This Bachelor program trains students to become managers in the fast-paced environment of the arts. By honing both practical skills applied to arts management as well as theoretical underpinnings of the global approaches to understanding the arts, students are prepared to confront the challenges of the international art markets and take ownership of the digital transformation of the industry. A global history of visual arts is not Eurocentric but includes artistic exchanges across countries and continents, connections between cultures, and the impact of colonialism on the production and reception of art. Students will develop knowledge and professional skills applied to arts management including courses on art law, sales, display, and marketing as well as the digitalization of art business, fundamental tools in the market today. 

Skill development objectives

This program in Arts Management prepares students for the Title diploma (“titre”) Art Sales Management, which is validated by the French State (and registered by the Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles). This professional certificate validates the following skills demonstrated by its graduates:

  • Appraisal of artworks: placing the work into historical context, provenance, valuation
  • Marketing & Sales of artworks  
  • Curating exhibitions, ensuring their logistics and protection
  • Coordinate and execute sales, and legally safeguard them

 

Pedagogical objectives

In order to acquire this knowledge & professional skills, the program is based on three objectives:

1. Professionalization through:

  • group projects on digital strategies in order to apply the skills which are taught in class 
  • experiences in art business sectors, enabling students to acquire complementary skills in professional situations (such as internships) and to allow for networking
  • classes delivered by faculty 90% of whom are active professionals within their own fields, including the digitalization of the art market
  • CV development and the growth of professional networks 

 

2. Proficiency in digital transformations of the art market

  • Developing business models, entrepreneurship, innovation and online sales strategies
  • Development of digital communication strategies for audiences and collectors
  • Curating virtual exhibits and building mediation devices to promote them

 

3. Developing a global approach to the business of arts: 

  • Courses delivered by IESA’s Research Center in contemporary cultures with a focus on global art history
  • Study trips or complementary field trips
  • An intercultural dialogue fostered by the presence of more than 25% international students from more than 30 countries. 

Duration of the program

Our BA in Arts Management program lasts three years. Possible direct admission in Year 3. 

Hours of in-person classes, meetings and exams comprise 500 hours each year.

In addition to the program, students are invited to undertake professional practice in the form of internships, whether part-time or full-time, and groups projects in order to complete the ECTS credits, which are mandatory for certification.

 

Procedure and academic calendar

The academic year starts in mid-September. 

To apply for this program, you must send the application form, a CV, a cover letter to explain your motivation and professional goals, a copy of your high-school degree, your official score of an English exam (TOEFL / IELTS) if you are not a native English speaker, ID pictures, scan of a valid passport or ID card, application fee. The Admissions officer will call you for an interview either in person or online. If admitted, you will be sent a registration form to complete and return.

 

Possible further studies:

Graduates of the Bachelor in Arts Management may pursue graduate studies at IESA arts&culture with one of the following MBAs:

These programs prepare for the Title level 7 “titre” “Expert en commercialization et diffusion des œuvres d’art », certified at level 7 and registered with RNCP.

MBA in:

These programs prepare for the Title level 7 Cultural Project Administrator (“Titre Administor de Projet Culturel, certified at level 7 and registered with RNCP.

 

 

Career opportunities with this Bachelor diploma:

  • Coordinator arts accelerator, artist run space, art in residency program
  • Gallery Assistant
  • Cultural Mediation officer
  • Communications officer 
  • Assistant / collaborator of an expert
  • Assistant / clerk of an auctioneer
  • Junior specialist / Expert / Manager / assistant of a department in an auction house or expertise cabinet
  • Customer Relations Manager in a fair or art salon; Registrar of artworks; database cataloguer
  • Assistant insurance broker specialized in artworks / editor
  • Manager of communication / editorial communication specialized in the art market

 

These positions may further lead to professions such as antique-dealer, art broker, art advisor, expert, gallerist, head of department in gallery / sales company / fairs, etc.

 

Professional insertion rate:

85%

in artistic sector of which 80% in the targeted professions.

These percentages do not include continuation of education (20%).

(Survey conducted in 2018 for the renewal of certification)

 

Professional teaching faculty appreciated and acknowledged by over

90%

Bachelor students (Satisfaction inquiry, 2019-2020).

 

Teaching methods

  • Courses in global art history (worldwide art exchanges and interrelated phenomena) to develop critical thinking and a synthetic analysis of works
  • Live and digital workshops, professional case studies, and group projects are designed for students to understand the current digital transformations of the art market, apply professional skills, develop responses to complex issues, and learn how to work collectively and network
  • Assignments conducted in art galleries, sales or auction rooms, and museums, as well as study trips are included in order to hone your observation skills, foster curiosity, and form a database of major artworks as a foundation for all expertise and research work
  • Writing a thesis in the final year to develop your ability to research deeply a topic, establish a corpus of works, acquire research methods, and write a significant text citing internal and external references
  • The professionalization process is personalized and assisted throughout to foster professional practices and an understanding of the art business sector. It combines, over the course of three years, classes, writing workshops (CV, cover letters), public speaking training, and the elaboration of a Curriculum Vitae thanks to internships and other professional insertion procedures adapted to the student’s personal project.

 

Assessment methods

Four skill sets are assessed through case studies, feedback and defenses from professional situations:

  • Skill set 1 Art expertise: Preparing an inventory file, a catalog entry for an auction sale, a condition report, and completing an expertise. Performing an analysis and expertise of visual arts (three artworks) in front of a jury.
  • Skill set 2 Communication: Conceiving and developing a communication campaign: media plan, dossier and press release/newsletters, social media plan, developing collateral and paracuratorial programs.
  • Skill set 3 Exhibition management skills: Setting up a live or virtual exhibition (OVR online viewing rooms) for an auction sale or an exhibition. Mediation on the exhibition, establishing its budget, unpacking the terms and conditions for online options, logistics for transportation, installation, conservation, storage, and insurance.
  • Skill set 4 Art Sales skills: Preparing necessary documents sales & auctions. Live or online simulation of a pitch to buyer.

 

  • Basic knowledge is assessed through continuous assessment and final exams. Practical case studies (commenting on artworks, analyzing professional situations), research projects, group projects, and writing and defending a thesis
  • The certified level 6 (Fr) Title 6 certificate titre “Chargé(e) de commercialisation des œuvres et objets d’art » is delivered by a professional jury whose president is an independent authority of his or her field. The oral exam lasts 45 minutes during which candidates demonstrate their expertise and contextualization skills of three works of visual arts, as well as their thesis project.
  • Internship reports and reviews of the art business sector, defended in front of a jury, validate the students’ practical experience as interns, in addition to the students’ CVs highlighting their acquired skills.

Cost of the program

  • Initial year : 2021-2022: 9100€
  • 2022-2023 9100 €
  • 2023-2024 9100 €

The cost of the program includes registration fees, tuition fees, educational resources, and computer equipment of the School; access to internship information and professionalization services at IESA arts&culture; coaching of individual projects and group projects within the program; access to services provided by the International Research center; access to lectures, conferences and events organized by the School (free admission for IESA arts&culture students); privileged access to cultural events organized by IESA arts&culture partners within the conditions defined for each partnership.

Program costs do not include the purchase of personal material supplies, course texts, personal software. 

Also not included are:

  • The CVEC (Contribution à la Vie Etudiante de Campus), a mandatory fee of 91€ for anyone registering in an upper-education institution; it is directly collected by the CROUS (Centre Régional des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires de Paris); 
  • The contribution for educational activities (150€) covering museum cards and special mandatory visits
  • Workplace insurance
  • The 20€ dues to be directly paid to the BDE (Bureau des Etudiants) at IESA arts&culture

 

Access for those with physical disabilities

Disability support

IESA arts&culture facilites are fully accessible to people with disabilities. During the application process, the applicant with a disability fills out a form in order for IESA to assess the necessary accommodations for successful education within the School and professional insertions to be planned. The application interview may be adapted according to the disability situation.

Following the admission interview, the student may request a meeting with the disability support officer for the School or Galiléo Global Education group :

Disability officer for IESA arts&culture : Boris Grebille, b.grebille@iesa.fr

Disability officer for GGEF : Aurélie Delvalée, a.delvalee@ggeedu.fr

 

Once registered, the student will meet with the pedagogy director in charge of academic accommodations as well as the manager of professionalization. Together, and on the basis of the disability form filled out earlier, they will work out the necessary adjustments and specific accommodations for optimal access to education at IESA arts&culture. 

For any question on welcoming and supporting learners with disabilities, candidates and learners may contact the disability commission at IESAarts&culture : handicap@iesa.fr

Accreditation of the Program

Art Sales Management Title level 6 (Titre Chargé(e) de commercialisation des œuvres et objets d’art) :

The Titre Chargé(e) de commercialisation des œuvres et objets d’art run by ECAD consultants – IESA NSF 134 – Level 6 (Eu) II (Fr) is registered by the RNCP through the decree of 30/07/2018 published by the Journal Officiel on 07/08/2018. 

84% of our graduates obtained this certification in 2020. 

VAE (Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience) may also validate your skills for this titre.