Applications are now open! Apply by April 12 for the Early Booking Rate.
Are you keen on curating, a budding entrepreneur, or perhaps, a writer in the making?
The Summer Program in London is a new 4-week program geared at 18 to 21 year olds looking to enhance their professional acumen and prepare for undergraduate study within the wider creative industries. With London as the backdrop, Summer Program students will have the chance to explore one of the greatest art cities in the world while creating a portfolio of work that will propel them forward in college applications and their future career. Through a choice of pathways and peer-to-peer mentoring under the guidance of world-renowned faculty including curators, authors, and art historians, students will undertake projects driven by topically-led briefs and real-world scenarios. Students will leave having gained substantial hands-on experience in a chosen field and be able to demonstrate their aptitude in seeing a project through from ideation to completion.
Pathways include:
Curator
Students will work in small groups with a professional curator and Institute faculty member to create a small exhibition display from inception to opening night. It’s a chance to learn about the art world ecosystem and the various roles that curators play.
Entrepreneur
Overseen by an entrepreneur and with the involvement of the Institute’s Enterprise Studio team, students will work in small groups through a series of live competitive tasks to flex their skills in research and development, sales and marketing, operations and business planning.
Writer
Under the watchful eye of an experienced arts journalist, students will be led through the process of defining an audience, niche, mission, brand, and identity for a one-off publication.
The intensive program combines engaging expert-led sessions with site visits, workshops, and group activities alongside thorough independent research – ultimately preparing participants for the next step in their academic and professional journey. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore areas such as curation, business development, and writing while spending the summer in the heart of bustling London.
Visits to London’s major cultural venues like Wellcome Collection, Tate Modern, Somerset House Studios, Google, and St Bride Library.
Professional development gained through agenda-driven project briefs.
A dynamic combination of collaborative group work and self initiated research, culminating in a tangible output.
A network of industry experts, academics, and peers.
Residential options and a full program of extra-curricular student life activities.
Opportunities to explore London in the midst of summer.
During the application, there is an option to rank each pathway based on the preferred option. Pathways include Curator, Entrepreneur, and Writer.
As the birthplace of Sotheby’s Auction House and a hub for dynamism, London is a city which fuses classic with contemporary and edgy with eclectic. From baroque balustrades to bold, brutalist architecture and an air of refined modern elegance, London is a place or exploration and inspiration. History is quite literally around every corner within this giant metropolis and provides the perfect backdrop for ideation and academia.
The applicant must be 18 to 21 years old and either currently enrolled in, or considering enrolling in an undergraduate university program.
The Summer Program is suitable for students studying a wide range of major subjects across, humanities, arts, and business.
Please note, this program is not accredited.
Summer 2023
Session 1: June 19 – July 13, 2023
Session 2: July 17 – August 10, 2023
Residential Student
£7,950 (£6,950 if application submitted by April 12)
Day Student
£5,950 (£5,450 if application submitted by April 12)
Our London Institute is situated in Bedford Square with the British Museum in the neighboring square. Sotheby’s auction house, the National Gallery, and the Royal Academy of Arts are a short walk away. The Institute is also close to Mayfair, the traditional center of the London art market where many dealers and galleries are located.
Residential students are provided single rooms with a private en-suite bathroom, but live within flat “clusters” with other Summer Program students, sharing a kitchen and common area. This allows Summer Program students to get to know the other students on their pathway in addition to those studying at the Institute and throughout London’s many educational institutions. Residential students have full access to other facilities within the residence, including but not limited to a gym, cinema, quiet study area, social spaces, and laundry facilities. The reception staff provide assistance and support 24/7, and the buildings are equipped with CCTV.
Curator
For aspiring curators, producers, and exhibition designers.
Entrepreneur
For budding entrepreneurs with plans for creative and social enterprises.
Writer
For writers, critics, and editors who wish to work together to create a journal in digital or print form in just 4 weeks.
Send an email to studyabroad@sothebysinstitute.com to receive further details about this program.