Inside the CSM Museum and Study Collection Short Course
Course description
Course overview
This short course offers exclusive access to the Central Saint Martins Museum & Study Collection, combining practical skills with critical insights. Students explore key areas, such as collections management, object-based learning, museum marketing, decolonising collections, and improving accessibility. With a focus on real-world application, the course equips students with the essential tools to launch or advance their careers in the heritage sector.
This two-day course offers a practical introduction to curatorial work through the lens of the Central Saint Martins Museum & Study Collection. Delivered through lectures, workshops, and guided tours, the course includes an exclusive visit to the store rooms, which house over 35,000 objects spanning art and design. Students will learn about core aspects of collections management, such as object handling, preventative conservation, accessioning, and cataloguing, as well as strategies for museum marketing and promotion using photography, storytelling, and social media. The course also addresses current sector challenges, focusing on initiatives to decolonise collections and improve accessibility.
Who this course is for
This course is designed for anyone with an interest in the heritage sector and the history of Central Saint Martins. It is ideal for students, early-career professionals, and anyone curious about curatorial practice or museum work. No prior experience or subject knowledge is required.
Key information
Learning outcomes
- Understand the role and history of the CSM Museum & Study Collection
- Be familiar with collections management practices
- Know how to promote museum collections and activities
- Understand sector approaches to decolonisation and accessibility
- Be introduced to object-based learning for teaching and research
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
- Laptop
- Notebook
- Pencil
- Eraser
Tutor
Dayna Tohidi
Dayna Tohidi is a museum curator, associate lecturer, and inclusive education researcher with a focus on neurodiversity.
At Central Saint Martins, Dayna helps look after the CSM Museum & Study Collection and teaches across Foundation, Undergraduate, and Postgraduate programmes. Her practice is rooted in object-based learning, supporting students to engage critically and creatively with the Museum’s art and design collection. Dayna also deliver termly workshops with CSM Academic Support and runs her own quarterly UAL Short Course.
Recently, Dayna completed the PgCert Academic Practice and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Through this, she developed a new object-based learning framework, available publicly, to better support neurodivergent ethnic minority students. As a dyspraxic woman of colour, Dayna brings her lived experience to this ongoing research, exploring how marginalised learners can thrive within arts education and heritage settings.
Book a course
Loading