CURATA is a virtual 3D gallery software system designed within The University of Nottingham to promote student awareness of the politics and practicalities of display. Students on the Modern Art Criticism and Display pathway use this software package to produce their own projects in which they are able to virtually ‘curate’ art exhibitions in virtual 3-dimensional gallery spaces. Each of the spaces used is an exact virtual replica of an art gallery in Nottingham, including the Djanogly Gallery, Nottingham Castle Museum and Nottingham Contemporary (CCAN).
CURATA, being unique to the Department of Art History at The University of Nottingham, is an important part of the Department’s new MA programmes in art history and visual culture. The software supports creative links with other departments, as well as galleries and museums in the region and beyond. The University is currently in the process of expanding the system to include major national exhibition spaces.
In practical terms the CURATA system is supported by a substantial investment in the technological facilities in the Department which has devoted a new study room to the MA programme complete with state of the art computer facilities: laptops, scanners, digital cameras, and projectors, enabling students to maximise the creative potential of the software.