More and more of South Africa’s museums, galleries and even zoos have ditched their dusty personas and become vibrant, interactive institutions that are really worth a visit. The breath of fresh air blowing through these institutions is thanks largely to creative thinking in the world of curatorship.
Curators are the people who are responsible for acquiring and preserving things such as art works, artefacts and other valuable items for permanent storage or safekeeping and public display. They are employed in museums, academic institutions, galleries and even zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums. They can also be employed by large corporations to look after private collections of art works and artefacts. Some curators work independently as consultants.
Curators are responsible for overseeing how these treasured items are managed — be it for research purposes or to enrich public information about their heritage or on aspects about the world around them. The field is highly specialised and curators are often in the business of acquiring different items and animals for the institutions they represent. They also help with the day-to-day running, administrative tasks and, often, the fund-raising.
Successful galleries, zoos, museums and aquariums have been characterised, in recent years, by the degree of interactivity and media employed to engage the visitor. Visitors are encouraged to touch certain displays and are often able to use a portable audio guide to enhance their experience and knowledge about certain works and displays.
Clive Kellner, chief curator of the Johannesburg Art Gallery, says that what it boils down to is being able to offer exhibitions featuring high- profile artists and ensure the experience appeals to everyone, from children to the highbrow art lover. Staff also back up the gallery experience with a strong educational element, including tailor-made school trips and regular seminars.
‘Galleries and museums should not be rarefied, dusty places, because they are living treasures,” he says.
Kellner holds a fine-arts degree but specialised as a curator in Amsterdam.
‘People often confuse curators for people who hang up paintings. It is in fact a highly specialised field and unfortunately there isn’t much specialised training for curators in South Africa. Most people, however, learn by experience,” he says.
Kellner adds that in his job he is the vital interface between the artists and the public. His role is crucial in generating enthusiasm for the arts and in making the gallery and art more user friendly and accessible to as many people as possible. The Johannesburg Art Gallery has seen the positive impact of the approach of staying fresh and relevant. Visitor numbers have picked up and a revived interest in art and the gallery can clearly be seen, Kellner says.
‘It’s a deeply fulfilling job and you get to work with the artists and with the public to take care of important and precious collections,” he says.
Though there is still little formalised training for curators locally, it is advisable to hold solid credentials in the discipline in which youd’e like to become involved. For example, a fine-arts degree would be relevant for working in a gallery or a degree in zoology, marine biology or botany would be relevant for curatorship at a zoo, aquarium or botanical garden.
The Johannesburg Art Gallery has a young curator training project. It is designed for high-school learners and aims to train them in practical curatorship, including research, art conservation and interpretation of works of art. The emphasis is on traditional and contemporary South African art. Contact them on (011) 725 3130