CAMPUSES IN ROME
TRIESTE + SAN LORENZO + OSTIENSE

Art Curating and Management

The Master in Art Curating and Management is RUFA’s programme dedicated to curating and the management of contemporary art. You will learn to understand the transformations taking place in culture and to develop projects capable of creating connections between artists, institutions, places and audiences.

TAUGHT IN
ENGLISH

CAMPUS
ROME

COURSE DURATION
12 MONTHS

COURSE START
JANUARY

CLASS HOURS
500

INTERNSHIP HOURS
250

VISITING PROFESSORS
+ 20

CULTURAL PARTNERS
+ 100

Master’s objectives and skills

You will develop a critical perspective and strong decision-making skills, essential for navigating the international art scene. You will be able to interpret works, practices and emerging scenarios, transforming curatorial research into coherent cultural strategies that are inclusive and attentive to contemporary issues.

QUALIFICATION

First-Level Academic Master’s Diploma
60 CFA

FUTURE CAREERS

Contemporary Art Curator
Museum Curator
Art Critic
Art and Culture Journalist
Art Foundation Collaborator
Art Gallery Assistant
Gallery Manager
Consultant for Auction Houses and Collectors
Art Archivist
Art Archive Coordinator and Curator
Contemporary Art Exhibition Organiser
Art Festival Organiser

MAIN DISCIPLINES

Contemporary Art Curating
Art Criticism and Theory
Cultural Management and Organisation
Exhibition and Festival Design
Writing for Art and Cultural Media

A 12-month experiential programme

The course includes 500 hours of teaching and 250 hours of curricular internship, organised into consecutive modules with real-world projects in collaboration with museums, galleries and cultural institutions.

Attendance is compulsory.

Applications are currently open for entry in January 2027.

REGISTER FOR THE ADMISSION TEST

SUBJECTS	ECTS	HOURS
History, theories and critical and curatorial practices for contemporary art, through the study of the interrelationships between different contemporary arts and contemporary social and cultural phenomena, with particular reference to issues related to technological innovation processes.	8	60
Methodology and techniques of exhibition design for museums, galleries, and temporary shows, which entail the exploration of innovative concepts, in the development of exhibition paths, in the display of artworks and in the service design also thanks to the application of new technologies.	8	100
Methods and tools of cultural marketing and creative communication for contemporary art: verbal and audiovisual. Practical writing workshop: specialized publications, critical essays, journalistic articles, biographical notes, captions, advertising and branded content for social media.	8	100
Analysis of the evolution of the contemporary art market. Methods and techniques of project management. Planning, budgeting and organization of art exhibitions and cultural events. Fundraising and crowdfunding.	10	125
Cultural heritage management, including landscape as an aesthetic and cultural phenomenon, through the creation and organization of experiences and events for cultural institutions, and independent festivals.	8	100
	10	250
	8	/
Total credits	6

Labs and project work

During the Master’s programme, students explore key topics for the curatorial profession:

Designing exhibitions and site-specific installations;
Fundraising and cultural marketing development;
Technical and creative writing for art;
Management of art archives, catalogues and collections.

The experience culminates in practical projects connected to events, festivals and cultural institutions, allowing students to build an international-level professional portfolio.

Internships and partnerships

The Master’s programme has collaborations with more than 100 national and international partners, offering students internship opportunities at prestigious organisations including:
MAXXI, MACRO, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Civita Mostre e Musei, Museo Nazionale Romano, La Nuova Pesa, z2o Sara Zanin, Richard Saltoun Gallery, Rolando Anselmi, Lorcan O’Neill Gallery.

These experiences provide direct contact with key figures in the contemporary art market and allow students to acquire skills that can be applied at an international level.

Admissions, Documents, Fees and Financial Support

Admission to RUFA first-level Academic Master’s programmes requires a three-year Academic Diploma under the new system, a four-year Academic Diploma under the previous system, a university degree, or another qualification obtained abroad and recognised as suitable by the Academy in accordance with international agreements.

Admission is based on an entrance assessment designed to evaluate the applicant’s motivation and suitability for their chosen course of study. The application must include a curriculum vitae, a personal statement of at least 500 words, and proof of English language proficiency at B2 level or above. Applicants may also submit a portfolio, a summary of their dissertation, or any other relevant documents demonstrating their skills and experience.

The entrance assessment consists of a motivational interview, which may include the presentation of a portfolio of work, projects and/or any other documentation considered useful for admission. The interview may also be conducted online.

ADMISSION TO THE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS

Applications for admission in January 2027 are now open.

APPLY FOR THE ENTRANCE ASSESSMENT

ADMISSIONS

Online Application Form
Copy of an identity document and Italian tax code (for Italian applicants only).
Upper secondary school diploma, original copy or self-certification – Download the template
CV
Personal statement
Portfolio or other documents (optional)

ENROLMENT

Online enrolment application
Two passport-sized photographs
Receipt of payment of the enrolment fee
English language certificate or other proof of English proficiency at B2 level, required for all students
For non-EU students: a study visa/residence permit is required in order to attend academic programmes
For international or Italian students who obtained their qualification abroad: a Declaration of Value issued in the country where the qualification was awarded, or Statements of Verification and Comparability issued by CIMEA.

For each Academic Master’s programme, RUFA offers two scholarships to Italian and international students enrolling on any Academic Master’s programme.

For each programme, RUFA awards one scholarship covering 50% of the tuition fee and one scholarship covering 30%. The amount is deducted directly from the tuition fee. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic and artistic merit.

A panel of experts assesses scholarship applicants by considering the strength and consistency of their academic profile, dissertation, portfolio, projects submitted and, where applicable, the outcome of the interview.

Applications for a scholarship must be submitted at the same time as registration for the entrance assessment by selecting the relevant option when completing the form.

CALLS AND APPLICATIONS

RUFA believes in the value of accessible and inclusive education. For this reason, it supports students experiencing financial hardship or coming from diverse backgrounds by offering solutions designed to facilitate access to academic programmes and help every talent build their professional future:

• 12-month interest-free payment plan (Terms and Conditions);
• “Per Merito” student loan, which requires no guarantor for students who are up to date with the requirements of their chosen programme;
• €2,000 fee exemption for students with a certified disability of over 66%;
• 5% reduction for payment in a single instalment by 31 January (Italian nationals only);
• 10% reduction for enrolled siblings;
• 20% reduction for RUFA graduates.

Lecturers

Voices from the Community

“Unstable Realities” | RUFA curators at the MAXXI Museum

Unstable Realities – Interact, Distort, Stretch is an exhibition held at the prestigious MAXXI Museum, involving RUFA students from the Master in Art Curating and Management in curatorial design, organisation and exhibition installation. The group exhibition presented works by 15 artists from the Master’s Degree Programme in Fine Arts and forms part of a collective project by the Visual Arts Department. Through painting, sculpture, printmaking and live performance, the exhibition explores the possibilities of representation between real and virtual images, memory and perception.