Pre-College

Art Business: Markets, Museums, and Money

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Date
July 4, 2027
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Duration
2 Weeks
Location
New York
Grades
Rising 10-12, Graduating Seniors
Program
Pre-College
Mode of Learning
In-Person
Price
Residential Program
$7,865
Day Program
$6,215
Apply by the Early Bird Deadline on January 31 for $350 off your tuition.
Language
English
Topic
Art Business
Contact Admissions

+1 646-665-1861 precollege@sia.edu

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the illustrious New York art industry and discover how art is created, bought, and sold in a dynamic global market.

This pre-college course offers students an insider’s view of the dynamic and rapidly evolving contemporary art market, providing valuable insight into the intersection of art, business, and global culture. Designed for high school students exploring potential college majors in art history, business, economics, marketing, or arts management, the course introduces both the primary and secondary art markets with a particular focus on New York and London, two of the world’s most influential art capitals. Students will also examine the growing importance of global markets in China, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, gaining a broader perspective on how contemporary art circulates worldwide.

Throughout the course, students explore the business side of art through college-level lectures, discussions, and site visits, making this the ideal academic experience for students preparing for college applications. Special attention is given to digital art commerce and the ways galleries, auction houses, and institutions have adapted their business strategies for an increasingly virtual and technology-driven art world. Students will also consider emerging business models and innovations shaping the future of the contemporary art industry.

Students participate in guided visits to galleries, auction houses, and other art-related businesses, where they engage directly with prominent artists, gallerists, dealers, and auction specialists. These on-site experiences, combined with lectures and tours throughout New York City and its surrounding areas, help students identify the key individuals, institutions, and venues that shape the contemporary art market and influence global dialogue around art and its trade.

The course also examines the relationship between the commercial art market and the nonprofit sector, with a particular focus on museums as vital cultural institutions. By exploring how for-profit and not-for-profit organizations interact within New York’s vibrant cultural landscape, students gain a nuanced understanding of the ecosystem that supports contemporary art today. By the end of this pre-college course, students will have developed critical thinking, market awareness, and global perspectives that support future academic study and provide meaningful preparation for a wide range of college majors and career paths.

Sotheby’s Summer Institute 2027 applications are now open! Apply by the Early Bird Deadline on January 31 for $350 off your tuition.

Highlights

College Preparation Through Art Market Insight

Develop your skills by examining the global contemporary art market through site visits, expert lectures, and real-world case studies. Gain clarity around potential college majors in art, business, and arts management while building experiences that strengthen college applications.

Explore New York City’s Art Scene Up Close

Visit galleries and artists’ studios located across vibrant art neighborhoods like Chelsea, Tribeca, and the Lower East Side. Experience a behind-the-scenes visit to Sotheby’s auction house, including a tour of a private collection led by a Sotheby's expert.

Learn From Leading Art Industry Professionals

Hear firsthand about the inner workings of the art industry from speakers including auctioneers, gallerists, art fair directors, and online art sales entrepreneurs. Learn how they navigate the art world and gain insight into the daily work of managing artists, collectors, and exhibitions.

Explore Pathways to a Career in the Art Industry

Whether you love creating art or simply love seeing it, discover how to channel your passion into a future career. Learn what it takes to enter the art world—from the skills expected to the steps you can take now.

Understand the Art Market and Its Future Trends

Follow a work of art from creation to sale. Examine how the market functions today, how technology is transforming it, and where the next innovations may emerge.

Terms

All courses are open to rising 10th – 12th graders and graduating seniors. Explore the full summer schedule.

View Schedule

Term One

Dates
July 4 – 16, 2027
Grades
Rising 10-12, Graduating Seniors
Status
Open
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Term Two

Dates
July 18 – 30, 2027
Grades
Rising 10-12, Graduating Seniors
Status
Open
Apply Link
Apply

Sample Schedule

Day One: Introduction to the Art World and Public Art

Begin with an introduction to key art world concepts, terminology, and the unique cultural landscape of New York City's art scene. Then, explore the impact of public art through a visit to the Public Art Fund, where you'll consider how art engages communities and shapes urban spaces.

Day Two: Auction Houses and the Secondary Art Market

Discover how artworks are bought and sold on the secondary market as you examine the role of auction houses and the auction process. Put your learning into context with a behind-the-scenes visit to Sotheby's auction house, gaining firsthand insight into one of the art world's most influential institutions.

Day Three: Curating and Exhibition Planning

Explore the fundamentals of curatorship and exhibition development while examining the distinct roles of nonprofit and commercial arts organizations. Later, visit the Whitney Museum of American Art and take part in an independent exhibition exploration, considering how curators shape the visitor experience.

Day Four: Galleries and the Primary Art Market

Learn how galleries discover, represent, and promote artists while exploring the business models that drive the primary art market. In the afternoon, visit a selection of galleries in Tribeca to experience firsthand how contemporary art is presented and sold.

Day Five: Mega Galleries and Art Advising

Hear directly from industry professionals during Sotheby's Speaker Series before exploring Chelsea's renowned gallery district. Guided by a guest expert in art advising, you'll examine the influence of mega galleries and discover how art advisors help collectors navigate the contemporary art market.

Please note: This is a sample schedule and is subject to change. Activities, speakers, and site visits may vary.

Next Steps

Student Spotlight

Summer Institute Student Mora on Discovering Her Dream Art Career

Mora is a Summer Institute student who joined our program to explore her passion for auctions and the many careers that exist in the art market. She details the moments that helped her gain clarity on her vision for a future career in the art world.

“Speaking with professionals from Sotheby’s and different galleries confirmed that I want to study art history in college, just like them, and eventually pursue a master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute.”

The World Behind the Studio: Exploring Art Business at Summer Institute

Janna joined our Summer Institute course in Art Business to develop her understanding of the global industry behind art making. She left the program with the confidence to incorporate her love of creativity into her future career.

“The course explored everything from the structure of auction houses to the strategies behind galleries, collectors, and art advisors. It revealed the complex systems that keep the art world running, and I found that fascinating.”

Beyond the Studio: Exploring Art Business at Summer Institute

Zoe is a visual artist who joined Sotheby’s Summer Institute to further her knowledge in art business, from art history and curation to auctions and collecting.

“Attending Summer Institute influenced my perspective on my future studies by showing me that my career path does not have to be linear. Many of the professionals we met came from diverse backgrounds and disciplines beyond the arts, each bringing a unique set of skills to their work.”

Details

Site Visits

Visits will include trips to commercial and non-profit art venues, such as museums and artists’ studios, and other places of business related to art production and sales.

Previous site visits have included:

  • Sotheby’s auction house
  • Major museums such as The Museum of Modern art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Top galleries such as David Zwirner, Hauser & Wirth, and Pace Gallery
  • Chelsea and the Lower East Side neighborhoods, epicenters of art dealing
  • Artists’ studios
  • Public Art Fund art installations

Please note: This information is subject to change at any time at the discretion of Sotheby’s Institute of Art

Guest Speakers

Students will hear firsthand about the inner workings of the art industry from speakers that may include artists, gallerists, art fair directors, and online art sales entrepreneurs.

In the past, guest speakers have included:

  • Auction house experts and auctioneers
  • Gallery directors and art advisors from major global art galleries
  • Marketing and communications specialists for galleries and museums
  • Artists working in new media

Please note: This information is subject to change at any time at the discretion of Sotheby’s Institute of Art

Faculty

Our instructors are award-winning Sotheby’s Institute faculty, recognized thought leaders and professional experts in the art world. Each faculty member structures their course around real-time conversations defining their professions and helps students master the unique forces at play in the art world.

Deadlines

Early Bird Deadline

January 31, 2027

Apply by the Early Bird Deadline to receive $350 off your tuition.

Regular Decision Deadline

March 31, 2027

Apply by the Regular Decision Deadline to receive $150 off your tuition.

Rolling admissions follows the Regular Decision Deadline.

Tuition and Fees

Residential Program

Students live in dorm-like facilities in Lower Manhattan. 

Apply by the Early Bird Deadline on January 31 for $350 off your tuition.

Tuition, Room and Board  $7,600 
Materials Fee *  $265 
Total Cost of Attendance       $7,865

Day Program

Students commute to campus and do not receive room and board. 

Apply by the Early Bird Deadline on January 31 for $350 off your tuition.

Tuition and Daily Lunch on Class Days   $5,950
Materials Fee *  $265 
Total Cost of Attendance       $6,215

A non-refundable initial payment of $1,500 is due within two weeks of receiving your acceptance letter in order to register for the program.

Students who enroll in multiple terms are eligible for a $500 discount on each term.

Refer a friend and you’ll both receive $250 off tuition. Both students must enroll and contact admissions at precollege@sia.edu for the discount to be applied.

Flexible payment plans are available to all families.

*Materials Fees cover activities, equipment, and other instructional materials. Program fees do not include health insurance. All students are required to have their own health insurance coverage.

Scholarships

Sotheby’s Summer Institute is committed to making its programs accessible to students from all backgrounds. We believe financial circumstances should not be a barrier to world-class, pre-collegiate education. Our Scholarship Program aims to improve the availability, access, and equity of learning opportunities by providing scholarships based on financial need. To be considered, students must submit a completed program application, followed by a scholarship application. Scholarships are limited and disbursed on a first-applied, first-awarded basis until all funds have been exhausted. For this reason, we encourage eligible students to apply as soon as possible.

All students must apply by our Regular Decision Deadline, which is on March 31, 2027.

Admissions

Summer Institute is open to high school students (grades 10-12 and Graduating Seniors based on the grade the student is entering in the fall 2027 school year). Students must be 15 years old by the first day of the program. All students applying to Summer Institute for the first time are required to complete an online application. Returning students do not need to reapply. Our online application can be completed in a few basic steps. As students work through their application, they may save their progress and return to the application before final submission.

Learn more about the Summer Institute application, tuition, and scholarships on the Summer Institute Admissions Page.

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