Pre-College

Global Art History: Movements and Masterpieces

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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 History
Contact Admissions

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

Journey through the history of art: explore masterpieces of art and architecture from antiquity to the present day with New York City as your campus.

This pre-college course in art history offers high school students an immersive exploration of the major artists, movements, cultures, and ideas that have shaped the global history of art. Designed for students considering college majors in art history, studio art, architecture, museum studies, or the humanities, the course combines college-level lectures with in-depth museum study across New York City. Through close engagement with famous artworks, key art history movements, and global cultures, students will gain a deeper understanding of how art reflects and shapes cultural values over time.

As part of this New York City pre-college program, students participate in guided museum visits and behind-the-scenes experiences that provide a hands-on approach to learning. While the course aligns with several core themes found in the AP Art History curriculum, it is designed to benefit all students, regardless of prior art history coursework, by offering a broad and globally informed perspective.

The course begins in the ancient world at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where students study the visual traditions of ancient Egypt, Pre-Columbian societies, and early Chinese dynasties. Students then explore Islamic art through the Met’s exceptional collections of manuscripts, ceramics, jewelry, and textiles.

Moving forward in time, students investigate the art of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Enlightenment through close study at the newly renovated Frick Collection, while also considering the monumental works created concurrently in Central and South America.

The course continues with an exploration of Asian art, including Japanese Edo-period woodblock prints and historic Chinese ceramics, before turning to Impressionism and Modernism through works in the Museum of Modern Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

The experience culminates in a focused study of contemporary art at the Whitney Museum of American Art, where students analyze how today’s artists address urgent social and cultural issues such as race, geopolitics, gender, sexuality, disability, and class. Throughout the course, guest scholars provide additional global perspectives, helping students understand how art history has developed into a dynamic, interdisciplinary field.

By the end of this pre-college art history course, students will have gained a new framework for understanding artistic styles, movements, and cultural connections across time and geography. In addition to building strong academic foundations, students develop critical thinking and visual analysis skills while gaining clarity about potential college majors and future paths of study.

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 Immersive Study

Strenghten your critical thinking, visual analysis, and academic writing—skills essential for success in college majors across the humanities and arts. Through immersive study and exposure to global perspectives, you'll gain insight into your academic interests, preparing you for college applications.

Explore Iconic Art Institutions and Artistic Movements

Go behind-the-scenes of leading art institutions including Sotheby’s auction house, where you'll have the opportunity to tour a private collection with a Sotheby's expert. Learn firsthand about key artists, architects, and art movements that have shaped history.

Discover How Art Becomes Art History

Hear from scholars, curators, and gallerists about the different cultural influences that determine which art, artists, and art movements are considered important across different eras. How does art become art history?

Build Your Visual and Cultural Literacy

Learn how to identify different styles of art and architecture, recognize the work of major artistic periods, and understand the concepts associated with different art historical movements. Whether you're new to art history or building on previous knowledge, deepen your understanding with expert faculty and on-site learning.

Experience Masterpieces Through Guided Museum Tours

Examine world-renowned artworks firsthand as you explore museum collections from ancient civilizations to contemporary art through guided experiences with museum professionals.

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
Apply Link
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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: Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds

Meet your instructors and classmates, explore the course structure and final project, and begin your study of art history with an introduction to prehistoric cultures and artistic expression. Continue your journey through the ancient world by examining the artistic traditions of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, while exploring how museums preserve and interpret these works today.

Day Two: Religious Art

Examine the development of religious art across cultures, from the Early Christian world and Byzantium to the artistic traditions of the Islamic world. Later, visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art for an in-depth exploration of its collections, including a behind-the-scenes discussion with specialists from the Department of Drawings and Prints.

Day Three: Medieval Manuscripts and Missionaries

Discover the art and culture of the medieval world and create your own illuminated manuscript-inspired page using historical techniques and motifs. Then, visit the Brooklyn Museum to explore how museums present and contextualize works of art for contemporary audiences.

Day Four: Renaissance Art

Explore the artistic innovations that defined the Renaissance and strengthen your visual analysis skills through a comparative study of key artworks. The day concludes with a behind-the-scenes visit to Sotheby's auction house, offering insight into the art market and the wide range of careers that support it.

Day Five: Baroque Art

Hear from professionals working across the art world during Sotheby’s Speaker Series and gain insight into their career paths and experiences. Then, examine the drama and innovation of Baroque art before stepping into the role of a curator, creating exhibition metadata and interpretive wall labels for works of art.

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

Next Steps

Student Spotlight

Exploring New Passions, Cultures, and Languages at Summer Institute

“My experience at Summer Institute helped me to transform my passion for art history into a concrete plan to pursue it further in college.”

Details

Site Visits

Visits will include trips to major New York City art museums, architectural monuments, art galleries, and other places related to art history.

In the past, site visits have included:

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • The Museum of Modern Art
  • The Frick Collection
  • The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
  • The Whitney Museum of American Art
  • Art galleries such as Gagosian and Hauser & Wirth
  • Institute of Classical Architecture and Art
  • Sotheby’s auction house

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

Guest Speakers

Students will gain firsthand insight into art history, museum collections, and the work of art-world professionals through conversations, demonstrations, and presentations with experts in the field.

In the past, guest speaker experiences have included:

  • Museum curators and specialists from specific departments
  • A specialist-led session exploring plaster casts and classical art
  • Museum professionals discussing collections, exhibitions, and visual analysis
  • Historians connected to Renaissance, Baroque, and broader art historical practices

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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