5-Day Intensive

Navigating the New York Art Scene

Register Request Info
Date
March 30 – April 4, 2026
Time
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST
Duration
5 Days
Location
New York
Program
5-Day Intensive
Mode of Learning
In-Person
Price
Price
$2500
Language
English
Topics
Art Business, Contemporary Art
Contact Admissions

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

Diving into the exhilarating New York art scene, this in-person course offers exclusive insights into the operations of today’s art world through the exploration of its global center.

This course for established and aspiring art world professionals alike takes participants into the crucial spaces of New York City -the global art market’s epicenter where contemporary art is produced, displayed, and sold. The city offers one of the most dynamic art scenes in the world, providing the ideal backdrop for exploring the links between art, business, and the international art market.

Lectures and site visits will introduce participants to recent trends in art as well as key themes and concepts of contemporary art to understand how they influence the art that is being created today.

For those exploring career options in the vibrant art scene or considering a career change, as well as established professionals aiming to consolidate their knowledge, this course offers invaluable insights into the numerous professional paths available in the global art world. The course provides in-depth exposure to exclusive small-group conversations with professionals from both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors including artists, art dealers, curators, art fair managers, gallery owners, auction specialists, and marketing professionals.

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 identify the key players in New York’s contemporary art scene, from artists and curators to dealers and auction house specialists
  • To understand the variety of career trajectories within the art world and what it means to be an art world professional, as explained by leading experts in the field
  • To navigate confidently the contemporary art landscape in New York by exploring venues and neighbourhoods of contemporary art activity
  • To become familiar with the most important and critically acclaimed artis
    ts, styles, and trends of the most recent years and terminology specific to the art world

Photo by Christian Ladewig on Unsplash

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.

Day 1

Gain a grounding in the topography of the New York art scene through an overview of current key players and the art market at large. Hear from an art advisor working in the city about their role and how they navigate the market.

Day 2

Spend the full day discovering the diverse gallery neighborhoods of New York, from established areas such as Chelsea and Tribeca to up-and-coming neighborhoods like the Lower East Side. Meet with gallerists who will discuss their roles, their artist rosters, and the ins and outs of running a gallery in today’s market.

Day 3

Discover the increasingly important world of art finance, fractional ownership, and investment in art funds through lectures and discussion. Then, head to Sotheby’s auction house for a behind the scenes tour and Q&A with a department specialist.

Day 4

Bridge the art market with the not-for-profit sector by hearing from a museum administrator about the unique marketing, PR, and communications needs of institutions. After, head to one of NYC’s leading museums for a curator-led tour of a current exhibition, with a specific focus on the challenges and opportunities that non-profit organizations encounter.

Day 5

Dive into the future of the art market by learning about innovations such as Artificial Intelligence, the rise and fall of NFTs, and the usage of blockchain in the art world. The course ends with an engaging discussion of various careers in the art world led by the instructor.

Faculty

Faculty, New York

Dr Kathy Battista is a writer, educator, and a curator of exhibitions in museums, galleries, and non-profits. Her research is primarily focused on cross generational feminist art, in particular performance and body-oriented practice. She is the author of New York New Wave: The Legacy of Feminist Art in Emerging Practice and Renegotiating the Body: Feminist Art in 1970s London as well as co-editor of Creative Legacies: Artist Estates and Foundations. Battista has over twenty years of leadership positions in the art world.

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Details

Sample Topics

  • Key Players in the New York Art Ecosystem
  • Gallery Operations in Different Market Sectors
  • Institutional Challenges and Opportunities
  • The Future of Technology in the Art Market
  • Collection Building and Art Acquisition

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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