This course examines what it takes to start and run a successful gallery. Students gain an overview of the gallery business, from initial funding and forming an artist roster, to exhibition planning and marketing and communication strategies. Site visits include artists’ studios to understand how galleries procure artwork and negotiate pricing, and gallery visits to talk with owners about their business experience, challenges, and successes. The course includes an in-depth analysis of historical and new contemporary art gallery models in New York, and provides a solid foundation for students with an aspiring interest in owning a gallery or working in the commercial art sector.

The course is led by Amy Smith-Stewart, independent curator and owner of the nomadic gallery, Smith-Stewart, formerly located in the Lower East Side. Smith-Stewart has curated more than fifty exhibitions in museums and galleries. She was formerly a Curator at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, an affiliate of MoMA, a Curatorial Advisor for the Mary Boone Gallery and the 2006-2008 Guest Curator for the Peter Norton Collection.

Course dates
June 1 – June 24, 2010
10:00am – 12:00pm Monday & Wednesday
10:00am – 1:00pm Tuesday & Thursday
Location: 570 Lexington Avenue

Course fee
$3,750

Download Registration Form and Information.

Download Frequently Asked Questions about Summer Study.

For further information, please contact: publicprogramsNY@sothebysinstitute.com
Tel: : +1 212.517.3929