Art Business Essentials

From record-setting auctions to the omnipresence of galleries, biennales, and art fairs in nearly every city across the globe, today's fast-paced art world can be a challenge to navigate.

More than ever before, global insecurities challenge the notions of traditional economic patterns and systems. Over the course of eight weeks, Art Business Essentials introduces course participants to the multifaceted global art industry by identifying the different key players in both the commercial and non-profit sectors of the field, and offers a thorough understanding of the methods that drive the buying, selling, viewing, and collecting of art. Key topics will include the roles of artists, collectors, private museums, and mega-galleries, as well as the tension between the non-profit and commercial sectors, the rise of digital innovators and NFTs, and the burgeoning impacts of the increased financialization of the art world.

This comprehensive course puts participants on the right track to operate with increased expertise within the art world. It is ideal for those looking to understand the structure of the art market as well as those looking to make a career change by exploring the key roles and institutions that comprise the business of art. At the end of the eight weeks, students will complete a final project, applying the knowledge they have gained.