Kurátorsky

Kurátorsky is the adverbial form of the Czech adjective kurátorský, meaning curatorial or curator’s. It describes the manner in which something is created, presented, or interpreted from a curator’s perspective. The term is commonly used in museums, galleries, art criticism, and cultural journalism, as well as in academic writing on museology and exhibition practice. In usage, kurátorsky signals that a work, installation, or text follows a deliberate curatorial concept, emphasizing theme, coherence, and interpretive framing rather than purely aesthetic or technical criteria.

Etymology and nuance: kurátorsky is derived from kurátor (curator) with the adjectival suffix -ský, and then used as an adverb to denote manner. It is typically employed to modify actions or descriptions, such as kurátorsky vybrané (selected in a curatorial manner), kurátorsky koncipovaná výstava (an exhibition conceived in a curatorial way), or kurátorsky laděná komentovaná prohlídka. The term does not vary for gender or number, and it focalizes the curator’s concept, narrative, or frame rather than other criteria.

Usage context: kurátorsky is prevalent in professional discourse surrounding exhibitions, collection management, and editorial work related to curated content. It can also describe digital curation, such as kurátorsky sestavený playlist or kurátorsky vyřazený obsah, illustrating the broader application of curatorial principles beyond physical spaces.

Related terms include kurátor (curator), kurátorský (curatorial, adjective), kurátorství (curatorship), and kurátorská koncepce (curatorial concept).