Margarita Makhanova is a curator and public event programmer specialising interaction with the audience. Her projects aim to work with communities, celebrating minority groups and engaging them in art.
Margarita sees an exhibition as a space for dialogue and expression of thoughts on a given theme. Her exhibitions are primarily interactive, as they’re designed to encourage audience participation. She believes that simple set design, inclusivity and playfulness are the keys to visitors’ minds and hearts.
Getting curatorial knowledge on public programming and audience engagement from the University of the Arts London and the NODE Center for Curatorial Studies, elevated an understanding of curatorial practice.
Hands-on practical knowledge was obtained during BA (Hons) Creative Events Management course at the Arts University Bournemouth.
From the blog
Browse through posts about Margarita’s projects.
Past events
14th-16th
June ’24
‘Beautiful and Useful’: exhibition & workshops
Winns Gallery, Walthamstow, london, uk
An exhibition featuring oil paintings, photographs, drawings and collages, situated in the William Morris’s garden. A series of accessible free workshops as a part of the public programme. Collaboration with local fund, businesses and creatives resulted in a 3-day long show, attracting almost 600 visitors. The event was a part of the E17 Art Trail and was aimed to support artistic initiatives and bring together an artistic community in North-East London.
11th
May ’24
Alice in Spring 2024: Patterns of The World
Bournemouth, uk
This event is based off Margarita’s event pitch and is aimed to celebrate international communities in Bournemouth through dance and music performances, creative workshops and carnival procession organised in collaboration with the Mahogany Carnival Designs.
Margarita was an artist liaison, creative ideation and community engagement lead. Three official communities were involved in the event programme. The event was delivered to over a thousand visitors.
16th
Feb ’23
Museum Late: The Art of a Love Letter
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth, uk
This event’s aim was to show the historical Victorian house in an alternative light. The event team designed an impeccable evening with a love letter workshop, live piano music, lectures, dance performances and a fine art exhibition.
Margarita was responsible for artist liaison and creative ideation, curating the dance performance and the aesthetic side of the event.
Another aim of the project was to engage with a younger audience, and according to the 44 collected feedback forms, people found it great to see visitors of various age groups, including students.
26th
May ’22
I can’t draw: exhibition and workshops
The Avenue Shopping Centre, Bournemouth, uk
An event was aimed to engage the public of Bournemouth with a digital exhibition in the centre on the town. As a part of the engagement programme, people were able to contribute to a collaborative art piece, create a pattern on a tote bag, etc.
Margarita curated the programme of the engagement activities.
curator & event manager 