Bulletin Board: Mumbai's First Art History Course

This makes us want to go back to school: Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum is offering a brand new Modern and Contemporary Indian Art History course - they say it's the first in Mumbai - that will help you tell your Tagores from your Husains. But before your dad goes on about how a tryst with Tyeb will make you money, you should know that this one year postgraduate diploma doesn't require you to quit your job. The course is on Friday evenings and weekends, with each lecture set to last about three hours.

Exploring art from the 1850s to the present, this course will offer theoretical study as well as hands on training with fun visits to exhibitions and field trips to museums and artist studios. You will also learn about art techniques employed in the 21st century, including print, photography, video and digital media. The faculty will include a mix of visiting professors and local experts including art historian, curator and gallery owner Arshiya Lokhandwala and art critic and columnist Girish Shahane. As far as your dad is concerned, the course also focuses on careers and are expecting the graduating class to be art writers, curators, managers and conservators. They even promise to help with job placements.

And while they prefer that you have some education in Art History, even art enthusiasts without degrees are welcome. The museum's website mentions the sign up date as October 31, but the deadline has been extended to November 15. Go on, sign up. Don't wait for the paint to dry.

Course Details: Duration: mid January 2012 to December 2012. Last date for application: November 15, 2011. Application forms available at the museum. Fee: Rs 50,000 for a one-year diploma.

Getting there: Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, Rani Baug, 91/A, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Byculla (E), call 23731234.