Curatorial Curiosity: #AskACurator Day

by Abraham Ritchie

MCA Curator Naomi Beckwith, January 18, 2012

For the seventh (!) continuous year, the MCA’s curatorial team, including registrars and archivists, took to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to answer your questions on September 12, annual international #AskACurator Day.

This year’s dialogue was quite lively: we received over 50 questions, and MCA employees including curatorial staff Naomi Beckwith, Nina Wexelblatt, Grace Deveney, and January Parkos Arnall responded to more than half of them—read on for some of our favorite questions and answers.

Do you think curating is a career path that is only honestly possible through connections and specialized degrees?

— Dandy In The Underworld (@MissRayon) September 12, 2018

Not at all! But curating still requires deep art knowledge and a unique voice. A degree is a shortcut to that, but not the only way. Connections will follow a strong voice. https://t.co/qMLm9fKhxy

— MCA Chicago (@mcachicago) September 12, 2018

Another #AskACurator what is something that you do every day for your job that most folks don’t associate with being a curator? @AskACurator

— Drinking About Museums Ottawa (@DrinkMuseumsOtt) September 12, 2018

Talking to, and observing, our publics! Not sure why that isn’t typically associated with curatorial practice, but it should be… #AskaCurator https://t.co/ncOnJXpvLs

— MCA Chicago (@mcachicago) September 12, 2018

Re: “Curator”–pop culture will do what pop culture will do but, IMHO, will borrow language in service of consumer culture. Curator for me means creating afresh and allowing people to think, rather than spend.

— MCA Chicago (@mcachicago) September 12, 2018

If you missed #AskACurator Day, there’s still time to ask us your questions. The upcoming MCA Commons project invites visitors to ask questions to staff across the MCA, including designers, educators, librarians, accountants, and more. Keep following for more information about the project as it develops!