2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ARTF1048 Introduction to Museum and Art Gallery Studies

20 creditsClass Size: 48

Module manager: Dr Nick Cass
Email: n.cass@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Module replaces

ARTF1042 Museum and Country House Studies 2: Introduction to Museum Studies

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Do you enjoy visiting museums and art galleries? Have you ever stopped to think about the role that these institutions and objects play in contemporary cultures? What relevance do they have for people today? Are they really 'part of our heritage' and, if so, what does this mean? What issues are involved in curating, displaying and viewing collections? This module offers you the opportunity to explore these and other questions through the consideration of recent theories and practices. Emphasis is placed practical study visits to local museums such as Leeds Art Gallery, The Henry Moore Institute, The Royal Armouries and Leeds Museum.

Objectives

The module aims to introduce students to the history of the museum, and explore how this history impacts upon the operation of museums and galleries today. This module also introduces students to the key readings from museum studies and museology, as well as enabling students to understand ways of reading museum practice, including a consideration of interpretation and communication in museums and gallery contexts.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should:
- have acquired a basic understanding of the museum in history and in the contemporary cultural marketplace
- be acquainted with key texts from the secondary literature of museology and museum history
- begin to develop an ability to analyse the current ideologies and methods which inform the presentation of objects to visitors in museums.
Through various visits, students will become familiar with the museums and galleries in the Leeds area and will learn to use them as examples in class and in essays, seminar papers and exams. The module also aims to develop first year students' understanding of different teaching methods and will focus on aspects of presenting ideas to class.

Syllabus

This module provides students with an introduction to art gallery and museum studies with a distinct focus on visiting local museums and art galleries. The module examines the social formation of museums from their development in the private collections of the 17th century to the present day. Museums are studied thematically and theoretically. Students consider interpretation, communication, education, display, market research and visitor studies, building a portfolio of knowledge that highlights different elements of museum work. Visits are made to local museums such as Leeds City Art Gallery, the Henry Moore Institute, the Royal Armouries and the Leeds Museum.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	3	3.00	9.00
Lecture	8	1.00	8.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			175.00
Total Contact hours			25.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students are given an extensive reading-list, with suggestions for further readings. Students are expected to complete readings prior to each visit or lecture, and to develop a bibliography throughout the module that will feed into their essays and exam preparation. They are encouraged to make independent visits to museums and galleries to apply their learning. They are also given feedback on their critical analysis of key texts on the module reading-list through seminar discussions and presentations.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be assigned one group class presentation based on specific readings and themes arising from the module (non-assessed). Lectures will be followed each week by a seminar session, and visits will include the opportunity to monitor learning and provide feedback. The seminar teaching format in these sessions ensures ample opportunity for discussion and testing students comprehension and progress.
Attendance at lectures and visits is compulsory and monitored.
The mid semester essay will provide an opportunity to check student progress.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500-3,000 word essay	50.00
Presentation	1 x group presentation	0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	1 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 14/03/2018

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