5-Day Intensive

Gallery Management

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Date
October 27 – 31, 2025
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Time
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM GMT
Duration
5 Days
Location
London
Program
5-Day Intensive
Mode of Learning
In-Person
Price
Price
£1950
Language
English
Topics
Art Business, Contemporary Art, Curating, Specializations & Skills
Contact Admissions

+44 (0)20 7462 3232 +1 646-438-7268 shortcourses@sia.edu

Explore how to establish and run a contemporary art gallery in today's art market.

As the landscape for art consumption expands, the contemporary art market’s explosive growth calls for a more in-depth look into the role of the gallery. This course explores the fundamentals of establishing and running a contemporary gallery in today’s interconnected art market. From business strategies and day-to-day operations – including ideas for using new technologies to drive sales and engagement – to key considerations for cultivating clients and managing artists, this course provides an invaluable introduction to the high-stakes world of commercial art galleries.

Students who complete this course are eligible to receive a partial tuition fee waiver equivalent to $2,000 USD if they subsequently enroll in one of our Master’s Degree Programs at our New York, London, or Online locations (pending application and acceptance to the Master’s Degree program). For further details, please see our Student Policies.

Learning Outcomes

  • To recognize the different types of commercial galleries, and articulate how a potential artistic program would fit into the gallery landscape.
  • To understand the variety of day-to-day logistics and roles that are required for a successful gallery business.
  • To leverage new technologies to create engaging digital gallery content.

Highlights

Specialized Art World Knowledge

Build critical thinking skills and gain in-depth insight into key topics shaping today’s global art market.

Designed for Every Art World Path

Varying formats for art enthusiasts, students, working professionals, or those considering a career pivot.

Career-Focused Content

Develop practical skills and industry understanding to support career development in an array of fields.

Sessions

Fall

Dates
October 27 – 31, 2025
Faculty
Ed Leeson
Status
Open
Register Link
Register

Spring

Dates
April 27 – May 1, 2026
Faculty
Ed Leeson
Status
Open
Register Link
Register

Sample Schedule

Day 1

Gain an in-depth insight into the primary and secondary art markets and join a gallery director to discover how to establish a commercial gallery.

Day 2

Delve deeper into gallery organizational practices, including the complexities of consignments and the logistics of shipping and insurance.

Day 3

Find out about the emerging gallery scene from a leading gallerist and explore the intricacies of working with artists, including price setting and production issues.

Day 4

Discover the opportunities and pitfalls of art fairs from a gallerist’s perspective and learn about how galleries can stand out from the crowd through marketing and social media.

Day 5

Visit a selection of cutting-edge galleries and art spaces on a day trip to Margate and round off your learning by discussing different institutional models, cultural place-making, innovative business practices, and the rise of regional contemporary art hubs.

Faculty

Course Leader, London

Ed Leeson is a UK based gallerist and curator. He has organised exhibitions internationally in both commercial and institutional spaces. Over the last decade he has been a staff lecturer at TATE and a course leader at Sotheby’s Institute of Art where he lectures on contemporary art, its markets, and wider cultural studies. His MA thesis focussed on identity capture in museum cyberspace, and his current PhD research is on the aesthetics of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He is the Director of 243 Luz.

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Details

Sample Topics

  • Establishing a Strong Artistic Gallery Program
  • Successfully Working with Artists
  • Driving Sales and Establishing Collector Relationships
  • Translating from the Physical to the Digital
  • Curating in a Commercial Gallery Setting

Course Completion

Course participants take away in-depth and valuable insight into the current and future art world, to be sufficiently prepared for a wide-ranging career within the art industry. 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 alumni around the globe who hold top positions at renowned art organizations.

Students who complete this course are eligible to receive a partial tuition fee waiver equivalent to $2,000 USD if they subsequently enroll in one of our Master’s Degree Programs at our New York, London, or Online locations (pending application and acceptance to the Master’s Degree program). For further details, please see our Student Policies.

Requirements

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.

Book A Consultation

We encourage interested individuals to book a consultation time with a member of our admissions team to learn more about this course and our registration process.

Please use this link to book a consultation time via phone or video call.

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