Undergraduate

Sotheby’s January Term: Inside the Art Market

Date
January 3 – 16, 2027
Duration
2 Weeks
Location
New York
Age
18+
Program
Undergraduate
Mode of Learning
In-Person
Price
Tuition
$3,500
Optional Housing
$1,950
Language
English
Topic
Art Market
Contact Admissions

studyabroad@sia.edu

Gain insider access to the global art market over two weeks in New York City, one of the world's leading centers of contemporary art, culture, and commerce.

Through expert-led seminars, site visits, and conversations with experts, explore how artworks are valued, marketed, collected, and sold within a multi-billion-dollar global industry.

With exclusive access to museums, galleries, and salesrooms, you’ll build your network and engage directly with the professionals shaping today’s art market, including curators, advisors, and auction house specialists.

Culminating in a professional capstone project centering on a real art market opportunity, you’ll develop analytical, presentation, and collaboration skills that are highly valuable in today’s creative industries.

Designed for students from a range of academic backgrounds, this course requires no prior specialist knowledge.

Apply by the Early Bird Deadline on October 5 for $225 off your tuition.

Sessions

Classes meet Monday-Friday over the scheduled two weeks, with two class sessions per day:

  • Morning Class Session: 10am-12pm

  • Afternoon Class Session: 2pm-4pm
  • Session 1

    Dates
    January 3 – 16, 2027
    Status
    Open
    Apply Link
    Apply

    Details

    Outcomes

    Develop a critical understanding of the global art market, gain firsthand insight into New York City’s art market, and build the analytical skills needed to evaluate the forces shaping today’s creative economy.

    By the end of the course, you will be able to:

    • Analyze the roles that galleries, museums, auction houses, and private collections play in shaping the art market ecosystem.
    • Apply key concepts in art collecting, art finance, and market analysis to real-world case studies and industry examples.
    • Develop the confidence to engage in informed discussions about art, culture, collecting, and the creative economy.
    • Assess current trends, opportunities, and challenges affecting the international art market and creative economy.
    • Identify potential academic pathways and career opportunities across the art market and wider cultural sector.

    Course Topics

    Students will explore the cultural, economic, and institutional forces that shape the contemporary global art market through expert-led seminars and firsthand engagement with New York City’s leading arts organizations.

    Topics include:

    • Contemporary art markets and market trends
    • Art valuation and pricing
    • Provenance and authenticity
    • Art collecting and collecting practices
    • Auction houses and the secondary art market
    • Current issues shaping the creative economy

    Site Visits

    Explore New York City’s art market through visits to leading museums, galleries, and auction houses. From renowned cultural institutions to contemporary gallery districts, you will gain valuable insight into the organizations, professionals, and practices that shape the global art market.

    Site visits may include:

    • Sotheby’s New York
    • Chelsea and Tribeca galleries
    • The Museum of Modern Art
    • The Metropolitan Museum of Art
    • The Frick Collection
    • Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
    • Whitney Museum of American Art

    Guest Lectures

    Leveraging Sotheby’s Institute of Art’s network, you’ll gain practical advice from experts and first-hand perspectives on the forces and trends shaping the art market today.

    Sotheby’s Institute of Art undergraduate courses have previously welcomed:

    • Katy Bano, Senior Vice President, Publishing, Travel and Leisure
    • Carla Castin, Client Experience Advisor, Printemps New York City
    • Elizabeth Chase, Design Historian and Sotheby’s Institute of Art Faculty
    • Natasha Degen, Director of Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York
    • Emilie Perrier, Brand Director, Charles Heidsieck
    • Lisa A. Owusu, Founder and Creative Director, CHARLTON & LOLA

    Admissions

    All applicants must be at least 18 years old by the beginning of the program and currently enrolled in an undergraduate university program.

    Applying students are required to have a minimum 2.5 GPA or equivalent and will need to upload an unofficial copy of their most current university transcript as well as provide a short personal statement detailing their interest in the program. For non-native English speakers, we require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, TOEFL score of 85 IBT, CEFR score of B2, or a Duolingo score of 120.

    The program is suitable for students studying a wide range of major subjects across, humanities, arts, and business.

    Applications for Sotheby’s January Term are now open. Apply by the Early Bird Deadline on October 5 for $225 off your tuition.

    Apply Now

    Questions?

    Contact our admissions team at studyabroad@sia.edu for more information.

    You are also welcome to book a phone or video consultation with our admissions team to learn more about this program. Book Your Consultation Here.

    Tuition and Fees

    Tuition

    $3,500 $3,275 for those who apply by the Early Bird Deadline on October 5.

    Optional Accommodation

    $1,950

    Deposit

    A program deposit of $1,500 is required for students to reserve their enrollment in the program. The deposit is credited toward the total tuition amount.

    Application Fee

    To apply, students are required to submit a non-refundable $50 fee via the online application.

    Location

    Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York is located in the historic General Electric building, an art deco landmark in the heart of the city. Venture around the corner and visit world-renowned auction houses including Sotheby’s, where you’ll have access to stunning art collections, riveting auctions, and industry leaders at the forefront of today’s most exciting sales.