As part of the Art Business Certificate, students enjoyed an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience at Sotheby’s Bond Street. Hosted by Tamsin Golding Yee from the Modern British Art department, the class participated in a mock auction set in the very room used for the previous day’s Old Masters sale. The podium, artworks, and phone banks were left intact to create an authentic atmosphere.

Following an insightful overview of auctioneering, students stepped up to the rostrum to auction real lots, while classmates acted as room and telephone bidders. This immersive session marked the first time Sotheby’s has hosted the Institute for such an event—a truly memorable highlight of the course.

Jeffrey Boloten, Course Leader for the Art Business Certificate and Director of Art Business and Enterprise Programs in London, described the event as a milestone for the course: “This was the very first occasion that Sotheby’s auction house had so kindly invited the Art Business students to their Bond Street showroom to re-create a genuine mock auction experience. The auction room was purposely left exactly as it had been set up for the previous day’s Old Masters sale, and the students, with the huge benefit of skilful coaching, inhabited each role in the auction process—room bidders, telephone bidders, and auctioneer. The entire experiential morning could not have provided any more of a total immersion into the auction process and experience on truly every front. According to the participating students, this mock auction was very much a course highlight.”

Here’s what the students had to say…

“Participating in the mock auction as part of the Art Business Certificate was an incredibly exciting and memorable experience. As an aspiring auctioneer, stepping into the Sotheby’s marquee sales and evening auctions room and having the chance to auctioneer from the rostrum myself felt genuinely special. The experience was made even more meaningful by the excellent lecture we received beforehand, which provided both practical techniques and insight into the rhythm, psychology, and presence required in the auction room. Conducting the mock auction as a team was great fun, while also offering a realistic sense of the pressure and energy of a live sale.”
Adela Kodl, Art Business Certificate Student

“Participating in the auction mock trial at Sotheby’s in Bond Street was an incredible experience, bringing to life the concepts we studied at the Institute. Under the guidance of Tamsin Golding Yee (Specialist in the Modern British and Irish Art department), I had the unique opportunity to step into the role of auctioneer, leading the sale of an Italian painting in a staged setting. Some bids were made by colleagues pretending to be on the phone, while others represented people in the room. This gave me practical insights into the dynamics of an auction, helping me better understand how it works and allowing me to follow future auctions with a much keener eye.”
Davide Francioli, Art Business Certificate Student