Master of Arts in Curatorial Practice

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The contemporary art of Thailand has been well received globally and locally for nearly four decades, however its local cultural infrastructure for contemporary art has not been sufficiently critically explored – particularly the assessment of its intelligence (its artists, curators, art handlers, art marketers, art conservators, art educators and so on) required to sustain its international relevance. This MA is an opportunity to engage and be a part of this critical exploration. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and is currently undergoing great transformation with a booming gallery scene of commercial and non-commercial activity, in addition to an impressive establishment of private and public museum and foundation entities across the country (think ‘MAIIAM Museum of Contemporary Art’, the ‘DC Collection’ in ChiangMai; Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Jim Thompson Art Centre, in Bangkok and the recurring ‘Thailand Biennale’ 2021 in Korat; 2023 in Chiang Rai, to name but a few). This artistic landscape is also possessing a dynamic artist-initiated scene of activity that embraces local and international expressions of ‘contemporary’ practice. This diversifying ecology of art deserves productive and constructive understandings of what it means for curators to work and contribute to the history of art and this MA aims to deepen understanding of curatorial practice and its contribution to the overall sector (locally, regionally and internationally). 

The programme comprises various learning methods; lectures, seminars, self-driven projects, and group field trips, in which lecturers will share their knowledge and practice. We encourage students to nominate subjects and strategies of their interest for discussion. Guest lectures are from the comparative fields of visual arts, design, music, performance, the moving image and more, offering a dynamic and interdisciplinary vision of what curating can be today.

  • First year

    • First semester: Online coursework, seminar, and workshops

    • Second semester: Online and on-site coursework, seminar, workshops, projects, and partially funded fieldtrips

  • Second year

    • First semester: Internship, thesis or independent study

    • Second semester: independent study

  • Anyone with a bachelor degree with minimum GPA 2.5 from any field is eligible to apply. However, if your GPA is less than 3.0, you are required to have a year of experience in relation to your practice.

This course possesses more than 20 guest lecturers who specialise in many interdisciplinary fields, working as art critic, historian, curator, collector, artist, and more; with a broad practical knowledge of current dilemmas and strategies of innovation for working in the Arts across transnational contexts. Hence

1. Knowledge and understanding shared to the students are broadened and can be customised to students’ interests.

2. Possibilities of expanding connections with lecturers who are renowned in their area of expertise.

We accept applications once a year, between February – May. We expect 20 students per intake. 

Application fee is 3,000 THB. It is not refundable and students are responsible for the transferral fee. For further information please click here.

Tuition fee + administration fee is THB 150,000/semester for Thai students and THB 207,700 for international students. For fee breakdowns, please see here. Students should complete the course within 3 or 4 semesters.

If you meet all application requirements, then there are no other prerequisites.

Most lectures and seminars will take place online via Zoom or MS Teams. Select coursework, such as field trips, group seminars and final defence of thesis require in-person attendance.

This MA offers internships with ‘Art4C’, the gallery and creative learning space of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University;  Jim Thompson Art Centre, Bangkok, Thailand and 16Albermarle Project Space, Sydney, Australia. Students can also individually connect with guest lecturers of the program to arrange internship possibilities; in addition to securing internships in their local community (with modest compensation for the host)

Chulalongkorn University offers various scholarships to Thai and international students. Programme staff can help connect you with relevant persons for further information

Courses will be taught between 16.00 – 22.00 GMT+7 on weekdays.

There will not be any day where this program requires more than 4 hours of your attendance.

1.Field trips requiring in-person attendance will require your own organisation of travel and accommodation

2.Presenting your thesis or independent study will be held in Bangkok, to which you will be responsible for all travel related expenses.

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1.Curators within museum and gallery contexts

2.Art academia

3.Art and cultural writers

4.Art and cultural administrators/managers

5.Art and cultural entrepreneurial creative director/organiser

Program deferment is possible upon receipt of required documents that substantiates request. A fee will be charged for the period of deferment to ensure enrolment position in the course.