MA Art Business

New York City is home to the largest concentration of art galleries, auction The MA in Art Business program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art – New York, located in one of the most important centers of the art trade, offers a professional educational experience for those seeking careers in the international art world. Balancing academic rigor with real-world applications in a dynamic environment, the program provides an alternative to traditional academic models of study and is in sync with the rapidly-evolving global art market.

Over three semesters of intensive study, students take core courses across three fundamental areas: markets (the context for art business), management (the organizations of art business), and connoisseurship and collecting (the objects of art business). Core courses in these areas encompass art law, marketing and strategy, and finance and accounting, more specialized courses include emerging art markets, valuation, collection management, curating, and art criticism. Students are able to pursue specializations built on two- and three-course sequences, allowing them to cultivate in-depth knowledge in preferred areas. Students are also able (and encouraged) to take courses from outside the Art Business program to broaden to their understanding of the art world.

Travel to local and international destinations – such as visits to artist studios, art fairs, exhibitions, and private collections – forms an integral part of the curriculum. Whether in the classroom or on site, the program provides a singular platform for students to interact with and learn directly from a broad spectrum of art world professionals including auctioneers, dealers, museum directors, curators, and critics.

Sotheby’s Institute – New York MA Art Business graduates are prepared for a variety of careers and are forming the next generation of leaders in the international art world.