Art history and curation play a crucial role in linking people to the cultural and artistic practices of the past and present.
A Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Curatorial Studies provides a solid foundation in art history. You will study art and art movements from different time periods, and learn how to properly research, write, and present art to the public. You will work with historical and contemporary art and archival materials while preparing for a career in museums, galleries, and other art institutions.
Through our professional placement program, you will gain valuable work experience at various art organizations across Regina. This program will help you build essential skills and connections in the industry.
What is Art History and Curatorial Studies?
Art history studies visual culture from prehistoric times to the present. It analyzes art from around the world and different periods to understand the values, beliefs, and experiences of people in society. In art history courses, students learn to interpret and evaluate various art forms including paintings, sculptures, drawings, or prints.
Curatorial studies explores the history, theories, and practices of curation. It addresses curators’ responsibilities in selecting, organizing, and presenting collections in settings like museums or art galleries. It also focuses on the interactions and relationships with artists and professionals required to plan exhibits.
Some courses offered at the U of R include:
ARTH 204 - Modern Art and the “Shock of the New”
Explore renowned and provocative objects and ideas—from art works and concepts that challenged the official Academy, and revolutionized conventions of representation to non-objective art. Discover fascinating stories, key works, and iconic figures, from the 1880s to the 1960s.
ARTH 211 - Introduction to Museum Studies
Which values, traditions, and ideas regulate the public collecting and display of art? How do museums, galleries, and other institutions shape their visual messages? By investigating theoretical approaches, exploring professional practices, and engaging with hands-on experience, students will be introduced to fundamental notions regulating the museum profession.
ARTH 230 - Art History Across Cultures
How did explorations, art market(s), travels, and diplomatic exchanges influence artistic production, taste, and collecting? This course investigates material and artistic exchanges across cultures and casts light on how encounters among diverse societies and the constant circulation of objects have impacted art and visual culture.
ARTH 301 - Art Theory and Art Criticism
History and practice of critical thought, from the classical notion of beauty to contemporary concerns related to the body, power, race, gender, etc. Students will be introduced to conceptual tools and vocabulary of Marxism, semiotics, psychoanalysis and deconstruction.
ARTH 440 - Curatorial Strategies and Applications
What are the different strategies to curating art today? This course teaches the theoretical and applied concepts needed to design an exhibition. Students develop specific skills for working in a gallery or museum, from researching and handling artworks to laying out an exhibition space, informed by contemporary best practices.