Master of Fine Arts in Criticism & Curatorial Practice

Criticism & Curatorial Practice

Offering graduate students an exceptional opportunity to explore and experiment with contemporary art, media, and design through engagement with history, theory, and criticism within curatorial practice.

The Master of Fine Arts in Criticism & Curatorial Practice program offers graduate students an exceptional opportunity to explore and experiment with contemporary art, media, and design through engagement with history, theory, and criticism within curatorial practice.

OCAD University’s distinctive program focuses uniquely on the practices of curating and criticism, leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree. Our graduate faculty and adjunct faculty include practicing curators and critics who bring deep intellectual and professional expertise to the studies of criticism and curatorial practice.

OCAD University’s reputation for excellence entices internationally renowned authorities to its annual Artist-in-Residence program and assists students to establish programmatic internships in Canada and abroad.

Key features

• Partnerships, internships, and events at organizations such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Textile Museum, C Magazine, the Toronto Alliance of Art Critics, and various Toronto artist-run centers.
• The Summer Internship, which is an approximately four-week placement with a gallery, museum, art publication, or other relevant cultural institution in Canada or abroad. The internship allows students to integrate the knowledge gleaned from first-year seminars with the practices of curating and criticism.
• The annual Artist-in-Residence program, which brings internationally renowned artists, designers, curators, and critics to OCAD U for a one-week residency during which they conduct seminars, attend studio critiques, and give a public lecture/presentation.

The MFA in Criticism & Curatorial Practice is a full-time, 60-credit program normally completed within two academic years or five sequential semesters. With the Program Director’s approval, some part-time students may be admitted with a more flexible completion schedule.

The program comprises the following:

• Five core seminars (critical theory, research methods, issues in exhibitions, critical writing, and issues in criticism and curatorial studies)
• Two core practice and issues-based studio/seminars
• An institutionally embedded theory and practice-based course, "Inside Curatorial Practice", which including a collaborative group exhibition
• Two elective seminars or studios
• Individual research
• Summer internship or study abroad
• Thesis: curatorial exhibition and critical essay, or criticism thesis

Students entering the program will have an honors-equivalent four-year bachelor’s degree in studio art or design, or art history/visual culture, or a related discipline, and several years of practical experience. They will be interested in augmenting their existing knowledge base through a program of study that facilitates exploration of and experimentation with the full range of contemporary art and/or designs curatorial and critical practices, and that provides the historical, theoretical and critical armature required.

What You’ll Do in the Program

First Year

• Intro to Curatorial Practices
• Inside Curatorial Practice Part 1
• Choose one (0.5) of the following:
  • Contemporary Research Methods OR
  • Critical Theory Seminar OR
  • Art History Methods & Theory
• Elective**
• Intro to Criticism and Critical Writing
• Inside Curatorial Practice Part 2
• Elective**
• Thesis Proposal
• Choose 1.0 credits from the following options:
  • Placement and/or Study Abroad
  • Independent Study

Second Year

• Issues in Criticism and Curatorial Studies
• Individual Research and Reading
• Thesis Workshop I: Research
• Elective**
• Thesis Workshop II: Writing
• Thesis: Exhibition and Critical Essay OR
• Thesis: Criticism Thesis

**Students must take 2.0 total elective credits in order to complete the program. Electives will be listed in fall/winter/fall semesters though students have flexibility in which terms they take them.

The objectives of the MFA in Criticism and Curatorial Practice are to:

• Ensure that students acquire advanced research skills for visual and academic investigations in the areas of art, media, and design practice and critical theory.
• Contribute to new knowledge in the areas of art, media, and design research methodologies in criticism and curatorial practices.
• Promote the development of practices that facilitate sustainability, social responsibility, and diverse social and cultural perspectives.
• Develop and advance curatorial and critical practices in design.
• Promote contemporary art, media, and design practices within public contexts.
• Contribute to the development of the field of Canadian art, media, and design criticism.
• Contribute to the development of the field of curatorial practice in private and public galleries and museums and to independent curatorial practices.