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. Download the Master’s prospectus.
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, MA Art Business, New York
Judith Prowda has been a member of the Sotheby’s institute of Art Masters of Art Business Faculty since 2007. She is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator focused on art law, copyright, entertainment and commercial law. She is a founding member of Stropheus Art Law, a collective of art law and business specialists who offer unbundled services to the art community.
Read MoreFaculty, MA Art Business, New York
Klaudia Ofwona Draber is a curator and the founder of KODA—a social practice residency for mid-career artists. She has lived and led arts, technology and strategy projects in Europe, Africa, and the United States. Her professional experience includes working as the Head of Public Relations at the Polish Cultural Institute New York, and as a consultant to the British Council Arts. She also worked at UBS, managing global change and local arts CSR projects.
Read MoreAdjunct Faculty, MA Art Business, New York and Online Premier
Maria brings over 25 years of international experience in the art world, first at museums – National Museum of Catalan Art, MNAC, in Barcelona and at the Louvre in Paris- then at Sotheby’s Auction House in London. During her time at Sotheby’s, she gained experience in all aspects of the auction world with a focus on business and client development. She has participated in numerous auctions and worked closely with all Sotheby’s European offices.
Read MoreFaculty
Hongzheng Han (they/them) is a Faculty and Academic Content Manager at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Focusing on queer and racial identities, Han has been invited as a guest speaker at the Asia Society and Museum, the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Michigan, New York University, the Brooklyn Rail, Christie's Education, and the Asian Creative Foundation.
Read MoreAdjunct Faculty, MA Art Business, New York and Online Premier
Betsy Thomas is the founder of a boutique art advisory firm providing professional representation for collectors. She advises on buying and selling in all areas of fine art from Old Master, American & 19th C. paintings to Impressionist, Modern & Contemporary Masters. Previously Betsy was Vice President and Associate Specialist in the 19th Century European Paintings Department at Christie’s.
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. Our in-person curated trips are immersive experiences within a global art landscape. Past field studies have included visits to art fairs, biennales, cultural institutions, and artist studios located in Marrakesh, Madrid, Paris, London, Venice, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Bogota, Sao Paolo, Havana, and Miami.
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.
SEPTEMBER 2024 ENTRY: September 2024 – December 2025
DEADLINES:
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.
Download the Master’s degree prospectus for an in-depth look at the curriculum and what to expect this academic year.