Course description
The ever-changing global landscape of today’s art market, with its international art fairs and dizzying calendar of live and online auctions, presents more opportunities than ever to buy art.
The Art of Collecting introduces valuable strategies for focus and discernment as you build your collection and offers professional insights around how to navigate this fast-paced international marketplace as a collector.
Discussions include how to determine a collection focus, differentiating price from value, understanding due diligence checklists, issues surrounding authenticity and forgeries, as well as simple tips for inventory management. Using a variety of art historical resources and price databases, students will embark on a virtual “shopping trip,” applying basic collecting guidelines and comparative strategies to make a hypothetical acquisition for your collection.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
For successfully completing this course, you receive a verified Certificate of Completion from Sotheby’s Institute of Art as well as 2.3 IACET Continuing Education Units. *
Our digital certificates allow you to share new skills with various social media platforms, including LinkedIn. Successful completion is defined by each instructor in the course syllabus and consists, at the least, of regular, thoughtful participation in online activities and timely submission of assigned papers or projects.
*As an IACET Accredited Provider, Sotheby’s Institute of Art offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard
Training Course Content
Week 1: Discover collecting motivations and methods for determining a collection focus.
Week 2: Understand the key considerations for being an educated collector.
Week 3: Uncover marketplace options and understand how to utilize price databases.
Week 4: Explore the array of online and offline venues for acquisitions.
Week 5: Discuss the responsibilities of a collector, with a focus on due diligence and authenticity.
Week 6: Examine the processes for buying and making offers
Course delivery details
Award-winning online course
Request info
Sotheby's Institute of Art
Sotheby’s auction house was founded in 1744 when Samuel Baker, an entrepreneur, occasional publisher, and successful businessman held his first auction. Today at Sotheby’s Institute, we emphasize a keen understanding of an object’s value and history, a spirit of inquiry...