Ground-breaking two-year program addresses growing demand for curatorial expertise in India’s expanding art market

New Delhi : To nurture India’s future cultural leaders, World University of Design (WUD) is introducing country’s first-of-its-kind Master of Visual Arts (MVA) program in Curation of Contemporary Art & Design. Designed to meet global benchmarks, this program opens career pathways in art curation and redefines the curator’s role in connecting art, artists and communities through innovative models of exhibition-making, institution-building, and social engagement.

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While curation has featured in the curriculum of several Indian Universities, WUD is now the first to offer it as a dedicated, two-year Master’s program. With the launch of new course, WUD aims to bring this international standard to Indian students enabling to develop the skills and perspectives needed to thrive in the global curatorial landscape.

Speaking about the course, Vice Chancellor, World University of Design, Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Gupta said, “WUD’s groundbreaking Master of Visual Arts program in Curation launches at a pivotal moment. With the global art market valued at $73.43 billion and growing 3.10% annually, and India’s art market doubling to $250 million with a remarkable 14.9% growth rate, demand for skilled curators has never been higher. As institutions expand rapidly across India and 91% of art collectors remain optimistic, we’re witnessing a cultural renaissance. Our MVA program fills this critical gap, preparing India’s next generation of curatorial leaders with international-standard training to bridge art, artists, and communities in our rapidly evolving cultural landscape.”

Students will have expert mentorship from leading artists & curators along with hands-on experience through curated exhibitions, workshops, and international projects, while also benefiting from strong industry partnerships with leading galleries such as Kala Srot Gallery (Lucknow), Niv Art Centre (Delhi), and The Art Route Gallery (Gurgaon).

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With a specialized interdisciplinary approach combining art history, museum studies and anthropology, the MVA in Curation program provides students with expert mentorship from renowned artists and curators. Limited sponsorships are also available, offering a tuition fee discount of ₹1,00,000 for selected students.

Prof. Rajan Shripad Fulari, Dean, School of Visual Arts, World University of Design further added, “Our program offers a hands-on curriculum that balances collaboration and socially engaged practices with academic research in history and theory. Students work in diverse experimental contexts and explore alternative models of exhibition planning building links among artists, institutions and communities. Through real-world collaborative exhibits, they raise awareness, bridge societal gaps and catalyze cross-disciplinary exchanges within and beyond the art world.”

Graduates of the program will emerge as cultural leaders, dedicated to fostering inclusive and collaborative practices. They will possess a nuanced understanding of the curator’s evolving role within cultural institutions, galleries, the art market, and their communities.

The academic session is scheduled to begin in August. Eligibility criteria is simple, just a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks. Admission will be based on the PG Art Aptitude Test followed by a personal interview. Admissions are open until August 10^th, 2025, with online entrance exams held every Friday.

For more information, Visit: https://worlduniversityofdesign.extraaedge.com/