In Amsterdam, launched the first educational program that teaches this challenging profession

Natalie Hartes, coordinator of educational programs
Centre de Appel
Source: artinfo.com

decades, the path to the profession of art dealer has been long and arduous: first obtain a bachelor's degree in art history, followed by the gallery assistant, step by step to move to the position of director of the gallery, and perhaps one day get out and start a new business. So many years this system worked, but a new educational program in Amsterdam de Appel Arts Centre aims to to change it.

program for gallery owners, organized by de Appel in conjunction with a consortium of four galleries Fair Gallery, offers students a crash course on all matters of governance gallery - on the proper completion of tax documentation prior to writing press releases. "They will have the knowledge and experience that would be able to purchase and in the process, but it would take up to five years", - said Natalie Hartes (Nathalie Hartjes), coordinator of the nine-month program. For the first time a full-time course combined administration of the art business - a subject that is still taught only in the New York University - and a more holistic view of the history and philosophy of art. Graduates will have only until the Certificate of Completion, rather than a master's degree, although the center of de Appel arts future plans to collaborate with the university to grant diplomas to the traditional.

Initiative de Appel welcomed by experienced dealers. "I'd like to teach this knowledge freely, when I started work in his gallery. We would have done far fewer mistakes if they knew what's inside this complex business, "- said the dealer Vinkleman Ed (Ed Winkleman) of Chelsea, the author of" How to create and manage a commercial gallery, "as recommended reading in courses in de Appel. < /p>

What is this program? Six of the participants formulate their own goals and objectives, attend lectures on various topics - from taking care of customers to ethics, as well as travel across Europe in search of artists for their hypothetical galleries. Dealer Business course, students learn specific examples. So, for example, Jeffrey Deitch's career, they learn how to become a gallery owner, can the museum's director, the example of Anish Kapoor Lisson Gallery and explore why the close relationship of the artist and the gallery can suddenly stop. Students will explore emerging markets and the history of gallery system of the West, to meet with key players in the field and will be a three-month internship in the gallery. As a final task participants have to one day create its own pavilion at the Art Fair in Basel, Liste Fair in 2013.

All proceeds from sales at the fair return to the Foundation de Appel. Other sources of funding for future programs - this is the tuition fee (from 5 thousand euros from the student), the contributions of nonprofit organizations, as well as some financial assistance top-class galleries. You may be wondering: why resellers grow their competitors? "It is in some sense, charity - believes Hartes. - If you run a successful gallery is 20-30 years old, you want to some extent promote the professional growth of all the gallery sector ».

entry fee into the program de Appel has been completely repaid the Netherlands government, which may seem strange, given the current decline of public funding of cultural programs. Many people probably skeptical about the program at the idea that taxpayer dollars are going to train those who are going in the future engage in commercial activities. Hartes but promises that next year's program will already be provided with full private capital.

rate allowed institutionalized (or even just write on paper or digital form) all the techniques that had previously existed only in the collective memory, passed on from one successful art dealer to another. "Sector of gallery business professionalizirovalsya in the last decade, and we want to continue this movement. We want to determine what is happening in the cultural politics today ", - stressed Hartes.

who the ideal candidate to students of this course? De Appel is looking for people" ambitious, sincere and original ". And, more importantly, those who are interested in gallery-business not only as a way to get benefits." Motivation must come from a genuine love of art and an understanding of the special role played by a gallery owner in the artist's life "- says Hartes. Students are not may be people in the street, they should have a group of authors, in cooperation with the interested. will be met by about 6-7%of the applications, potential applicants are already in America, Asia and the Baltics. This fall (exact dates not yet determined) will start a five-month trial course, the official opening of the program is scheduled for September 2012.

Prepared Onuchina Maria, AI

Source: artinvestment.ru