
Students will be able to develop content for, budget and approach funders for a coherent presentation that utilises multiple platforms.

Timetable

First term. Starting September 5th (five days in total), followed by reflection on the workshop, discussion and a series of individual initial talks on internship and pre-thesis work in the Fall.

Mode of instruction

Group guidance and individual supervision;

ECTP workshops
Instructional group meetings and individual consultations. The Collaborative project is intended to serve as preparation for a Visual Thesis.

ECTP seminars and practicum
Group meetings.

Assessment method

The evaluation is based on assignments (1 for each workshop + 3-4 semester 1) All consultation with the teachers takes place during the programmed contact hours.

ECTP workshops, seminars and practicum
Students will be graded for their presentations that will have to be presented in oral or written form (PDF, PPT), completed by a and/or physical or electronic object (book, website) or (representation of an) installation. Collective assignments can be graded with pass/fail (with grades as reference), individual assignments will always be graded.

Final grades per semester are based on their relative ECTS weight.

Blackboard

Reading list

ECTP workshops – Graeme Sullivan, Art Practice as Research, London 2005. – Jay Ruby, Sharing The Power – A multivocal Documentary, in: {Perpektief Magazine No. 41, May 1991

ECTP seminars, practicum – Henk van Os, Slechts drie maanden de Nachtwacht. De hamster, de exhibitionist, de demonstrator, de smaakbevestiger en de vertoner: een typologie van de makers van tentoonstellingen voor musea, in: De Groene Amsterdammer, November 26, 2004 >> in Dutch ONLY. – Bas Vroege, The future of photography – the future looks bright / the future looks cumbersome, in: Roberta Valtorta (ed.), È contemporanea la fotografia? Milan: Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea, 2004

Recommended reading – Thierry de Duve, Art In The Face Of Radical Evil, in: October 125, Summer 2008, pp. 3–23. – Christopher Phillips, The Judgement Seat of Photography, October 22, Autumn 1982, pp. 27-63 – Roland Barthes, The Great Family Of Man, in: Mythologies, 1957 – Mary Anne Staniszewski, The power of display. A history of exhibition installations at the Museum of Modern Art, Cambridge: MIT Press, 1998. (Chapters 1, 2 & 4).

Recommended readings / media: – George Legrady, An Anecdoted Archive of the Cold War. San Francisco:
HyperReal Media Productions, 1994. (CD-ROM) – Pedro Meyer, I Photograph to Remember. Santa Monica: Voyager, 1991. (CD-ROM) – Ad van Denderen & Boris Gerrets, Go No Go. Edam: Paradox, 2003.
(DVD, book, website) – Andy Cameron [et al.], AntiRom. Westminster: University of Westminster 1994. (CD-ROM) – Martin Parr & Gerry Badger, The Photo Book. A History (Volume 1).
London: Phaidon Press, 2004.

Registration

Via uSis.

Contact information

Bas Vroege
Susan Meiselas

Remarks