CURATORIAL ETHICS
STAGE 1, UNIT 04: ASSESSMENT BRIEF 2026
This unit addresses ethical considerations central to curation, using archives as
active sites of practice.
Archives act as a form of historical memory, they are sites of research and often form
the foundation of curatorial projects. Simultaneously they are spaces that need to
be treated with care, paying attention to how we tell individual and collective
histories about people who aren't given a chance to speak for themselves.
Working in groups of circa 15 students, you will be given access to one
of four archive collections held by the Chelsea College of Art and directed towards
the study of a particular subsection of the archive’s materials. With an awareness of
the ethical considerations central to the materials, you will develop an exhibition
proposal and produce interpretative texts. Your project will conclude with the loan
and exhibition of archive materials in the CSM Library, using a display case on the
first floor. Your exhibition must demonstrate a sensitivity to the archive, whilst
considering how it is communicated to audiences who use the library.
Through the unit you will receive a mixture of academic content; ethics seminars;
archive visits; exhibition development sessions; and study support.
Each archive will present its own unique conditions, with the help of a dedicated
project tutor you will need to work in a professional manner and develop a
collective ethical position.
Group A: African-Carribean, Asian & African Art in Britain Archive (ACAA), w.
Rahul Patel.
Group B: CAB Gallery Archive, w. Elliott Burns. Group C: Chelsea College of Art Archive, w. Rhea Storr. (video specialism)
Group D: Dom Sylvester Houédard Archive, w. Hannah Kemp- Welch. (audio specialism)
Please note, groups are pre-organised and cannot be changed unless there is an
explicit reason for a student not to work with their assigned archive.
During the unit you will have additional teaching from Matt Phull and will work
with Siobhan Britton, Academic Support Librarian at CCW. The exhibitions at CSM
will be conduction in coordination with Jess Cobb, Assistant Academic Support
Librarian.
Teaching Schedule
Monday 16th February – Thursday 7th May 2026
Teaching takes place at Central Saint Martins and Chelsea College of Art on:
• Monday 09:30am – 13:40am / 10:40am – 12:50am + 2pm – 4pm
• and Thursday 10:40am – 12:50am + 2pm – 4pm
The first five weeks of the unit lay the foundations for ethical curatorial practice and
involve hands-on time with your assigned archive. Mondays involve classes
addressing different ethical concerns; whilst Thursday move from sessions on the
submissions, off-site visits and archive research at Chelsea College of Art.
After the Easter Break, we will have three weeks to turn your exhibition plans into
reality. Monday morning and afternoons are dedicated to group work, working on
elements of exhibition design and communication; Thursdays include more
academic support and formative feedback sessions.
Please ensure you read the emails you receive regarding this subject and check
Moodle regularly for the most up-to-date information.
STAGE 1, UNIT 04: ASSESSMENT BRIEF 2025
This assignment must demonstrate critical analysis, robust research and a creative
and ethical approach to cultural production that in combination respond to the Unit
04 Learning Outcomes.
Unit 04 Learning Outcomes
L01 – An understanding appropriate to curatorial skills. (AC Knowledge)
LO2 – An ability to present information and materials effectively, both in
written form and orally, using appropriate materials and technology. (AC
Communication)
LO3 – An ability to work independently and/or collaboratively. (AC Process)
LO4 – An ability to produce a live curatorial project using objects or digital
artefacts from accredited or community archives. (AC Realisation)
Elements in the Brief
The work for this unit will be assessed holistically, via a combination of individual
and group submissions. Teachers will look at all the work for the unit and award a
single overall final grade against the marking criteria. To evidence your achievement
of the learning outcomes of this unit, you are expected to undertake and submit the
following:
• Archive Material Interpretation. (individual)
[5 objects x100 words]
Select, document and classify 5 items from the archive. For each, write a
short textual interpretation that reflects upon the item as well as the ethical
considerations it requires and how it may be treated. Use this as an
opportunity to demonstrate an awareness of curatorial ethics, display
methodologies and social justice issues. Core object information is not
included in the word count, e.g. title, author, date.
Formative Submission (3/5) + Summative Submission (5/5)
• Group Dossier. (group)
[12 – 15 pages | 10 images maximum | circa 1,500 words]
As a group, compile a selection of documentary materials that reflects your
project from inception to completion. You may include an introduction to the
partner organisation; a curatorial statement; a summary of your research;
texts on selected objects; a reflection on ethics considerations; project roles;
exhibition design plans; etc. You are encouraged to consider the layout of
this document and may wish to use an Adobe design programme.
Summative Submission.
• Ethics Essay. (individual)
[1,000 words]
Taking the form of a short essay / account or curatorial manifesto / statement,
this text is an opportunity to identify either a) an ethical issue that your group
faced and what write about the options discussed and chosen; or b) to
produce a forward facing document that positions you (and your peers) as
ethical curators and describes what that means for you personally.
Summative Submission.
Submission Dates
Formative Submission = Friday 10th April 2026 12:00 (noon)
Formative Feedback P2P =
Thursday 23rd April 2026 10:40-12:50
Summative Submission = Monday 11th May 2025 (noon)
EC = Monday 18th May 2026 12:00 (noon)
ISA = Monday 18th May 2026 12:00 (noon)
EC+ISA = Monday 1st June 12:00 (noon)
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