Please contact admissions at professional@sia.edu for guidance on how to register for this course.
Course participants will examine art markets in both the developed world and emerging areas, together with legal and management topics related to global art business practices, with a particular emphasis on the international auction house system. Designed to encourage the entrepreneurial thinking on which the art world thrives, the course culminates in a final project in which students develop a new art business and pitch it to investors.
The course prepares students for a wide range of careers in the art world, in both commercial and not-for-profit sectors, or for further study in one of our postgraduate programs. Practical skills gained include accessing and analysing art market data, and evaluating market value for artworks across key categories. Students are also introduced to contemporary management models for commercial and non-commercial practices through theory, case studies and practical work. Branding and marketing for the art world are studied together, and essential art market roles such as art advisor, curator, gallerist, collector, journalist, and art fund manager are explored, together with looking at innovative new art business models, including online initiatives. Through lectures, seminars and visits, students witness first-hand what it takes to make a business successful in today’s art market.
Further information and the sample schedule can be found here.
The course examines the effects of technological developments on art over time and the nature of the so-called global contemporary. At its heart is the discipline of art history and its place within the art ecosystem. Skills essential to the practical operations of the art world such as authentication, conservation, and display are studied through the experiences of guest speakers who are professionals in the art world. Understanding the history of art and the practices associated with its display is crucial to confidently navigating the art world as a professional or as a serious collector of art.
This course incorporates both in-classroom teaching and on-site visits to a wide spectrum of art world institutions where students can practice their visual analysis skills in front of original works of art. Visits include artist studios, museums, foundations, private museums, and established and emerging commercial galleries.
Further information and the sample schedule can be found here.
Orientation: 9am GMT, September 16
*Please be advised that the timings may vary based on the day’s schedule. However, daily sessions will conclude no later than 5:30pm.
Daily lectures from leading industry professionals
An extensive range of visits including Sotheby’s Auction House and leading art fairs
Develop the required skills to create innovative art world enterprises
Develop a new art business and pitch it to investors
Lectures from leading industry professionals
A wide variety of site visits, from leading London museums to walking tours of street art and a conservation studio
Develop an understanding of how art history has led the art world to its current space through an exploration of its major movements
An insider's look at art restoration, conservation and provenance as it pertains to the study of art history and its future
Director of Art Business and Enterprise Programs, London
Jeffrey Boloten is Co-Founder and Managing Director of ArtInsight Ltd., the education partner of art market research firm, ArtTactic. He was a director with several leading international publishers, including Penguin Books, and has held posts at the Tate and as General Manager of a London art college. Boloten is a frequent speaker and lecturer at international art fairs and conferences on topics including the global art market, photography market, and art investment markets. He is a Founding Member of PAIAM, Professional Advisors to the International Art Market, and a member of the Advisory Board for the inaugural Photo Shanghai Art Fair.
Read MoreCourse Leader, Summer Program, London
Viv Lawes is an author, journalist, lecturer and curator with over 25 years’ experience in the art market. She studied History at York University and graduated with an MA in Fine and Decorative Art from Sotheby’s Institute in 1997, where her thesis focused on the textile trade between England and India/ China in the 17th and 18th centuries. Learn more...
Read MoreEnglish Language Requirement
Course participants should be proficient in written and spoken English and be able to participate in group discussions and presentations in English. It is recommended that participants have the equivalent level of IELTS score of 6.0 /TOEFL score of 78 IBT, however evidence of test scores is not required to register.
Age Requirement
Courses are open to participants 18 years of age or older, however, we prefer that students have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience to be able to properly engage in the course .
For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.
Course participants take away in-depth and valuable insight into the current and future art world, to be sufficiently prepared for a wide-ranging career within the art industry. Those who successfully complete their course will receive a certificate of completion from Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
Sotheby’s Institute of Art course participants come from all over the world, from a wide variety of backgrounds. As they study, travel, and explore the art world alongside each other throughout the program, fierce and long-lasting collaborations are frequently born. Individuals who complete these courses join our network of over 8,000 alumni around the globe who hold top positions at renowned art organizations.
Art Business
Art History
Art Business
Art History