This course provides a broad overview of the theoretical and historical aspects of collecting, curating and display, and is designed to create a common ground for the students admitted to this programme, whatever their background discipline may be. It takes as its starting point four themes that play out through a variety of cultural institutions and curatorial practices: Public and Democratisation, Collecting and Display, Players and Formats, and The Museum in a Globalised World. It examines these from both historical and contemporary perspectives.