Organizer Information
This online course is part of a curated educational programme focusing on contemporary curatorial practice, performance studies, and interdisciplinary research in the arts. It is led by Dr. Sarah Spiess, a choreographer, independent performance curator, and senior lecturer specializing in contemporary dance and performance art.
Dr. Spiess is a member of the curatorial collective Accumulations and has extensive experience in internationally funded research and performative programming. Her academic and curatorial work explores the intersection between choreography, performance, and institutional exhibition-making, particularly within museum and gallery contexts.
The course is positioned within a broader international discourse on Curatorial Practice, Performance, and the evolving relationship between live art and exhibition-based formats in contemporary cultural institutions.
Title & Description
Curating Performance / Performing Curation: Tendencies and Tactics (Online Course)
This intensive online Workshop explores the expanding role of Performance within contemporary curatorial and institutional contexts. The course investigates how performative practices are reshaping exhibition-making, museum programming, and choreographic strategies under what is often referred to as the “new performance turn.”
Participants will examine the intersection of Performance, live art, and contemporary choreography, with a focus on how curatorial frameworks have engaged with embodied practices since the mid-20th century and especially throughout the 21st century.
Key areas of inquiry include:
- The role of Performance as a curatorial and artistic methodology
- The concept of performativity as a tool for curatorial exchange
- Critical approaches to embodiment, intimacy, mediation, and spectatorship
- The evolution of performative curating in museums, galleries, and research platforms
- Case studies of historical and contemporary performance-based practices
The course combines theoretical input with practical discussion, allowing participants to develop conceptual and project-based insights relevant to their own artistic or curatorial work. Assignments are designed to support independent research and future project development in Interdisciplinary Arts and performance-based curatorial contexts.
Upon completion, participants receive a certificate equivalent to 1 ECTS credit, reinforcing its academic and professional relevance.
Categories
- Curatorial
- Performance
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Dance
- Choreography
- Research
- Workshop
- Education
- Live Arts
- Art Writing
Eligibility
- International participants
- Curators, artists, researchers, and cultural practitioners
- Emerging and mid-career professionals in Performance and Curatorial Practice
- Students and academics in arts-related fields
- Individuals working in museums, galleries, or independent art contexts
Maximum capacity is limited to 20 participants, ensuring an intensive and focused learning environment.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Intensive training in contemporary Curatorial Practice and Performance
- Direct mentorship from an established curator and scholar
- Critical feedback on individual projects and research ideas
- Participation in a structured two-part online learning format
- Access to reading materials and curated academic resources
- Certificate of completion equivalent to 1 ECTS credit
- Development of conceptual tools for curating live and performative works
- Networking with peers working in contemporary performance and curatorial fields
Application Fee
€250
Application Requirements
- Submit a brief introduction (3–5 minutes presentation of themselves and their projects)
- Provide basic personal and professional information
- Ensure access to Zoom for live participation
- Review assigned reading materials prior to the course (provided after booking)
- Participate in both live sessions and assignments
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 May 2026
- Course Dates: 16 May 2026 & 30 May 2026
- Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (CEST)
- Duration: Two live online sessions
- Notification: Immediate upon successful enrolment
- Certification: Issued after completion (1 ECTS credit)
Location
Online
Additional Details
- Maximum participants: 20
- Requires a stable internet connection and headset/headphones
- Zoom access required (browser or application supported across devices)
- Participants must attend both sessions for certification
- Assignments provided after the first session and reviewed in the second session
- Focus on research-led, practice-oriented learning in Performance and curatorial methodologies
- Encourages the development of future artistic and curatorial projects
- Part of a broader academic discourse on performative curating and live arts curation