SAIC Announces Master of Arts in Curatorial Practices

CHICAGO—November 12, 2026—The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), a global leader in art and design education, is launching a Master of Arts in Curatorial Practices program, an innovative, practice-based degree designed to prepare the next generation of curators. Beginning next fall, this two-year program will build on a long tradition of curatorial education at the School, bringing together the best of what SAIC offers across the departments of Arts Administration and Policy and Art History, Theory, and Criticism.

The MA in Curatorial Practices program will bridge critical theory and real-world execution, preparing students to develop exhibitions, collaborate with artists, and design meaningful public programming. Students will combine art history, exhibition studies, critical theory, and arts administration while honing practical skills in scholarly writing, curatorial production, and public engagement. Leveraging SAIC’s connection to the Art Institute of Chicago alongside the city’s vibrant network of galleries and alternative spaces, graduates will emerge ready for impactful roles in exhibition development, gallery directing, and contemporary curating.

“Bringing together the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s strengths in arts administration and art history allows us to offer a focused, rigorous curatorial practices curriculum that directly addresses the evolving needs of the field,” shared Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Martin Berger. “SAIC has produced some of the most seminal curators in art and design, and we look forward to this program building upon this legacy.”

Applications for the inaugural fall cohort are now open. Interested students can learn more at saic.edu/curatorial-practices.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
For 160 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program ranked number two among art and design colleges by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world, and adults, teens, and kids in our Continuing Studies classes have the opportunity to explore their creative sides, build portfolios, and advance their skills. Notable alumni and faculty include Georgia O’Keeffe, Nick Cave, David Sedaris, Cynthia Rowley, Michelle Grabner, Richard Hunt, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Jeff Koons.