Curating Udaipur: A Course in Museum Studies
Course Description
Curating Udaipur: A Course in Museum Studies, jointly offered by the Rajasthani Bhasha Academy and the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), offers participants a structured inquiry into heritage theory and practice through the lens of Udaipur — its pictorial traditions, palatial architecture, material culture, religious institutions, and digital heritage practices.
Faculty include Prof. Hallie Nell Swanson, Lecturer in Humanities at NYU London (Course Convener), Dr Shikha Jain, (Director – Preservation and Community Design at DRONAH), Ms. Anuja Mukherjee (Art Conservator, CPM, Udaipur), Ms. Bhasha Shah (Art Conservator, CPM, Udaipur), and Dr. Hansmukh Seth (Associate Curator, CPM, Udaipur).
Dates and Venue
Dates: 1–30 July 2026 | Format: Hybrid — online and on-site at the City Palace Museum, Udaipur
Course Structure
Unit 1 — Preparatory Readings 10 Days | Online – Students are introduced to key debates in museum studies — covering museum history, decoloniality, conservation theory, accessibility, and community-centred curation — alongside scholarship on eighteenth-century Udaipur and Mewar. The unit concludes with a short assignment reviewing a museum local to the student.
Unit 2 — On-Site Module in Udaipur 10 Days (13-22 July) | The City Palace Museum and Surrounding Institutions – Students attend lectures and workshops with curators, conservators, and museum professionals; undertake structured field lectures at Eklingji Temple and the Nagda Temple complex; and engage directly with Udaipur’s palaces, galleries, textiles, frescoes, shrines, and built landscape. Practical sessions cover conservation documentation — condition assessment, photographic recording, and multi-spectral imaging — and preventive conservation, including standards of handling, storage, and display.
Unit 3 — Capstone Project 10 Days | Remote (Elective) – Students produce an independent project — research paper, cataloguing project, interpretive essay, or curatorial proposal — on Udaipur material of their choice. All submissions receive detailed feedback from the course convenor. Students whose work meets the standards of the course will be considered for a one- to three-month placement at the City Palace Museum or partner institutions to be announced.
Who Can Apply?
The course is open to anyone seeking to build a career in heritage management, museum studies, architecture, art history, cultural studies, history, or related fields. This includes undergraduate and postgraduate students, early-career professionals, and practitioners looking to deepen their engagement with heritage practice. No prior experience in museum work is required; applicants should have a genuine interest in art, culture, history, and heritage learning.
Audit Track
The audit track covers the first two modules only. Participants who complete the audit track will receive a Certificate of Participation upon completion.
To receive the 90-hour Certificate in Museum Studies and Heritage Practices and the associated internship opportunity, participants must complete all three modules and submit the final project.
Certification
Participants who complete the course on an audit basis will receive a Certificate of Participation upon completion of the on-site module.
Participants who complete all assignments and submit the final project will be awarded a 90-hour Certificate in Museum Studies and Heritage Practices, along with assessed project feedback and an internship opportunity.
All certificates are jointly issued by the Rajasthani Bhasha Academy and the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF).
Fees and Inclusions
The course fee covers academic instruction, site visits, and course materials. Travel, accommodation, and meals are not included.
Use code MUSEUM at checkout to receive a discount of ₹1,500 on the course fee. Early bird pricing is only available till 30th March. Register soon!
Contact for queries
[email protected] | +91 79766 22947 (Shreyans), +91 78250 39386 (Diya)
Note: The course structure, faculty, and programme details are subject to revision without prior notice. Any updates will be communicated to registered participants.
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