International Graduate Field School in Critical Museology
Curating and Public Scholarship Lab (capsl.cerev.ca)
Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
May 15th – 27th, 2017
The International Graduate Field School in Critical Museology, sponsored by the Canada Research
Chair in Museum and Heritage Studies at Concordia University, will introduce students to the
museum as a significant venue for debating social issues, as well as both an actor in and site of
struggle for defining and expanding definitions of nation, citizenship, and heritage. Students will
learn about current approaches to critical museology theory and practice from leading scholars and
museum professionals. The Field School will culminate in a showcase of student projects at the
Museum Anthropology Futures conference, the inaugural conference of the Council for Museum
Anthropology (American Anthropological Association) at Concordia University.
Dates: Monday, May 15th – Saturday, May 27th
(Museum Anthropology Futures conference is May 25-27)
The first week of the field school will consist of lectures, theoretical readings, and discussions, as well
as museum site-visits (details below). In the second week students will undertake a guided
“Curatorial Dreaming” exercise and produce their own imagined exhibitions or interventions, which
will be showcased at the Museum Anthropology Futures conference. Student “Curatorial Dream”
projects will result in proposals for either a curatorial or pedagogical intervention in a local Montreal
museum, or for an imagined exhibition based on social, cultural, or historical research.
Faculty includes:
● Dr. Erica Lehrer – Canada Research Chair in Museum and Heritage Studies, Concordia
University
● Dr. Heather Igloliorte – Concordia University Chair in Aboriginal Art History and Community
Engagement
● Dr. Shelley Ruth Butler – McGill Institute for the Study of Canada and Principal, Curatorial
Dreaming workshops (http://cerev.org/curatorialdreams/)
● Dr. Jennifer Carter – Director of Museology, UQAM
● Dr. Angela Failler – CRC in Culture and Public Memory, University of Winnipeg
● Dr. Monica Patterson – Head of Curatorial Studies, Carleton University
Topics include:
Critical museology in transnational perspective
Decolonizing museology
Human Rights Museology
Digital museology
“Difficult Knowledge” in the Museum
Artists’ interventions in Museums
Children’s Museology
Curatorial Dreaming methodology
Lectures will be complemented by “behind the scenes” site visits to local museums, including:
● McCord Museum
● Centre d’Histoire de Montreal
● Montreal Holocaust Museum
● Museum of Jewish Montreal
● Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
LOGISTICAL DETAILS:
Costs:
For Concordia students and Quebec-based students: $351.27 CAD
For students registered in Canadian universities: $841.23 CAD
For France-based Masters and PhD students: $841.23 CAD
For international MA and PhD students: $1,712.76 CAD
*International students must purchase Health Insurance through Concordia’s International Student Office (ISO) at a cost of $183.16 CAD
*Students that have never taken a course at Concordia University must pay $25.00 CAD New Student Fee
*In addition, students that are not previously registered at Concordia will need to obtain a Student Identification Card at a cost of $11.50 CAD.
Credits: Students will receive a course grade and 3 graduate course credits
Housing: Limited free-of charge dormitory accommodation available for out-of-town participants
TO APPLY: Please answer the following questions in maximum 300 words:
1. Why do you want to participate in the Field School in Critical Museology?
2. What is your academic or practical experience with museums and/or museology?
3. If applicable, describe a body of research that you would like to translate into a proposed
exhibition (a “curatorial dream”).
4. Please send a current CV and academic transcript.
5. If you need financial aide, please describe your circumstances and requirements.
DEADLINE: Please send inquiries and application materials by March 30th, 2017 to: