From Curiosity to Discovery: The 2026 Curator Challenge

Written in collaboration with Grade 10 student, Ariel, as part of the MYP4/5 Journalism Elective led by Mr. Josefino Rivera

On Wednesday, 11 February, grade 8 students at the International School of Prague launched the 2026 Curator Challenge. Led by 8th grade Individuals and Societies teacher, Mr. Matthew Hayes, students were introduced to the challenge and their artefacts at the Lobkowicz Palace in Prague.

“For me, the most important thing in the project is that we build interest in the students. I saw a few examples of that,” Mr. Hayes commented.

 

Launched for the first time 16 years ago, the annual Curator Challenge surrounds a collaboration between ISP and the Royal Lobkowicz family of Prague, where 8th grade students are assigned an object they are to research from the Lobkowicz collection. And although this project has been done many times before, it continues to offer a variety of possibilities.

“I’m excited by the prospect of new discoveries,” Mr Hayes described. He later adds that his “favorite part of the project is that for someone who is interested, there is no end to the research and the work they can do. It’s an open-ended project”.

Ms. Ileana Lobkowicz, ISP alumnus and a participant in the first Curator Challenge further describes the endless possibilities and opportunities this project provides.

“It’s amazing to see how many different directions your object can take you,” Ms. Lobkowicz commented. “It’s kind of like a thread that you pull, and it just gets longer, and longer, and longer, and you have all of these stories and histories that unfold.”

New technologies such as AI that are presented to students each year can help develop these opportunities, in ways such as helping “students enhance their presentations,” as Ms. Lobkowicz suggests. But she also recognises the importance of learning how to use these technologies.

“You just have to kind of use it in the right way where you don’t lose the discovery element of this programme, which is the most precious part of it,” Ms. Lobkowicz added.
 

 

The concern of many students going into the project is the final presentations, which Ms. Lobkowicz recognises “are important too.” But what she emphasizes is the importance of the discovery process.

“I think at the end of the day it’s the depth and quality of your research and your questions and then what you find from that that matters most, it’s not so much about getting the right answer,” Ms. Lobkowicz offered.

Part of the excitement surrounding the discovery process is the hands-on experience with the students’ objects, which grade 8 students describe as the highlight of their project so far.

“I really liked working with the object because it was something new, and I’ve never seen anything like it, so it was like a new experience, and it was super interesting,” grade 8 student, Stella, described.
 

 

This tangible experience that is a core part of the programme is part of what made the 2026 Curator Challenge launch successful. But going into this project, some students expected different outcomes, and some didn’t really know what to expect.

“I think it was different from my expectations but in a good way,” grade 8 student, Amalia, recounts. “I was obviously nervous, because I didn’t know the group that I would get. I really wanted to be with people who I knew I would work well with,” grade 8 student, Sam, added.

The official launch of the project now brings a mixture of students’ hopes, expectations, and worries as they are approaching the final presentations.

“I’m kind of nervous about having to do the presentation and how we’re going to bring all of our information together,” Stella, described. She later added, “I’m just excited to see how it ends up.”

Although aspects of the project have changed throughout the years, these mixed emotions, the excitement, the worry, is an experience shared among most students.

“The experience itself was amazing. We get to analyse and measure, and actually touch [the objects],” grade 10 student, Hyojun, recalled. He then added, “The second best part was probably the actual presentations. I was super nervous but I felt super relieved, I felt amazing after the thing.”

 

Even though this project is reflected on by some as a positive experience, many students had to go through some challenges.

“I liked it, but the thing was that it was hard when my group members weren’t collaborating,” commented grade 10 student, Hala. 

Looking back on their own projects, grade 10 students describe how helpful the process of the project was for them beyond the classroom.

“For me now, if I ever have a question or if I want to know more about something, I know exactly how to do it, and I feel like ‘Curator’ contributed to that,” Hala described. “I feel like my research skills improved so much,” Hyojun added.

Going through the Curator Challenge has made students more appreciative of this opportunity, and has taught them useful skills. And now, they can pass their wisdom down to this year’s teams.

“Hold everyone accountable. Especially yourself,” Hala suggested. “You’re rarely going to get the chance to present something in the palace, you just got to enjoy the moment,” Hyojun commented.