Visual Arts Administration (ARVA-GE)

This professional development series focuses on contemporary issues in visual arts and the art world. Through lively discussions with and presentations by alumni, curators, gallerists or other guests, students gain an insider's view of professional careers in visual arts administration, and begin to build their own professional networks.

Course explores essential marketing concepts for arts managers, such as leveraging market research, establishing effective pricing strategies, building brands, utilizing public relations, engaging audiences through social media and digital platforms, and applying storytelling techniques. Students deepen their understanding of different audience groups, ranging from dedicated patrons to casual followers. Core topics include examining how purpose, mission, branding, and programming interconnect; using data and segmentation to analyze arts businesses and enhance the patron or visitor experience. Students produce research reports based on data analysis, conduct marketing evaluations, and develop a comprehensive strategic rebrand.

How to collect art for both private and public collections. Factors of aesthetics, taste, and economics are discussed as well as the historic development of collections since the Renaissance. Special attention is given to corporate collections and collecting for investment. Guest lectures.

Concepts, procedures, materials, and tools necessary for producing and managing exhibition projects in museums, cultural centers, and galleries. Space planning, traffic flow, object placement, use of graphic elements, interpretive techniques, and participatory and interactive strategies are discussed. Students will learn the skills of sketching, drafting, and model making by designing an exhibition layout, graphic, and sample label.

An exploration of the history and development of art education and its role and function in the museum. Strategies for teaching and addressing different populations in various environments are studied. Various programs and educational materials are explored and analyzed. Classroom lectures are supplemented by site visits.

Course focuses on the fundamentals of applied microeconomics to the production, pricing, selling, and reselling of works of art. Topics include the production economics of the artist’s studio and analysis of art markets in terms of supply and demand, property rights, and other concepts from microeconomics and related business strategy. The course applies economic analysis to for-profits (galleries and auction houses), non-profits (museums), and hybrid models (technology-driven start-ups/artist-led social-practice)

Interpreting Exhibitions examines how art is presented to the public, focusing on New York City projects and institutions. The course uses perspectives from art history, sociology, and museum studies to analyze exhibitions as social experiences and asks whose interests exhibitions serve. Students learn about the roles of curators, educators, administrators, collectors, and artists in shaping exhibitions. The seminar includes lectures, discussions and discussion post responses essay(s), and a final group project that develops an interpretive strategy for an exhibition.

This course offers an overview of American art law, focusing on legal issues in art businesses like galleries, auction houses, museums, and non-profits. Topics include contractual matters, provenance, authenticity, statutes of limitation, intellectual property, museum law, international art trade, stolen art, and cultural heritage concerns. Students also examine legal impacts on freedom of expression in art.

This course introduces students to the global arts ecosystem across for-profit, nonprofit, and hybrid areas. Students examine galleries, museums, art fairs, biennials, and other formats that engage different contexts and cultural economies. The course strengthens critical and creative thinking about trends and challenges in the visual arts. Students complete a gallery business analysis, reflective essay about museum culture, an analysis on the role of biennials and art fairs, and a final team project that maps the arts ecosystem based on course content.

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the concepts of financial reporting, the language of business, and its underlying assumptions as applied within the arts administration context. We will discuss the uses and limitations of the financial statements. Procedural aspects of accounting will be discussed in order to enhance your understanding of the content of the financial statements. The emphasis of the class is on using accounting information in the evaluation of business performance and risk in the arts.

This course examines the practical and socio-cultural issues in philanthropy that shape the nonprofit sector in the U.S. Key topics include philanthropy in unequal societies, art funding, and skills taught include budgeting and proposal writing. Students generate prospect research and grant reports and analyze corporate giving strategies.

Arts organizations rely on the support and sponsorship of public and private agencies and individuals. This course focuses on current issues and approaches to building public understanding and legislative support for the arts, and examines the context and growth of arts advocacy in the U.S. Students will develop hands-on skills to initiate and sustain effective relationships with policy makers and other arts stake holders. Topics include cultural policy, the arts economy, political structures and processes, coalition building, cultural diplomacy, as well as internet and media advocacy

Development of a business in the fine arts including core vision, program and presentation, promotion, marketing, sales, contracts, and financial planning. Examination of what differentiates an arts business from other kinds of businesses. Students gain exposure to variety of professionals in the commercial arena of the visual arts including gallerists, dealers, and consultants. The course concludes with the formulation and presentation of a comprehensive business plan for a start up arts business.

Investigates the processes of art galleries and museums employ to expand visitorship, membership, attendance and support. The course will examine professional practices in constituency identification and analyze audience members' values and lifestyles as they pertain to consumer and visitor decision making. Students will study the methods used in preparing creative marketing strategies, visitor surveys and membership drives. Through practical review of audience needs assessments, the course will prepare students to create programs, expand audience and meet community interests.

This course examines the intersection of art and technology from theory to practice. Readings about the art sector's use of social media, digital marketing, online art, e-commerce, blockchain and technology's role in cultural expression inform an analysis of digital technology's impact in the arts and the tensions sometimes generated.

Contemporary artists have redefined public art's boundaries, often challenging conventional ideas and testing limits of expression. Public art interacts with urban life and history. Memorials, a related art form, highlight lost or difficult histories. Arts administrators oversee the process for situating art in public spaces and ensuring projects adhere to local laws and policy. Students explore political, ideological, ethical and other issues in creating and experiencing public art and memorials, using New York City and international examples for comparison. Students submit analyses of historically significant and new public art projects in New York City and synthesize all they learn into a proposal for a site-specific public art project.

Explores the creative and practical aspects of curating contemporary art. Students will devise an exhibition proposal to be presented in the project space at 80WSE Gallery. Students will be introduced to curators, explore a variety of current exhibitions, and discuss expanded curatorial approaches and counter-exhibition histories. Other assignments include developing an exhibition budget, devising a design/installation plan and determining communication trategies.design/installation plan & determining communications strategy.

Asian contemporary art is a vibrant sector rooted in diverse cultures from Asian and Asian diasporic communities. In this course, students explore the ways in which Asian countries and diasporic Western Asian cultural communities influence the art market. Through lectures, readings, guests, and field trips, students analyze the art system. This course provides future art practitioners of all backgrounds a foundation to administrate art in Asian contexts.

This course introduces students to the economics governing the global business of art, including accounting, finance and the visual art market with attention to pricing, selling, reselling art, and business ethics, with an emphasis on what sets arts businesses apart. From case studies students learn basic accounting methods, how to analyze financial statements, and assess business performance and risk. Students create a start-up arts business plan that synthesizes course content.

Overview of the multifaceted experience of being a solo art dealer, owning a gallery or being part of a gallery team. Topics include working with and establishing a name for artists; placing works in collections; developing relationships with collectors; working with auction houses, art fairs, and biennials; marketing and publicity; and exploring how galleries best work with museums and other non-profit organizations. Students develop a focused understanding of the art dealer’s/gallerist’s role in the global art world and learn how to manage art galleries.

Through lectures, demonstrations, and site visits, students explore the history, culture, and related art market and distribution system of prints, artists books and zines. Sessions examine Japanese, Chinese, European, Mexican, and North American print histories as well as books to objects. Students gain hands-on print experience. In addition to completing two historical analyses projects, students produce an artist book on a relevant subject in the arts using one of the techniques studied in class. Fees for materials may apply.

This course prepares students to lead arts organizations by exploring current challenges in the field. Through seminar discussions, case studies and essays, students develop conceptual, analytical, and interpersonal skills. The curriculum covers cultural and economic theories from art criticism, management, and sociology, culminating in a final strategic planning project for an arts organization.

Students explore how arts organizations use branding to communicate their role and identity clearly. With rising media costs, more leisure options, and a shift to brand-focused support, arts marketing must be precise and impactful. Through discussions, readings, essays and case studies, students examine socio-cultural theories and strategies for audience engagement.

This course introduces students to key aspects of the art market including pricing, marketing, and valuation of art from the 18th to 20th centuries. Through fieldwork, discussions, and readings, students explore the roles of different professionals, the effects of new markets and technologies, primary and secondary markets, digital platforms, and international fairs. The course includes analysis of various fine and decorative art categories and research methods for appraisal.

This course examines the preservation and exhibition of art and culture from the vantage point of the registrar/collections manager and archivist. Students explore core methodoligies, such as accessioning, cataloguing/information management, finding aids, collections storage and handling, policies, art handling, insurance and risk management, ownership, amd cultural patrimony along with new trends impacting the field.

Course focuses on strategies involved in developing corporate sponsorships in the arts. Various sponsorship case studies between corporations & non-profit arts organizations are analyzed as marketing tools to build the sponsor’s business, raise brand awareness, as well as align with & increase institutional support. Principles of strategic marketing & practical tools are presented through readings, assignments & discussions tied to effective writing to a potential sponsor, benefits offered & other tactical tips to secure sponsorship today.

This course offers the student, whether graduate or arts administration practitioner, an intensive experience in learning about cultural policies and arts management practices in at least two European countries. The Arts Administration Study Abroad is comprised of a series of lectures, site visits, case studies, discussion sessions and presentations. Issues change from year to year as cultural policies develop in chosen venues. Students examine a combination of policy and practice, meet with arts administrators and policy makers, and present case study analyses on the basis of their lectures and on-site visits.

In this course students explore the development of the Western art market from the Middle Ages to the present day. Students study key moments and figures - the Dutch Golden Age (17th century); the birth of the Impressionist and avant-garde market in Paris (late 19th - early 20th century); the Harlem Renaissance and the establishment of New York as the capital of the art market after the second world war; and the role of the gallery in a changing global market.

This course prepares students for their culminating experience, ARVA-GE 2301 Final Project. In this course, students explore key issues that influence art and institutions, examining global approaches based on a theme selected by the instructor. Students deepen their understanding of the research topic through various assignments such as essays, presentations, and audio-visual projects. Course concludes with a proposal for a final, capstone project that is produced during spring semester.

Building on the draft proposal created in ARVA-GE 2299 Research Topic Study, students refine and complete their final project. The course highlights how projects develop over time, helping students achieve mastery in their chosen subjects and improve key time management skills needed for leadership roles in the arts. Through weekly presentations and discussions, students share their progress to encourage thoughtful feedback and deeper reflection, helping them gain a better grasp of both their own ideas and those of others. Students present completed projects at a public showcase hosted by the department.

Individual internships in New York City with major artists, notable museums, distinguished galleries, art publishers, and art organizations under the guidance of a sponsor at the host institution. Students also work closely with the internship coordinator to assess their progress & define learning goals. Internships should be arranged during the term prior to the actual internship, be approved by the internship coordinator and academic advisor in advance, and students must register by the drop/add deadline.

Explores the creative and practical aspects of curating contemporary art. Students will devise an exhibition proposal to be presented in the project space at 80WSE Gallery. Students will be introduced to curators, explore a variety of current exhibitions, and discuss expanded curatorial approaches and counter-exhibition histories. Other assignments include developing an exhibition budget, devising a design/installation plan and determining communication strategies.design/installation plan & determining communications strategy.

This course surveys art biennial history since 1972, coalescing with Performa as a case study. Students collaborate with Performa on producing an event, which includes out of class time meetings. Additional requirements include site visits, two essays, weekly reviews and presentations, and readings.

Explores the evolution of performance art from early European movements like Futurism and Dada to contemporary practices worldwide. The course is organized chronologically, covering themes such as the body, gender, identity, protest, media, and public interaction. Students engage in viewing performances, leading discussions, oral presentations, and writing exhibition reviews. The method emphasizes active participation, direct observation in New York’s arts venues, and critical reading.

Students examine the investment potential of art in the art market. Students explore the history of art as an asset class, how to construct art investment strategies and how to track performance and return on investment, including the importance of discerning trends and opportunites.

Description: Strategic communications encompasses the distinct but interrelated fields of public relations, advertising, marketing, and social media. It plays an essential role in the operations of both nonprofit and for profit entities, serving as the primary connection between an organization and its desired and existing audiences. This course seeks first to create a common understanding of the practical definitions of public relations, advertising, marketing, and social media, and then provides students with the basic tools to create a diversified and holistic communications strategy.

Traditional community planning and development has not always created equitable, healthy and sustainable communities. Arts and culture bring new tools and strategies to place-based community development. The emerging field of creative placemaking utilizes arts and culture to approach community planning and development. This course will focus on arts and culture in community planning and development across the United States – in both rural and urban communities. It will explore questions around the what, why, how, when and who of creative placemaking practice.

This course fosters entrepreneurial thinking for new ventures, with a focus on art businesses both for and nonprofit. Students explore various growth ideologies—such as scalable platforms and collaborative practices—using design thinking methods like industry mapping, interviews, and prototyping. Students develop a business plan for a new art business.

Students examine the evolution of the Western art market from the Middle Ages to today, covering major periods such as the Dutch Golden Age, Paris's Impressionist era, the Harlem Renaissance, New York's rise post-WWII, and galleries' roles globally.

This course explores the increasingly blurred boundaries between for-profit and non-profit structures in the arts. In the past ten years, an art museum has started an incubator. A for-profit gallery has started a research institute. Kickstarter has become a benefit corporation. Upstart Co-Labs has launched a creative-economy fund. ArtBuilt has used the tools of real estate investment to build artist support and anti-gentrification structures. Students explore this area of hybrid practice at the intersection of legal form, financial structure, and mission.

This course examines various crises impacting the arts—political, ecological, social, and artist projects from around the globe that test solutions. Students analyze projects that intersect with visual art, design, and the public. Coursework combines cultural theory, visual studies, art criticism in weekly discussions, reflective essays, and session workshops. Students develop a proposed project connected to course themes.

This course follows an arc from public funding of art through the artistic design of public policy. The core aim of the class is to ask, in the U.S. and within a comparative global context, whether creative policy design is possible, and whether models in the arts—including resale royalties, fractional equity in art, and collaborative solidarity economies—can offer unexpected tools for the reimagination of reparations, redistribution, and revitalization of the democratic project in an age of, as Will Davies writes, the “disenchantment of politics by economics.