Curatorial student
With courses in art history, art studio, art education, and arts administration—among others—the MFA offers an individualized interdisciplinary degree that prepares students to be highly competitive in a diverse job market.
Through internships, online courses, and residential seminars, students gain direct experience in exhibition development and production, art event planning, catalog design and writing, fundraising, grant writing, conducting studio visits, promotion and marketing, and community-based programming.
The strength of the curatorial studies program at UK is its faculty and students. They have contributed to my personal and professional growth by encouraging me to develop a curatorial practice that is personally expressive, socially conscious, and critically engaged.
Aaron Reynolds, MFA Curatorial Studies 2022
[Read more about Aaron]
Application Deadline: January 6
- Individual mentorship by distinguished faculty
- Opportunities for local, national, and international internships
- Dynamic visiting artist, curator, and critic series
- State-of-the-art facilities in an historic building
- Urban campus in the heart of the Bluegrass
- Central location within driving distance of Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis, Nashville, Chicago, Atlanta
- Accessible network of partners for independent projects: 21C Museum Hotels, Parachute Factory, Lexington Art League, Living Arts & Science Center, Institute 193, Lyric Theatre, among others.
- Funding available for research projects
- Financial aid available, including tuition-waivers & paid teaching assistantships
Admission is competitive and is based on:
- A strong writing sample (along with optional examples of curatorial work or a digital portfolio)
- A statement of purpose
- Three letters of recommendation
- An undergraduate transcript (with GPA of at least 3.3)
International students must be able to demonstrate English language proficiency (with Graduate College’s minimum TOEFL score requirements met).
Application Deadline: January 6
For specific questions regarding the program and admission, please contact SA/VS Director of Graduate Studies, Jonathan.McFadden@uky.edu.