About The Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College
The Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College (CCS Bard) is a pioneering institution devoted to the study and practice of curating contemporary art. Established in 1990, CCS Bard serves as both a graduate school and a vibrant hub for research, exhibition-making, and critical dialogue. Its programs explore the historical, intellectual, and social frameworks that shape curatorial practice, emphasizing experimentation, inclusion, and the ongoing evolution of the field. Through its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to diverse perspectives, CCS Bard has become a global leader in training the next generation of curators and cultural thinkers.
At the heart of CCS Bard is the Hessel Museum of Art, which houses the Marieluise Hessel Collection—over 3,000 works spanning from the 1960s to today—and hosts a dynamic program of exhibitions open to the public. Complementing the museum are the CCS Bard Library and Archives, among the most comprehensive research resources in the United States for post-1960s art, exhibition history, and criticism. Together, these components create a unique environment for scholarship, reflection, and creative production. The Graduate Program in Curatorial Studies builds on this foundation with a rigorous curriculum and a strong commitment to fostering equity and innovation in the art world.
Bard College’s broader mission underpins CCS Bard’s ethos of social engagement and critical inquiry. In 2022, the college deepened its commitment to Indigenous scholarship and art through a transformational endowment from the Gochman Family Foundation, establishing a Center for Indigenous Studies and appointing Candice Hopkins (Carcross/Tagish First Nation) as the inaugural Fellow in Indigenous Art History and Curatorial Studies at CCS Bard. Rooted in Bard’s acknowledgment of its location on the ancestral lands of the Munsee and Muhheaconneok people, CCS Bard continues to advance a vision of education and curatorial practice grounded in truth, inclusivity, and public purpose. The campus is also home to the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, a renowned venue for innovative performance and cultural programming that complements CCS Bard’s role as a center for creative experimentation and public engagement.
At the heart of CCS Bard is the Hessel Museum of Art, which houses the Marieluise Hessel Collection—over 3,000 works spanning from the 1960s to today—and hosts a dynamic program of exhibitions open to the public. Complementing the museum are the CCS Bard Library and Archives, among the most comprehensive research resources in the United States for post-1960s art, exhibition history, and criticism. Together, these components create a unique environment for scholarship, reflection, and creative production. The Graduate Program in Curatorial Studies builds on this foundation with a rigorous curriculum and a strong commitment to fostering equity and innovation in the art world.
Bard College’s broader mission underpins CCS Bard’s ethos of social engagement and critical inquiry. In 2022, the college deepened its commitment to Indigenous scholarship and art through a transformational endowment from the Gochman Family Foundation, establishing a Center for Indigenous Studies and appointing Candice Hopkins (Carcross/Tagish First Nation) as the inaugural Fellow in Indigenous Art History and Curatorial Studies at CCS Bard. Rooted in Bard’s acknowledgment of its location on the ancestral lands of the Munsee and Muhheaconneok people, CCS Bard continues to advance a vision of education and curatorial practice grounded in truth, inclusivity, and public purpose. The campus is also home to the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, a renowned venue for innovative performance and cultural programming that complements CCS Bard’s role as a center for creative experimentation and public engagement.
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