• The Christie's Art Business Course
• Module 1: The Art Market
• Module 2: Art Law
• Module 3: Artistic Creativity & Art Business
• Module 4: Valuation/Art Appraisal
• Module 6: Auction Business
• Module 7: Museums & the Art Market
• Who teaches the course?
• Bookings
• Terms and Conditions


• Old Masters Series
• MLitt & PgDip: Arts of Europe
• Certificate Arts of Europe
• A Closer Look at Baroque
• Baroque Cities
• Impressionist/Modern Series
• MLitt & PgDip: Art, Style & Design
• Certificate Art, Style & Design
• London Art Course: Art, Style and Design
• Vienna 1900 Experience
• British Modern Art I 1900 - 40: Making a New World
• British Modern Art II 1948 - 68: Pop Art
• Posters: Masterpieces of the Avant Garde
• Post War & Contemporary Series
• MLitt & PgDip:Modern & Contemporary Art
• Certificate Modern Art & Art World Practice
• London Art Course: Modern & Contemporary Art
• Exploring Prints and Multiples
• Asian Arts Series
• MLitt & PgDip: Arts of China
• Certificate Arts of China
• Hong Kong Short Courses
• Art Business Series
• MSc Art, Law and Business
• The Christie's Art Business Course
• Art Business, Communication & the History of Art
• Collecting Series
•  The Christie's Collecting Course
• Focus on Furniture
• Interior Design in the 19th Century
• Dress Codes: Fashion and Society

• Lifestyle Series
• The Christie's Wine Course Series
• Giants of 19th Century Opera

• Additional InformationScholarships and Funding
• Faculty/ Visiting Lecturers
• What Our Students Say
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The Christie's Art Business Course

Module 5 Collecting & Dealing in Art:

Collecting is one of mankind’s oldest instincts. The activity has been characterised as a pathological disorder akin to hoarding. Yet collectors are often the pioneers whose art works form the basis of our great museum collections. For dealers who are often collectors there are distinct markets for contemporary and older art. All types of dealer rely on fairs to reach a wider public at efficient and relatively low cost. Dealers can be the arbiters of taste and can create markets by nurturing collectors.

The aims of this module are to:

• Examine how dealers organise and market themselves
• Consider dealer and customer relationships
• Establish the importance of scholarship and expertise to dealers
• Review the significance of art fairs

Session 1 - Art Dealing:
Dealers operate differently in the primary and secondary art markets. In the contemporary art market they act as market makers and in the secondary market they smooth supply inefficiencies and recreate markets for neglected works. This lecture will look at dealers operating mainly in the secondary but also the primary art markets. It will discuss dealer motivation and image, their customer relationships and premises, their buying and pricing methods, and the importance of scholarship and museum exhibitions.
Topics to be covered:

• Primary and secondary art market dealers
• Celebrated dealers
• Scholarship and promotion
• Buying and selling
• Exhibitions
• Other services

Session 2 - Art Fairs:
Art fairs are a projecting central plank in art marketing. They thrive during buoyant economic times and when the market is looking for new artistic direction. They are places where experienced collectors, dealers, museum curators, critics, and academics come to exchange ideas and information in one place. This session will look at the historical development of art fairs, recent trends, geographic location, prices and displays.
Topics to be covered:

• Historical development of art fairs
• Recent trends
• Geographic location
• Prices
• Displays

Session 3 - Corporate Collecting:
Culture serves as a catalyst for economic development by enhancing the aesthetics of a community, attracting a well-educated public and improving commercial values. In 2009-2010, UK private cultural investment was £658m or 16% of total cultural spending, provided by individuals (55%), trusts/foundations (24%) and business (22%). Of this 14% went to museums and 13% the visual arts. Corporate art collections have grown in the USA and Europe since the late 19th century, augmented by tax breaks in the 20th century. Reasons for corporate collecting range from education and the working environment to supporting local artists and advertising. This lecture we cite the importance of corporate collecting to companies and society generally.
Topics to be covered:

• Corporate sponsorship of the arts
• Brief history of corporate collecting
• Esteemed corporate art collections
• Why, who, what and when do corporations collect
• Business learning from the arts

How to Apply

Pay Online - Module 5 Only
(via PayPal, Credit and Debit cards)

Pay Online - All Modules
(via PayPal, Credit and Debit cards)

Register & Pay by Cheque

For alternate payment methods or assistance making a booking please contact
Short Course Coordinator
shortcourses@christies.com
+44 (0)207 655 4350

Disclaimer: The outlines above are a guide to the module and each lecture. Each visiting lecturer may add or subtract from the outlines depending on their specific field of study or conditions in the art market at the time of their lecture.