Curating: meaning, definitions and examples

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curating

 

[ kjʊəˈreɪtɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

organizing collections

Curating is the act of selecting, organizing, and managing a collection of items, such as artworks, artifacts, or information. It is commonly associated with museums and galleries, where curators choose which pieces to display to best represent a theme or concept. In a broader context, curating can also refer to organizing content in digital platforms, like social media or online databases. The process involves thoughtful consideration of how items relate to one another and the story they tell to an audience.

Synonyms

arranging, managing, organizing, selecting.

Examples of usage

  • She is curating an exhibition of contemporary artists.
  • The website offers curated lists of various products.
  • He spent hours curating his playlist for the party.

Translations

Translations of the word "curating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 curadoria

🇮🇳 क्यूरेटरिंग

🇩🇪 Kurierung

🇮🇩 kurasi

🇺🇦 кураторство

🇵🇱 kuracja

🇯🇵 キュレーション

🇫🇷 curation

🇪🇸 curaduría

🇹🇷 küratörlük

🇰🇷 큐레이션

🇸🇦 تنسيق

🇨🇿 kurátorství

🇸🇰 kurátorstvo

🇨🇳 策展

🇸🇮 kuratorstvo

🇮🇸 kurator

🇰🇿 кураторлық

🇬🇪 კურატორობა

🇦🇿 kuratorluq

🇲🇽 curaduría

Etymology

The word 'curate' comes from the Latin 'curare', which means 'to take care of', 'to pay attention to', or 'to oversee'. Originally used in the context of church services around the 14th century, where a curate was a clergyman with specific duties related to the care of a church community. Over time, the term evolved and expanded into the secular realm, particularly in museums and galleries during the 19th century, referring to individuals responsible for selecting and managing collections. The current verb form, 'curating', emerged as a descriptive action related to the responsibilities of curators, specifically highlighting their role in thoughtfully organizing and displaying various forms of art and culture to engage and educate the public.