The art trade is a field that attracts many young students. To meet their aspirations, art market programs are offered by IESA, notably those leading to the position of art consultant. How do you become an art consultant? What studies are needed to access this career? Here is what you need to know to pursue it:
What Is the Job of an Art Consultant?
An art consultant works in the art object trade. They may carry out several tasks such as:
- Advising companies or individuals on acquiring art objects, particularly with a view to building a personal collection or making investments;
- Advising museums on acquiring their collections;
- Advising auctioneers;
- Taking part in cataloguing artworks;
- Determining the price of an artwork.
IESA, an international school for cultural professions and the art market located at 1, Cité Griset, 75011 Paris, offers Bac+3 and Bac+5 programs enabling you to practice this profession.
What skills are required for the art consultant profession?
The art consultant is an art expert. To practice this profession, they must have the following skills:
- Knowledge and monitoring of major artistic trends;
- Knowledge of art history and the art market;
- Skills in authenticating objects and artworks;
- Interpersonal skills, curiosity, versatility.
Programs to become an art consultant
To enter the art consultant profession, the student must follow a program in art trade.
Post-High-School 3-Year Program to Become an Art Consultant
IESA’s Bachelor in Art Trade Expertise gives access to the advanced program leading to the art consultant profession. This program awards a level 6 degree registered with the RNCP (national directory of professional certifications and specific directory). It is open to students holding the baccalaureate, but admission into the 2nd and 3rd year is also possible. To apply, the learner must register online, download the application file documents, complete them and send them back either by email or by mail. It is also possible to apply directly on the school’s dedicated page. Submission of the file is followed by an admission interview.
The 5-Year Program to Become an Art Consultant
Two Master-type programs provide access to the art consultant profession:
These programs are open with the Bachelor in Art Trade Expertise degree. IESA offers graduating students the chance to take a professionalization internship to ease their entry into the job market.
The professional program to become an art broker is provided by Drouot Formation:
As an intermediary between buyers and sellers, the art broker is a major player in the art market. The Drouot Formation program, located in the very heart of the market at the Hôtel Drouot, offers students daily immersion alongside the works and professionals, allowing the broker to build a rich and effective network. The Drouot Formation program is designed to help the future broker develop for their clients a varied range of "haute couture" services perfectly tailored to them.
What is an art consultant’s salary?
The art consultant qualification can refer to a more specific position such as a gallery owner, an auctioneer or an auctioneer’s clerk, an art broker or an expert’s assistant. Salary therefore depends on the qualification.
A broker’s pay is the sales commission, which ranges between 10 and 20% of the sale price of each artwork. This commission can go up to about 50% for the gallery owner.