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Description
Curator-Entrepreneur develops a current and dynamic creative profession, typical for the 21st century concerned with conservation, image, promotion: the curatorship. Curated commodities reflect the progress of the consumers’ consciousness towards expert-assisted purchase. Yet curating is a museum profession. University teaching focuses on art curating, not on the recent cultural-economic complex. C-E reforms curatorship, enabling its practitioners to operate productively with art and commodities of symbolic consumption, with many opportunities on the labor market. The activities of the project developed in this new paradigm attune the public to the fusion of curating with entrepreneurship, extend the visual artistic space, stimulate education in the field of image and intensify the changes on the labor market. Target groups: museum audience, involved in changing the paradigm of art/cultural consumption; the community of UNARTE students, engaged in current curating; specialists from local museums, as recipients of innovation; the artistic community. Main objective: MARe becomes a forum of multiplication/diversification of the museum audience throughout the country, by professionalizing curators as producers/cultural entrepreneurs and by linking art curating to the curating of commodities of superior consumption, into a technical and methodological entity, through visual education, strengthening the cultural field facing the current challenges. Specific objective 1: Development of audience, propelling the access to culture for around 15000 visitors, through 18 months of dynamic, interactive, diverse activities/exhibitions. Specific objective 2: Increase of mobility through the creative-curatorial platform: 40 young local artists, 40 students of UNARTE, 3 international artists, 22 Romanian curators, 2 curating workshops and 6 exhibitions. Specific objective 3: Enhancing curatorial-entrepreneurial skills: 2 MARe employees, 20 art professionals: 1 workshop,
Summary of project results
The Curator-Entrepreneur project aimed to develop a modern and dynamic creative profession suited to the 21st century—curatorship—by addressing its evolving role beyond traditional museum settings. While curated commodities increasingly reflect consumers'' growing preference for expert-assisted purchases, curating remains primarily associated with museum work. Additionally, university programs focus on art curating but do not integrate the broader cultural-economic complexities of the field.
The project sought to reform the concept of curatorship, equipping practitioners with the skills to work productively with both art and symbolic consumer goods. By expanding the scope of curatorship, the initiative aimed to create new professional opportunities and enhance its relevance in the contemporary labor market.
Within the project, an exhibition program was developed with a dual focus. On one hand, it aimed to integrate and showcase media that have been historically marginalized within museum spaces—such as photography, video art, and sound art—despite their growing appeal to younger audiences. This was achieved through exhibitions featuring international artists, bringing greater visibility to these contemporary forms of artistic expression.
On the other hand, the project provided a platform for emerging artists by promoting a young section of UNARTE graduates, enabling them to make their debut in a museum environment. By bridging the gap between academic training and professional artistic exposure, the initiative supported the development of a new generation of curators and artists while expanding the scope of curatorship beyond traditional museum contexts.
The project achieved significant results, benefiting both emerging curators and the wider public. Over 15,000 people attended the cultural events, demonstrating strong engagement with contemporary artistic and curatorial practices.
Six contemporary art activities, including national and international exhibitions, were organized, providing a platform for both established and emerging artists. Additionally, three conferences featuring international guests fostered knowledge exchange and discussions on the evolving role of curatorship.
A key impact of the project was the enhancement of curatorial and entrepreneurial skills for 23 curators across the country. This was achieved through specialized workshops supported by the Norwegian partner, VISP, equipping participants with practical expertise to navigate the intersection of art, curation, and the cultural economy.
Furthermore, the project contributed to job creation in the cultural sector, resulting in 1.9 new positions, reinforcing the sustainability of curatorial work in contemporary cultural industries.
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian partner played a crucial role in organizing training workshops that addressed key aspects of curatorial work, including display, lighting, climate control, logistics, research, and communication. The collaboration brought valuable expertise to the project, creatively combining theoretical and practical teaching methods. Through approaches such as learning by doing, active mentoring, and open coordination of activities, the training sessions provided participants with hands-on experience and professional guidance. This exchange of knowledge strengthened bilateral cooperation and contributed to the development of curatorial skills aligned with international best practices.