With the support of a recent Helis Foundation grant, Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) will develop a new master’s degree in Curatorial Practice and Exhibition Management.
The initiative places XULA among a host of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that are working to increase diversity in museum and curatorial fields, while expanding representations of African-American and African Diaspora art.
XULA officials will use the $50,000 Helis Foundation award for the initial planning and research phase in the development of the program that will ultimately prepare students and expand their understanding of museum curatorship and exhibition preparatory work.
“For [the program] to be at an HBCU is extremely important because we don’t often see ourselves in those kinds of positions, particularly writers, curators, people who work as registrars, etc. at museums,” said Ron Bechet, the Victor H. Labat Endowed Professor of Art and co-lead of the program development project at XULA. “We’re hoping to open an opportunity for young African-Americans or people of color to have that as an opportunity for them to see it as a career.”
In addition to the practice of “making art,” students in XULA’s art department have the opportunity to work with curators and directors of local museums and art exhibits in New Orleans through internships and other experiential learning opportunities.
“We will continue that, obviously, but we wanted to make an opportunity open for those students who are further interested in working at a higher level once they do their undergraduate work,” Bechet said.
Dr. Sarah Anita Clunis, assistant professor of art history, gallery director of the Xavier University Art Gallery and co-lead of the development project at XULA, added that the new program is meant to be “a two-track program with people choosing if they want to focus on the theory – curatorial studies – or the practice” of putting an exhibit together, she said. “They’re going to need to have both.”
