The global art market is the circulatory system of the art world. Business transactions are the lifeblood of the system, moving art from the studio to the gallery, the auction room, the collector’s home, and the museum. Along the way, artists, dealers, art advisors, curators, art handlers, insurers, and auction house experts engage in a complicated dance to build and sustain the value of the work and the careers and interests of all parties. Our pioneering Art Business program provides a vocational bridge for art history students into this vast commercial art world. Art Business is now a developed academic discipline in which Sotheby’s Institute continues to play the leading role. Balancing academic rigour with real-world applications in a dynamic learning environment with privileged access to key art institutions, this program equips graduates with the skills and knowledge in art markets and business management, entrepreneurship, connoisseurship, and collecting.
Experiential learning International study trips, seeing and discussing art in situ with industry professionals are part of the Institute’s signature hands-on approach and teaching style.
Exploration and discovery The unique opportunity to learn directly from experts and gain an intimate understanding of art market key players, mechanisms, and emerging trends.
Renowned speakers and thought leaders Guest lecturers and site visit hosts allow you to meet art world cognoscenti and expand your network. Past speakers for this program have included Ian Wardropper; Amy Cappellazzo; Maxwell L; Anderson, Thelma Golden; Jerry Saltz; Arnold Lehman; Kate Rothko; Jamie Martin; Dominique Levy; Matthew Bogdanos.
Build a portfolio Signature student projects include designing themed auction sales catalogues, from curating, establishing provenance and literature notes, to condition and pre-sale estimates for each lot.
Director, New York
A.M. Richard, an art and design specialist, is a curator, art historian and advisor. She has lectured extensively on the topic of connoisseurship, collecting, conservation, provenance, emerging markets and the related subtleties of art and decorative arts appraising (American Association of Museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, F.I.T. SUNY, Pratt Institute, Pace University). Learn more...
Read MoreFaculty, M.A. Art Business, New York
Judith Prowda is an attorney, mediator and arbitrator focused on art law, copyright, entertainment and commercial law. She is Past Chair of the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, and is Chair of the Section’s Committee on Fine Arts and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Read MoreField study is a hallmark of the Master’s programs, taking graduate students around the globe to explore established and emerging markets during key events and with an itinerary ranging from art fairs to visits to artist studios and private collections. Next year’s field study destination for Art Business students is Italy. The travel week will cover exhibitions and events in Turin and Venice, including the Venice Biennale.
As an international cultural destination and commercial center, our New York City location is designed to immerse students within the global art sphere as it continues to evolve and adapt to disruptive technological and conceptual innovations. Curated visits to museums, foundations, galleries, conservation studios, storage facilities and artist studios are the starting point for a broader conversation shaped through the lens of the Art Business curriculum.
MA in Art Business is the program for students invested in understanding the mechanics and economic forces of art business, including but not limited to market studies and strategies, tiers of valuation, logistics, art law (copyright/restitution) and emerging art and tech trends.
The MA in Art Business was the first program of its kind and our innovative curriculum continues to set the industry standard. Balancing academic rigour with real-world applications in a dynamic environment, the program provides an alternative to traditional academic models of study and stays in sync with the rapidly-evolving global art market.
The Master’s degree is awarded for 30 taught credits across semesters one and two, as well as the completion of a 6-credit thesis or capstone project in the third semester.
The MA in Art Business culminates in a capstone project which can take the form of a traditional, long-form academic thesis, or a more flexible Master’s Project (often a business plan or curatorial project). Students may also elect to extend their studies an additional semester and either transfer to the Institute’s campus in London or return to New York and pursue core courses in either Contemporary Art or Fine and Decorative Art and Design.
JANUARY 2023 ENTRY: January 2023 – May 2024
SEPTEMBER 2023 ENTRY: September 2023 – December 2024
Semester 1: 15 credits
Semester 2: 15 credits
Semester 3: 6 credits
Tuition: $1,878 per credit
Travel Fee: Each field study trip typically ranges from $3,800 to $5,000 according to destination. Travel fees are indicative only and subject to change.
Materials Fee: $824
International Student Fee: $206
For more information on tuition and program fees, click here.
From visa information for international students to course credits, find answers on our FAQ page. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, contact an Admissions counselor.
Explore our library of academic and campus policies here. All students who enroll for graduate study must agree to the Terms and Conditions upon accepting their offer of admittance.