Introduction to Academic Writing Course by OnCurating with Dr. Sarah Spiess
Lecturer: Dr. Sarah Spiess
Course dates: 29.11 + 06.12 2025, 2–6pm (CET)
Maximum participants: 20
Fee: EUR 250
Enrol here until November 28, 2025
About the Course
Academic writing is a process that is creative, analytic, intertextual, and in many ways, collaborative. It involves a continuous dialogue between the manifestation of your own thoughts and an exchange with the ideas of others through time. By referencing existing literature and curatorial practices, academic writing provides a platform to contribute to ongoing discussions and develop a unique perspective that can shape emerging discourse.
This course offers the opportunity to engage with comprehensive arguments while effectively expressing a confident, persuasive and unique viewpoint. Additionally, emphasis will be placed on developing clear and concise writing skills, particularly for non-native English speakers. The course will be customized to meet the specific needs of each participant, and a writing sample will be requested in advance to tailor instruction accordingly.
Dr Sarah Spiess is a choreographer, independent performance curator and senior lecturer in contemporary dance and performance art. She is part of the curatorial collective Accumulations and has led and collaborated on numerous internationally funded public research and performative programmes. She is the author of Choreographies of the Curatorial: Performative Trajectories for Choreography and Dance in the Museum (2020) and the co-editor of (Un)Commoning Voices & (Non)Communal Bodies (2021) with Maayan Sheleff. She is on the editorial board of TURBA – The Journal for Global Practices in Live Arts Curation.
Preparation for the course:
To ensure a smooth experience, please use a headset (or headphones) and choose a quiet place with a stable internet connection. You will receive access to the required reading materials after booking the course; please review them in advance.
Procedure
This intensive, two-part live course will be conducted via Zoom on two consecutive Saturdays from 2:00 to 6:00 PM CEST. Please prepare a brief introduction of yourself and your projects (3-5 minutes). The first session will focus on an in-depth introduction to the topic and workshop research. Assignments for the second session will be provided at the end of the first session. In the second session, you will receive feedback and evaluations. Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a certificate worth 1 ECTS credit.
Technical instructions
Download the Zoom application. You will find a detailed installation guide here. Zoom can also be accessed through a browser on Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone, Android tablet, or Android phone. You will receive a Zoom invitation with a link to join the workshop.
Image: Production still from Petra Bauer och SCOT-PEPs film Workers! (2018), from the research project Looking for Jeanne at the Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm. © Photo by Caroline Bridges.
