Art Making and Exhibiting Excursion 

Last Friday, the VCE Art Making and Exhibiting students travelled to the city for their first  excursion. They had the opportunity to explore different types of art works and exhibition spaces and deepen their understanding of the role of the curator. 

The art excursion was an enriching experience, as we visited various galleries, each with a different type of exhibition space. We were able to see how the spaces themselves can impact the way art is presented and viewed.  

During the excursion, we also learned about the crucial role of the curator. We heard from the curator of the Top Arts 2023 exhibition. This gave us an opportunity to gain insight into how they select and arrange artworks to create meaningful exhibitions. We also learned how curators aim to present artworks in ways that are visually interesting, intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging. 

In contrast, we visited exhibitions within the Nicholas building, where the role of the gallery and the curator is clearly different, despite being in close proximity. It was interesting to see the contrast in presentation of works and think about how the artist would work with the staff to realise their vision for the exhibition. 

In addition, students observed technical aspects of curation, such as lighting and spacing. We considered how curators use these elements to create an atmosphere that supports the artwork and creates a narrative for viewers to follow. 

The excursion was a valuable learning experience for our VCE students. I hope that this experience has inspired our students to continue exploring the world of art and to appreciate the effort and creativity that goes into curating exhibitions. We thank all of the galleries and curators who made this excursion possible and look forward to seeing our students' future artistic endeavours. I also thank Ms Nguyen for joining us for the day. 

Simone Lewis

VCE Art Making and Exhibiting Teacher