Writing and pitching art criticism

How to bring new works – and new ideas – into the spotlight

The best art criticism helps audiences actively engage with art rather than passively consume it. Original ideas, expressed with intelligence and verve, can capture the soul of a new work, put it in context and help your readers see art from new angles.

Led by contemporary art critic, editor and Goldsmiths university lecturer Gilda Williams, author of How to Write about Contemporary Art, this highly practical course shows budding arts critics how to imbue both specialist and casual audiences with the excitement of contemporary art. The course explains the core skills of persuasive writing, from structuring a compelling argument to using language which is vivid without being florid.

The course also explores the practicalities of being a critic in the 21st century, including an in-depth session on how to write pitch emails, how to approach editors, and deliver what they want.

This course is for you if...

• You're an aspiring art critic or a journalist looking to move into culture writing
• You run an art-focused blog and want to write more evocatively about new shows and trends
• You're an artist or curator who wants to write more persuasively about your own or your contemporaries' work

Course description

This highly practical course mixes writing exercises with the dissection of examples of great criticism to give attendees a thorough understanding of how to establish a style and express themselves with confidence. Attendees will also learn how to engage with the art media to win commissions. Topics covered during the day include:

• Why write about contemporary art?
• Persuasive writing: style, structure and special technique
• The three key jobs of communicative art-writing: what is it, what is it about, and how does this connect to the rest of the world?
• How to substantiate your ideas: visual evidence, factual evidence and following your thinking
• Being specific: replacing vague abstractions with real knowledge
• Exhibition-review writing in focus
• Getting published: writing with a specific audience and publication in mind
• How to pitch to editors and improve your chances of getting re-commissioned

Tutor profile

Gilda Williams is a London correspondent for Artforum magazine and author of The Gothic and How to Write About Contemporary Art. Gilda has 25 years' experience writing, editing, commissioning, teaching, reading and looking at contemporary art, including roles as commissioning editor for contemporary art for Phaidon Press, London, and managing editor at Flash Art International. Her writing has appeared in Tate Etc., Parkett, Art Monthly, Art in America and Time Out. She also writes on film for Sight&Sound magazine and teaches on the esteemed MFA in Curating at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Guest speaker to be confirmed.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website