Art Business: Markets, Museums, and Money

This pre-college course offers students an insider’s view of the dynamic and rapidly evolving contemporary art market, providing valuable insight into the intersection of art, business, and global culture. Designed for high school students exploring potential college majors in art history, business, economics, marketing, or arts management, the course introduces both the primary and secondary art markets with a particular focus on New York and London, two of the world’s most influential art capitals. Students will also examine the growing importance of global markets in China, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, gaining a broader perspective on how contemporary art circulates worldwide.

Throughout the course, students explore the business side of art through college-level lectures, discussions, and site visits, making this the ideal academic experience for students preparing for college applications. Special attention is given to digital art commerce and the ways galleries, auction houses, and institutions have adapted their business strategies for an increasingly virtual and technology-driven art world. Students will also consider emerging business models and innovations shaping the future of the contemporary art industry.

Students participate in guided visits to galleries, auction houses, and other art-related businesses, where they engage directly with prominent artists, gallerists, dealers, and auction specialists. These on-site experiences, combined with lectures and tours throughout New York City and its surrounding areas, help students identify the key individuals, institutions, and venues that shape the contemporary art market and influence global dialogue around art and its trade.

The course also examines the relationship between the commercial art market and the nonprofit sector, with a particular focus on museums as vital cultural institutions. By exploring how for-profit and not-for-profit organizations interact within New York’s vibrant cultural landscape, students gain a nuanced understanding of the ecosystem that supports contemporary art today. By the end of this pre-college course, students will have developed critical thinking, market awareness, and global perspectives that support future academic study and provide meaningful preparation for a wide range of college majors and career paths.

The Priority Admissions Enrollment Deadline is February 27.