Knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese or indigenous American languages is not essential but those who do have those languages are welcome to use the extensive non-English resources in the University's Albert Sloman Library and in ESCALA's Documentation Centre, which you will be introduced to.
The intensive nature of the module and the opportunity to get close to original artworks requires students to commit fully from the beginning, which means attending all seminars (where possible) and fully engaging with our object-based learning approach which requires students to be fully present (not on devices) and listening actively to their peers.
ESCALA often organises or shares information about events related to art from Latin America at the University's Colchester Campus or at other venues through its website blog: http://www.escala.org.uk/blog, Facebook: EssexCollection and Twitter: ESCALA.
We advise checking these frequently for information.
ESCALA also has its own archive and reference library related to its artworks. You can access this by contacting the ESCALA Collections Assistant.
This module gives students a unique opportunity to engage with the real-world challenges of running a University-based art collection, through sessions led by ESCALA's curatorial team.
This module offers students an opportunity to learn about contemporary art from Latin America, and how and why collections such as ESCALA acquire artworks.
This module seeks to develop core skills for students' development as emerging professionals in cultural institutions. Students will learn how to write and then "pitch" an acquisitions proposal, based on a model used by the Art Fund, which they will pitch individually to an expert panel. Students will be guided carefully through this process and will be required to work within a clear set of guidelines and procedures which will, in addition, give them insight into the standards of best practice followed by collections such as ESCALA that are accredited by Arts Council England. Should the expert panel reach consensus, ESCALA may purchase the "winning" artwork. The coursework also focuses on the production of short artwork analyses geared toward real-world modes of dissemination, such as exhibition catalogues and labels.
In our sessions, we will engage closely with the recent exhibitions of ESCALA works at Art Exchange in the Environment Collection Theme, as well as further works in ESCALA from other themes, which include Indigenous America and Human Rights.
Although no prior regional expertise is required for this module, students are encouraged to gain an initial awareness of art from Latin America before the course begins through recommended readings. Weekly required readings on theoretical and art critical issues related to environmental aesthetics will inform group discussions and individual research into artworks to be proposed for acquisition in the coursework assignments. Students will need to become familiar with ESCALA's holdings through online resources, such as artist interviews and texts produced by students from the University of Essex, as well as independent research.