University galleries stand for tradition, exhibition practice and educational potential

University galleries play a special role in the system of cultural institutions, since they have the potential to form a new and up-and-coming generation of artists and teach them how to present their work. Each university gallery is unique, with its singular style, rendition of exhibitions, visual and physical space, history and curatorship. Interestingly enough, surprisingly little attention has been devoted to this type of galleries and exhibition spaces in the theory of art.

And so, the Department of Art, Visual Culture and Textile Studies of the Faculty of Education (UHK) stood up to the challenge and organised an online conference in November in order to draw attention to the importance of university galleries as the first space where art and design students learn to present their work, get a hands-on experience with running a gallery or curating an exhibition. They also learn how to deal with various associated challenges. At the conference, we would like to discuss the concept and strategic planning of the future development of such galleries, how to arrange professional supervision by an experienced curator, and how to improve the reach and prestige of such institutions and expand the scope of their exhibition programme that will account for the contemporary approaches to art and design presentation. So far, we know very little about the criteria for the operation of university galleries, their traditions, and the organisation of their exhibition programme. There is also very little information available about the most vital issue – whether such galleries fulfil their educational potential, especially when it comes to galleries run by faculties of education, or about the involvement of students in their operation or about the role of a curator at such a university gallery.