Christie's Education to allow students to explore commercial side of art-world-practice

KOLKATA: Christie's Education, founded in 1978 to promote the study of all aspects of the visual arts and the art market, announces that from October 2013 a new Master's in Art, Law & Business will begin allowing students to explore the commercial side of art-world-practice. This unique programme aimed at those looking for a rigorous grounding in the practicalities of a job in the art sector, will be led by an international team of dedicated experts, academics and practitioners.

The course is accredited by the University of Glasgow. All students will spend one day a week working within a Christie's department, thus combining work experience with their studies. This intensive taught course will ensure that those selected will have the best possible training for a career in the art world.

Christie's Education is wholly owned and run by Christie's. As an integral part of the course there is a full professional development programme for each student aimed at highlighting career opportunities across the public and commercial art world. Students will be given the opportunity to meet former students now in employment and be given advice from the practitioners teaching the course on their future careers. They are also given opportunities to meet other professionals from the art world in networking sessions, and discuss strategies for furthering their career.

Core subjects, all taught and overseen by relevant practitioners and the course leader, will include history of art, business planning, art institutions, art funding, the role of museums, the auction process, art marketing, online auctions, art as an alternative asset class, emerging art markets, legal structure of an art transaction, contract law, how to determine authenticity, determine title and research provenance, restitution, corporate law and regulation, restriction on the of movement of art, taxation, intellectual property, cataloguing. Students will also be given a placement within a department and visit three international art fairs.

Jane Hay, international managing director of Christie's Eductaion, said in an email statement: ""At Christie's Education, we have an unparalleled reputation for preparing students to enter the art world. The department is wholly owned and run by Christie's and has been educating people about art and the art market for over 25 years in our faculties based in London, New York and Hong Kong. The auction rooms in each location provide an ever-changing supply of objects for regular handling sessions which run along visits and trips to further broaden the practical exposure to objects critical to any student wishing to pursue a career in the arts.""