Art World Career Project - Design Your Professional Future in the Art Market
The Art World Career Project brings together ten courses created to provide an outstanding opportunity of learning the key information required to take your place in the art world.
The Art World Career Project brings together ten courses created to provide an outstanding opportunity of learning the key information required to take your place in the art world.
If you are dreaming of becoming an Art Advisor, working in Art Marketing or Public Relations, opening your own gallery, or working within the art market landscape, this course will offer the essential knowledge you need as well as notable art world contacts to make those dreams come true.
Along with learning the fundamental elements of some of the key art market careers, you will also attend sessions on Art Law, Economics, collections management, NFTs, the contemporary art market as well as the opportunity to visit art fairs, auctions, and major collections. Participants will also have the opportunity to spend a day with a department shadowing a specialist and the opportunity to network with other members of the team. A CV workshop will also be offered for those seeking advice on how to prepare for their future job in the art world. Because you are doing this course with Christie’s, the leading art world business, you will have access to experts and specialists in their fields.
The programme is delivered on a hybrid model with lectures delivered virtually. There will also be ‘in-person’ components so that you can experience the art world. Recordings of all virtual sessions will be made available for viewing if you are unable to attend the ‘live’ presentation.
Additional options include an In-person 5-day Art Business and Contemporary Market course, CV workshops and mentoring with Christie’s. (subject to availability)
Learning Outcomes:
Students will learn the essential elements of the current art market landscape
Acquire knowledge and insights into some of the careers available in the art world
Make contact with key players and networks within the art market
Gain confidence to move into a role within the art world
This is the ideal programme for anyone interested in establishing a gallery; either bricks and mortar or an online platform or for people wanting to work within the gallery sector of the art world.
Join curator and author Piero Tomassoni as he takes us on a journey through the main cultural developments which shaped today’s artistic and market landscape.
Christine Lee is the Founder and Managing Principal of OPENART and Christine Lee Art Advisory, art advisories for private collectors, and corporate and hospitality clients. She has over 10 years of experience in the art industry in various roles including gallery director, curator, senior art advisor, senior project manager, and Vice President of an art consulting firm based in NYC, working on art collections and projects for residential, corporate and hospitality clients. Furthermore, she trained and held numerous positions in international art galleries such as Haunch of Venison of Christie's, Arario Gallery, Martos Gallery, and SUN Contemporary which allowed her to gain in-depth knowledge of the global art market.
She is also an art journalist covering international art news to 3 publications; Art Radar, The Culture Trip and Forbes, writing about contemporary art, Asian contemporary art & investing in art. She holds a Masters in Design from Pratt institute, BA in Comparative Literature, and studied Modern and Contemporary Art, Connoisseurship and History of the Art Market from Christie’s in New York, and Curating from Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
Dr Thomas Flynn
Dr Tom Flynn is a graduate of the University of Sussex and the Royal College of Art, completing his doctorate at the University of Sussex in 1998. From 1998-2000 Tom was Henry Moore Foundation Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Sussex, organising an international exhibition on Rodin’s connections with the United Kingdom.
A former journalist at The Art Newspaper, his writing has appeared in numerous international art market publications. He has held board positions with art price data company Invaluable and the contemporary print retailer Eyestorm. He has published widely on the global art market, contemporary sculpture, museology, and art and design history and is an accredited lecturer with The Arts Society.
He was Senior Lecturer at Kingston College of Art from 2010-2017, directing the RICS-Accredited MA in Art Appraisal (Professional Practice) and has taught at Sussex University; IESA (Paris and London); and Richmond, the American University in London.
In 2017 he co-founded with Angelina Giovani the art provenance research agency Flynn & Giovani (FlynnGiovani.com), of which he is non-Executive director.
Frédéric Gonand
Frédéric Gonand (PhD, PhD, Hdr, CNU Pr) is a French economist with extensive experience in advising public authorities in different countries and in art economics. From 2007 to 2011, he was economic advisor to Mrs Christine Lagarde, then Minister of the Economy in France (now President of the ECB). Since 2013, he's been professor of economics at University Paris Dauphine-PSL (world ranking: 21st in CRWU, 38th in Shangaï, 1st young university on the world in the Times Higher Education ranking). Academic activities (publications in academic journals, PhD advisor) and consulting activities. Director of 3 Master degrees and 1 Executive MBA. Apart from his PhD in economics, Frédéric also holds a PhD in History of Art (Ecole du Louvre - EPHE), cofounded in 2020 the Executive Master Art Wealth Management and is professor of "Art Markets" at Ecole du Louvre.
Geoff Lowsley
Geoff Lowsley has been the Collection Manager for the private art collections of Mr Valentino Garavani and Mr Giancarlo Giammetti (founders of the fashion house“Valentino”) since 2013, managing their significant collection of fine art and antiques across 10 properties globally. He studied Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Durham before starting his professional career working in two London auction houses. He has specialised in collections management through roles in the National Trust, training staff in the London and South East region in inventory work, and at the Courtauld Gallery managing the digital collection and the art gallery’s collection system. He has been a regular contributor to the archaeology magazine “Minerva”, given talks and panel discussions and has provided consultancy for a number of museums, trusts and private collections.
Nico Epstein
Nico Epstein is a curator, art historian and art advisor with a career-long involvement in art tech. He is a partner and COO of Artvisor, a London based contemporary art consultancy; having worked in the online art space for the past 10 years. Epstein has helped to arrange more than 20 exhibitions of contemporary art throughout Europe, New York and Hong Kong, focussing mostly on artists of his generation. He is currently overseeing the expansion of Artvisor’s technology and the formation of the art collection for the new W Hotel opening in Rome this autumn. Epstein also acts as a consultant for Frieze, organizing bespoke tours for their VIP clients. He has lectured on contemporary art and its markets at Bocconi, The Courtauld, and University College London among other leading universities. His most recent book, an analysis of Susan Sontag’s On Photography, was published on Routledge in 2018. His last course at Christie's Education was New Dynamics: The Digital Contemporary Art World.
Piero Tomassoni
Piero Tomassoni is a curator and art critic who works closely with institutions, artists, and collectors. He is an advisor to multiple artists’ estates and foundations. He is the collection trustee and a member of the board of the Fondazione Morra, and acts as sector expert on art and culture for Strategy& PwC. He has curated over thirty exhibitions, regularly gives lectures at universities across Europe, and has authored and contributed to several publications. He holds degrees in Philosophy & Economics and in Law, and he is an English qualified lawyer.
Students wishing to receive a Christie’s Certificate of completion for The Art World Career Project – Designing Your Professional Future in the Art Market, will be required to complete all listed courses as well as submitting and passing the following assignments:
Art Business Plan Project
A template will be distributed at the beginning of the programme
Submission date: 2 months following completion of the Negotiating the Art Market course
Art Advisory Project
Students will be given a brief and they will be required to source artworks for a client.
This selection should be based on the current circumstances of the client, the collector profile and the budget they have.
A 1200 word written explanation for the chosen pieces and how they complement the client’s collection will be required for submission.
The client brief will be distributed during the course of the programme.
Submission date: 1 month following completion of the Introduction to Art Advisory course.
Curating Project
Students will be given a Christie’s Sale to curate. This will include a variety of lots that will need to be arranged within a defined space.
A detailed explanation of the reasons for the placement of objects will be required for submission.
Details of the sale will be distributed during the course of the programme.
Submission date: 1 month following completion of the Fundamental Principals of Curatingcourse.
All virtual courses are delivered over Zoom with high quality sound & video. There will be an interactive Q & A with the academic as well as time for a group discussion through the lecture.
Recordings will be available to watch with unlimited playback for 14 days. Registrants will receive the viewing link following the class.
This course is offered to anyone who is over the age of 18.
How long is the Art World Career Project?
The Art World Career Project is 9 months, starting in September and ending in June.
What is the difference between the Virtual and Virtual + In-Person options?
Virtual: All courses are delivered over Zoom. There will be no in-person courses included in this option.
Virtual + In-Person: The Virtual + In-Person option has a combination of virtual and in-person courses. This option contains all of the courses included in the Virtual option and adds an exclusive in-person 5-day Art Business and Contemporary Market course, alongside a day spent with a department shadowing a specialist.
What languages are the courses delivered in? Are there language requirements?
All courses in the Art World Career Project course are offered in English. There are no formal language requirements however it will be expected of you to have a good comprehension of English.
Are there any prerequisites for taking a course?
There are no prerequisites for taking any of our courses. Courses are structured by our expert educators to provide students with all they require to rigorously develop their understanding of the field of study.
Can I participate in the virtual courses on my phone or tablet?
Yes, our courses can be viewed on mobile devices via the Zoom app.
Are the courses delivered live or pre-recorded?
Most short courses are conducted online via live Zoom meetings. Links to Zoom meetings will be sent out one week prior to the start-date of the course. All classes held on Zoom are recorded. These recordings are shared with all registered students shortly after the class is finished so that you can attend these classes live or at your leisure.
Do I need to be in London to take the Art World Career Project?
For the Virtual option, no: the Virtual option allows students to take class completely remotely. The Virtual + In-Person option has an in-person course and a day with a specialist, which takes place in London. If you sign-up for the Virtual + In-Person option, you will need to be in London when the course happens.
Are the courses assessed?
Students wishing to receive a Christie’s Certificate of completion for the Art World Career Project will be required to complete all listed courses as well as submitting and passing the required assignments.
Are the courses accredited or credit-bearing?
No. The year-long and short courses are not accredited and do not carry credits that can be carried over to other programs. The purpose of our courses is to allow students to share Christie’s Education’s unique access to the art market in a supportive learning environment.
Will I receive a certificate or diploma upon completion of a course?
Students may receive a Christie’s certificate of completion for the Art World Career Project, however, you will be required to complete all listed courses as well as submitting and passing all required assignments. Please see the course page for further information about the assignments.
Students who complete the Art World Career Project can receive a letter of attendance upon request. To request a letter of attendance, please contact the Continuing Education Coordinator at: shortcoursesuk@christies.com.
What is the time weekly commitment of the courses?
The time commitment varies depending on the how many courses are happening at any particular time. Students will have an average of three hours of courses per week.
Are all of the courses in the Art World Career Project required?
Students are encouraged to attend as many of the class sessions as possible or watch class recordings to fully benefit from the lecture materials.
How much does Art World Career Project cost?
The Art World Career Project comes in two options: Virtual & Virtual + In-Person. The Virtual option which does not include any in-person courses costs £6000, or £5400 for early registration. The Virtual + In-Person option which includes all in-person courses costs £7600, or £6840 for early registration.
How do I pay for the course?
Please register and pay for short courses online using our dedicated course pages. Christie’s Education processes payments through PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to make a payment – you can pay by credit card or debit card through PayPal.
How do I sign up for the Art World Career Project?
You can sign up online through our website. The registration form can be found by clicking register here or on the Art World Career Project course page.
What happens once I have registered and paid for my course?
You will receive a registration confirmation email in your inbox. Please note: Sometimes these emails get routed to your Spam or Junk folder; if you have not received your registration email please check this folder.
For short and semester courses, a week before the advertised opening date, an email with course information will be sent out to all registered students. At this stage you will receive the details and instructions on how to access the course.
What are the terms and conditions for taking an online course?
All of the information concerning our terms and conditions can be found in terms and conditions.
Who can I contact for further information?
Please contact our dedicated London short courses department at shortcoursesuk@christies.com or +44(0)7824474719.
This term maps the shift of the avant-garde from Europe to the United States when Abstract Expressionism was enthusiastically supported by American museums and national institutions. Students will also learn how artists began to make Conceptual and Minimalist art, requiring more active participation from the viewer and a deeper appreciation of ideas and process. Term Two also looks at the relationship of art to history, the impact of mass media on Pop Art, the growth of art photography and Land Art being made in natural environments beyond the gallery.
Term Two Talks:
Abstract Expressionism: Once regarded as provincial and peripheral, American artists began to lead the avant-garde after the Second World War by innovating a bold new formal language of painting, producing large and expressive ‘colour-field’ paintings. No longer guided by the need to describe what is seen, these artists such as Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock were more concerned with what they felt and hoped to make art that was timeless and universal.
Post-War German Art and the Experience of History: German artists were compelled to question the function of art after the horrors of the Second World War. Some looked back to a pre-war Expressionism while others adopted a more ironic and rebellious approach to post-war life, criticizing both Capitalism and Marxism. Above all, these artists wanted to revive and restore a radical tradition in German art, hoping to restore a lost purpose and morality.
Modernist Sculpture: Sculpture during the 19th century was largely founded upon an academic, salon tradition rooted in the Italian Renaissance. A sculpture such as Auguste Rodin began to find a less rigid and more emotionally authentic style. This talk will illustrate the subsequent innovations made by sculptors such as Brancusi, Hepworth and Moore and how they attempted to communicate a more subjective formal language of working in three dimensional materials employing either carving or modeling and casting.
Art Photography: Originally regarded as a rival to painting, photography began to assume a greater interest in explicitly demonstrating the inherent character of the medium itself and thereby differentiating itself from its origins in documentation, portraiture and images of record.
Conceptual Art and Minimalism: Distrustful of expression and emotion in Abstract Expressionism and other forms of Modernism, artists in the late 1950s and early1960s began to debate the very nature of art. Why should an artist make objects for an art market? Why not turn instead to prioritizing impermanent or economically worthless objects in favour of immaterial experiences and sensations. Language and philosophical problems also became important whereby traditional assumptions about art and looking at art were turned upside down.
Arte Povera: This distinct art movement originating in Italy embraced humble, organic materials to explore simplicity, time, the natural world and the value of craftsmanship.
Land Art and Earthworks: In the 1960s artists began to dispense with art made in studios and turned to the landscape and organic materials. Interventions were made in landscapes which were bold and ambitious but often controversial for sometimes bordering on destruction.
Pop Art: An explosion of graphic arts in the mid-twentieth century excited artists who began to imitate the same styling in advertising, marketing and packaging. Ironic and satirical pop artists immersed themselves the language of the supermarket, the cinema, television, mass marketing and desire.
