parsons and cooper hewitt re-envision curatorial practice and historical research in MA program at the new school

Coinciding with the Re-Opening of Cooper Hewitt, Parsons The New School for Design Expands its Graduate Program In Historical Research and Object Based Study

Photo Credit: Cooper Hewitt

NEW YORK (October 29, 2014) – After a three-year, $91 million renovation, the Cooper Hewitt will open on December 12, 2014 giving students in Parsons’ recently renamed History of Design and Curatorial Studies master’s program new opportunities to work directly with the world-renowned design museum’s collections and staff.

The graduate program, jointly offered by two of New York’s leaders in design culture, re-envisions historical object-based research and curatorial practice in the context of Cooper Hewitt’s celebrated collection of European and American decorative arts and design.

A critical component of Cooper Hewitt’s robust educational programming, the MA program bolsters the museum’s commitment to enhancing the public’s appreciation of design and its role in social, economic, and cultural spheres.

“Students in Parsons’ History of Design and Curatorial Studies program amplify this message through their own creative practices and professional lives,” says Sarah A. Lichtman, director of the master’s program. “Through their long-standing partnership, the museum and the university together are helping to communicate the relevance of design culture to public life.”

The program (formerly named History of Decorative Arts and Design) offers a full-time or part-time curriculum with new courses and projects focusing on curatorial studies, current issues of contemporary design, and the history of design in social and cultural contexts. The new name—History of Design and Curatorial Studies—reflects the program’s broadened scope and relevance.

Students in the program benefit from access to courses and collaborative projects taking place throughout Parsons, enabling them to explore new fields related to curatorial practice and design research. The extensive resources of The New School, an innovation-focused university offering programs in social sciences, performing arts, media studies, and business and management, enrich their study as well, providing disciplinary connections beyond those of traditional art and design.

In addition, Parsons’ complementary English-language master’s program at the Parsons Paris campus—offered in partnership with Musée des Arts Décoratifs—allows students to enrich their research in another global center of art and design.

Students graduate from the MA History of Design and Curatorial Studies program with the practical skills and theoretical foundation needed to enter established and emergent fields of practice in commercial, nonprofit, and academic settings.

Says Lichtman, “Together, Parsons and Cooper Hewitt have helped design culture thrive for more than 30 years by training the professionals who are leading organizations and institutions around the world. We’re keeping the curriculum’s distinctive features and adding new courses and learning experiences, positioning our community for a new era of opportunity and innovation in scholarship and curatorial practice.”

Parsons The New School for Design is one of the world’s leading institutions for art and design education. Based in New York but active around the world, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the full spectrum of art and design disciplines. Critical thinking and collaboration are at the heart of a Parsons education. Parsons graduates are leaders in their fields, with a shared commitment to creatively and critically addressing the complexities of life in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.newschool.edu/parsons.

Founded in 1897, Cooper Hewitt is the only museum in the nation devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. The museum educates, inspires and empowers people through design, presenting compelling educational programs, exhibitions and publications. International in scope and possessing one of the most diverse and comprehensive collections of design works in existence, the museum’s rich holdings range from Egypt’s Late Period/New Kingdom (1100 B.C.) to the present day and total more than 210,000 objects. For more information, visit www.cooperhewitt.org.

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