The Michaelis Curatorial Practicum is an independent internship carried out at a museum, gallery, archive, cultural organisation or institution, auction house, commercial gallery, art magazine or other relevant site.
In 2013, opportunities included experiences at the Michaelis School of Fine Arts and Michaelis Gallery, as well as opportunities beyond Hiddingh Campus, namely at the Irma Stern Museum, South African National Gallery, Gold of Africa Museum, UCT Pathology Learning Centre, Centre for African Study, National Arts Festival Grahamstown, Drennan Anatomy Museum, National Art Gallery of Namibia and Sanlam Collection. This years offerings include the Sanlam Collection, Iziko Slave Lodge, the Castle of Good Hope, Iziko South African National Gallery, the Maritime Centre, the South African Museum and Michaelis Galleries.
These practicums have been jointly developed by the programme director and experience provider/practicum partner and are conducted under the guidance of an experienced on-site supervisor. This on-site experience is designed to offer students practical insights into curatorial practice and the mechanics of cultural institutions, and has been created so that students are given the chance to establish valuable professional contacts. Each student is given the opportunity to choose an internship that will fit his or her interests either in critical writing, curatorial practice, museology, arts administration or art history. The internship requires that students not only engage with whatever project is being developed, but that they develop a critical understanding of their environment and work that is being done.