Sotheby's Summer Institute Online

Our two-week pre-college online courses bring the international art world directly to students for an unforgettable and interactive learning experience.

Study with Sotheby’s Institute of Art from anywhere in the world.

Sotheby’s Summer Institute invites high schoolers who are curious and passionate about the arts to immerse themselves in different facets of the art world. From learning the intricacies of running galleries and museums to exploring painting and drawing techniques throughout history, these two-week online courses are designed to engage, inspire, and fuel creativity. Taught by leading scholars and professionals in the field, each online course draws on the global expertise of Sotheby's Institute of Art and brings students unrivaled access to the people who drive the international art world forward. Through our dynamic virtual classroom, students are provided with a flexible environment to learn, investigate, and explore the international art world while forming meaningful connections with classmates and mentors.

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Online Courses

Pre-college online courses are structured as Intensives, Explorations, or Studio Art courses. Intensives dive deep into a specific subject area, while Explorations are interdisciplinary and cover three distinct topics. Studio Art courses provide students with the opportunity to experience traditional studio art-making practices in a virtual environment. All courses are taught by Sotheby's Institute faculty and expert practitioners in the international art world, all of whom have extensive experience teaching online.

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The Online Learning Experience

Explore your passion for art, wherever you are. Learn new skills and discover the people, places, and ideas that define the art world today. In a dynamic and interactive online environment, students will experience a carefully curated and comprehensive exploration of the international art world with personal guidance from industry experts who have extensive online teaching experience.

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At a Glance

  • Program Duration Program Duration

    Two-week online courses are offered in four separate terms spanning from June to July. Students may enroll in more than one term.

  • Online Classroom Online Classroom

    Live video instruction and guided group activities are led by international faculty and guest experts every weekday. We keep our class sizes intentionally small so that students receive individual feedback on their assignments and final projects.

  • Eligibility Eligibility

    The program is open to rising high school students (grades 10-12) and graduating seniors. Students must be 15 years old by the first day of the program.

  • Assignments Assignments

    Daily self-paced projects, readings and independent explorations are assigned to enhance each student's understanding of the course content. Each course also includes a final project that is presented at the end of the term.

  • Admissions Admissions

    Requires the completion of an online application and submission of supplementary materials.

  • Tuition Tuition

    Each two-week online course is $2,750, plus $75 tech fee.

Summer Institute Faculty

Our instructors are award-winning Sotheby's Institute faculty, recognized thought leaders and professional experts in the international art world who have extensive online teaching experience. Each faculty member structures their course around real-time conversations defining their professions and helps students master the unique forces at play in the art world.

Summer Institute Faculty

Applications Now Closed for 2020

Learn more about the application process including the review process, required materials, and tuition.

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