kuratorstwo

Kuratorstwo is the professional practice of organizing and presenting cultural, artistic, or scientific collections and exhibitions. A curator selects objects, conducts research, interprets themes, and oversees aspects such as acquisition, conservation, loan negotiations, and the design and layout of displays. The term has broad application in museums and galleries, but also in archives, libraries, and increasingly in digital platforms and online projects.

Historically, the concept stems from the Latin curator, with the development of modern museology shaping the Polish term kuratorstwo. In Poland and elsewhere, curatorial work evolved through thematic, research-driven exhibitions and the professionalization of museum and gallery practices during the 19th and 20th centuries. In contemporary practice, curatorship is often seen as a form of intellectual leadership that links research, public programming, and institutional strategy.

Core responsibilities include researching objects, developing exhibition concepts, writing interpretive texts, coordinating loans and conservation, budgeting, and collaborating with artists, designers, educators, and communications staff. The curator acts as mediator, interpreter, and sometimes author, balancing scholarly standards with public relevance and ethical considerations such as provenance and repatriation.

Types of curators include art curators, scientific or natural-history curators, architectural or design curators, and digital or data curators. The field increasingly emphasizes collaboration, audience participation, and diverse representation. Contemporary trends include post-institutional and participatory curating, as well as online exhibitions and temporary, pop-up projects that expand access and engagement.