Why choose this course?

If you are interested in developing a career in the commercial art world, this course will prepare you for the opportunities lying ahead. You will develop the key skills and gain the knowledge to understand global art markets in the context of their ever-changing artistic, cultural and economic environments.

Making the most of its location in Europe's art market capital in London, this Art Business MA degree draws on a high standard of interdisciplinary academic and practical teaching by recognised industry professionals. It also offers insights from art market practitioners, both those with long-standing careers and those who are rising entrepreneurs of the millennial generation. The curriculum is carefully designed to balance skills training with academic rigour, and to combine core business and legal concepts with industry-specific knowledge in order to reflect the diverse professional landscape students will enter on graduation. Our students benefit from frequent field trips to different art businesses, including galleries, auction houses and art fairs.

The course is delivered in partnership with the Kingston Business School, enabling students to benefit from the know-how of business school experts, as well as from the creative and stimulating atmosphere of the Kingston School of Art. This unique partnership makes us the only institution in the country to deliver an Art Business programme within the environment of a business school.

What you will study

You will benefit from a systematic approach to understanding the core functions of the art market across different sectors and geographies, understanding the importance of pre-modern markets and learning about the complexities of today's international art market. This will allow you to cater your studies to your individual needs and future career interests.

The History of the Art Market focuses your understanding of past and present art business practices and changes to the art market over the past 400 years. Object Analysis & Appraisal will teach you how to handle and value an artwork: how an art work is catalogued, its commercial value established and what happens during the process of selling a work of art. Art valuation classes are through lively and hands-on workshops and seminar sessions with teaching staff and art market professionals.

After you graduate

Our students come from all corners of the world and often take the learning of the course back to their own countries. Graduates from the Art Business MA course set up galleries and online platforms, manage collections and advise collectors, work for auction houses or galleries. More and more students set up their own companies or expand their current businesses. Through our engagement with the RICS we have a large number of students taking up work in auction houses, insurances or as independent valuers.