Claremont Graduate University and Sotheby’s Institute of Art have created a groundbreaking partnership to establish a new Master’s degree in Art Business.  Aligned with the Peter F. Drucker & Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management’s strategy on creative industries, the partnership blends a deep understanding of art and its markets with business and management knowledge and application.  The visual arts, as part of the creative industries, require managerial and leadership skills and insight to blend creative talent with rigorous business fundamentals.

This collaborative program brings together the strengths of the two partners.  Claremont Graduate University offers a premier management program with the resources of a comprehensive graduate university and The Claremont Colleges.  A distinguished institute of the arts, Sotheby’s contributes over 40 years’ experience in graduate art education coupled with its partnership with Sotheby’s auction house, a large alumni network with extensive links in the global art world.

Sotheby’s New York and London Art Business programs concentrate exclusively on the business of the visual arts, providing students with an opportunity to specialize in diverse areas in the field.  Core courses are supplemented by arts-related electives such as Arts Collection Management, Curating Contemporary Art, Art Finance and Investing, and The Auction Business.  The program provides access to the New York City and London art scenes, allowing students to interact with a broad spectrum of leaders in the field, including auctioneers, dealers, collectors, consultants, museum directors, curators, and critics.

With close proximity to the Los Angeles art world, the Los Angeles program offers greater depth in business and management education and a diverse range of coursework opportunities in museum studies, archival studies, media studies, arts management, and general management.

Degree Requirements

Coursework.  The Master of Arts in Arts Business requires 48 units and may be completed in three semesters of full-time enrollment–that is, during Fall, Spring, and Fall.

Core courses in management and art business required.  Electives may be taken in management, art business, and other disciplines.  A capstone project and a field study/travel component are also included.

Students agree upon course sequences with their academic advisors or program directors.  In addition, students are encouraged to meet with Art Business staff to review their plans of study.  A course curriculum includes the following sequence.

First Semester - Fall (September-December)

• International Art Market
• Art Law I
• Art Law II
• Financial Accounting
• Organizational Behavior
• Macroeconomics
• Art Business On-Site (Los Angeles)

Second Semester - Spring (January-May)

• Art Law III
• Art Law IV
• Competing in Creative Industries
• Professional Practice I (Studios and Galleries)
• Professional Practice II (Auctions and Appraisals)
• Marketing Management
• Art Business On-Site (Hong Kong)
• Master’s Project Methods

Third Semester - Fall (September-December)

• Master’s Project Seminar
• Three electives

Field Study.  Field study is an integral part of the program and is required for all students.  Regional site visits and attendance at events are included.  Institutions and sites farther afield are planned by the faculty to provide students with opportunites for direct engagement with leaders in the field.  In addition, these visits immerse the student in the cultural, aesthetic, and professional experience that epitomizes Sotheby’s emphasis on real-world learning.  Students experience works of art in situ and discuss elements such as production, installation, interpretation and condition, distribution, conservation, and related legal issues.  Seminars are led by faculty and professional experts of the field.

Master’s Project.  The Master’s Project is both research- and practice-based.  Planned in the student’s second semester, the project is expected to be completed during the third semester of enrollment.  Problem-solving experiences are conducted by individuals or groups of students.  Individual projects afford the student the experience of consultancy, including evaluation, analysis, client report writing, and presentation.  Group projects provide a team experience that approximates a future work environment for the student.

University Policies.  University policies detailed in the Student Information  section of the Bulletin apply.