Contemporary art valuation
Two-day art business course
17 November 2018 10am - 5pm18 November 2018 10am - 5pm
Wolfson British Academy Room, 6 Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts.
£540. Includes all materials, light refreshments, lunch and a wine reception at the end of day one.
Terms and conditions
Anna Dempster and Anna Lipskaya return to lead a weekend course on art valuation. The course offers practical insights into one of the most opaque aspects of the art world, focused on the exciting sector of contemporary art.
Contemporary art has provided one of the most exciting growth stories in recent decades. The sector has grown in both breadth and depth with more artists from across the world and more collectors interested in the vast range of art they produce. Prices continue to break records and expectations. On the eve of the busy art fair season and weekly gallery show openings in London, the topic of valuation and price is as critical as ever.
The attribution of a price to a work of art remains one of the most controversial activities in the art world. This is even more so the case in the contemporary sector, where new and unknown artists and a lack of historical precedents increase the unknown variables. Yet it is here that the biggest opportunities exist.
Understanding pricing and valuation is at the centre of much of the contemporary art world and a challenge which most people who engage with the arts will face at some point. These skills are crucial not only for the commercial art world but also for practising artists, collectors and public institutions tasked with preserving and protecting art for the future.
The valuation of contemporary art is often opaque and rarely openly discussed, let alone taught. However, ultimately both price and perceived value is critical to every transaction that occurs in the art market. When carried out correctly, valuation serves an important function in preserving art and cultural heritage.
Following on from the extremely successful valuations course held at the Royal Academy in in February 2017, this course includes specialist-led lectures which introduce key concepts and guest speakers who provide real-world expertise. Small group workshops and discussion sessions enable hands-on practice and the application of core ideas.
This course covers a number of tools and techniques which are commonly used by art market experts when they value works of art. We will explore a step-by-step approach to art valuation which includes both quantitative and qualitative measurements. The course also provides overview of the contemporary art sector and how value is determined by a range of market participants.
A number of key questions will be explored, including:
• How has the contemporary art market developed and how does this compare to past periods?
• What determines values and prices in the contemporary art market?
• How do galleries, auction houses and art fairs influence the value of art?
• How significant are the emerging markets for contemporary art?
• What are the formal and practical frameworks for valuing contemporary art?
• What are the key opportunities – and common risks – of art valuation?
• What opportunities are available at lower-price ranges?
Through real-life examples and scenarios, participants will explore why values and prices can be highly contentious, becoming the subject of heated debate among experts and creating both risks and exciting opportunities for potential collectors.
There was a good combination of theoretical background and practical considerations. I feel like I can use it as a basis for further learning. - The art of valuation and the value of art, course participant, February 2017
About the course
Drawing on specialist expertise, this exclusive course will demystify the process of art valuation with a focus on the contemporary sector. Suitable for private collectors and institutions as well as artists and other practitioners, participants will learn theoretical and practical skills for pricing and valuation in the contemporary art world. The number of participants is strictly limited to allow for group discussions and detailed feedback from the course leaders.
This course is suitable for all experience levels.
The number of participants is strictly limited to enable positive and constructive peer-group interaction and detailed feedback from the Course Leaders for each participant as well as the work that they develop.
£540 for full course Saturday 17 November – Sunday 18 November 2017 10.00am – 5.00pm on both days (registration from 9.30am on each day)
Includes:
• A carefully designed mix of lectures and applied case studies and discussion sessions
• An exclusive peer-group environment with expert-led information and advice
• A combination of theory and practical skills, transferable to individual interests
• Skills and knowledge designed to be applied in your activities or workplace
• The intimate setting of the Wolfson British Academy Room and the opportunity to work closely with experts and network with peers
The course also includes:
• All practical materials and course pack
• Light refreshments and lunch on both days
• A drinks reception at the end of day one
• A certificate of participation upon completion of the two days
This historic room with its ornate domed plaster ceiling was the main Representatives Room when 6 Burlington Gardens was home to The British Academy from the 1920s onwards. Located in Burlington Gardens, the room was designed by Edwardian architect Arnold Mitchell in 1929 and carefully restored as part of the RA250 redevelopment of the Royal Academy. Supported by the Wolfson Foundation, the British Academy Room now serves as a dedicated home for RA Academic Programmes and is the ideal space for small-group and peer-based learning.
About the course leaders:
Manager, Annual Updating and Collection Management
Gurr Johns
Anna Lipskaya joined the UK’s oldest art valuations company Gurr Johns in 2013 and currently works in the valuation department. Anna supervises the revaluation process of her high-end clients’ fine art and assists on specialised art collection management systems for institutions including trusts, estates, private collections and more. Prior to joining Gurr Johns, Anna was the Senior Analyst at Skate’s Art Market Research, a leading art market information agency, focused specifically on market performance and investment potential of art and collectible assets. Anna has organised conferences worldwide dedicated to various aspects of the art industry including investment, insurance, luxury, media services and e-commerce platforms. Anna is a graduate of the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London and Moscow State University.
Head of Academic Programmes
Royal Academy
Dr Anna M. Dempster is Head of Academic Programmes at the Royal Academy of Arts and College Research Associate at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, where she also sits on the Fine Arts Committee. Anna was previously Associate Professor in Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art responsible for the Art Business, Finance and Management Unit as well as teaching strategy, entrepreneurship and research methods all tailored for the art world. Prior to that she was Director of Research at the Creative Industries Observatory, University of the Arts London, and Founding Director of the MSc/MA in Creative Industries at Birkbeck College, University of London. She has research and teaching experience in leading international institutions including the University of Cambridge, London Business School and Rotterdam School of Management and she regularly consults for practitioners and policy-makers. She holds a BA and MPhil in History from the University of Cambridge, and a PhD in Management Studies from the Judge Business School, Cambridge.
Our courses and classes programme
Our programme of short courses and classes offers the opportunity to explore a range of subjects, led by expert tutors and practising artists.