Designed to encourage the kind of 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.
Students will gain practical skills connected to art business, including accessing and analyzing art market data to evaluating market value for artworks across key sectors. Students are introduced to contemporary management models for commercial and non-commercial practices through theory and case studies. Branding and marketing issues are explored, and essential art market professional roles (e.g., art advisor, curator, gallerist, collector, journalist, art fund manager, etc.) are investigated, together with 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.
Identify the key players in London’s contemporary art scene, from artists and curators to dealers and auction house specialists.
Understand the variety of career trajectories within the art world and what it means to be an art world professional, as explained by leading experts in the field.
Navigate confidently the contemporary art landscape in London by exploring venues and neighborhoods of contemporary art activity.
Become familiar with the most important and critically acclaimed artists, styles, and trends of the most recent years and terminology specific to the art world.
Faculty, London
Joe Dunning is an art market expert with eighteen years’ experience in the commercial art world, He has worked with artists, galleries, auction houses, art fairs, and advisors, with a particular focus on Contemporary, Post-War, Modern, and Impressionist art. He specialises in business development, client engagement, and the intersection of art with the fields of technology, finance, and philanthropy. As an auctioneer he has first-hand experience of the mechanics of the art market; and through academic study and professional experience of museums and other non-profit organisations, he has a thorough understanding of the entire art ecosystem.
Read MoreDay 1: Gain a understanding of the current art market and learn about the auction process. Visit Sotheby’s Auction House for a preview of upcoming sales.
Day 2: Explore the tools used to analyze the art market, such as varying research methods. Examine the state of the art market through market reports and press articles.
Day 3: Visit the blue-chip market hub of Chelsea or Tribeca and get a tour of the current exhibitions at galleries including David Zwirner and Gagosian.
Day 4: Learn how art law impacts business, from intellectual property laws to selling art online.
Day 5: Learn about collecting in the 21st century. Hear from experts in both art advising and collecting.
Course participants take away in-depth and valuable insight into the current and future art world. 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 past participants around the globe who hold top positions at renowned art organizations.
English 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.