The IESA Art Market Bachelor trains professionals over 3 years to understand, appraise, promote, exhibit, transport, sell, and market artworks and art objects.
The program combines general culture, art history, law, marketing, communication, project management, sales, and field immersion. Thanks to a project-based pedagogy, students develop concrete skills and gradually become professionals with a work-study rhythm from the 2nd year to prepare for the professional realities of the art market.
Key Information About the Bachelor
| Program | Bachelor in Art Market |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Admission | High school diploma for entry into the 1st year |
| Lateral Admission | Possible in the 2nd and 3rd years depending on profile |
| Start of the Academic Year | September 2027 |
| Schedule | Professional program, work-study possible from the 2nd year |
| Certification | RNCP title No. 39220 - level 6 "Sales Manager for Artworks and Art Objects" |
| 2027-2028 Fees | €8,500 in the 1st year; €9,400 for B2 lateral admission; €9,700 for B3 lateral admission; €150 in tuition fees |
Why Choose the IESA Art Market Bachelor?
Developing Art Market Expertise
Study art history, artistic movements, artworks, artists, and cultural contexts in order to understand works within their era and their market value.
Working on Real Projects
Students take part in collective projects such as exhibitions, cultural events, or the Juvenars Prize for Young Creation. These projects allow them to work as a team, manage a schedule, build a budget, and defend a professional proposal.
Understanding Sales and Trade
You develop the foundations needed to take part in a sales strategy: market analysis, price estimation, negotiation, law, customer relations, communication, and promotion.
Appraising Artworks and Art Objects
The program covers appraisal, authentication, valuation, restoration, and preservation. You learn to observe, analyze, document, and promote an artwork.
Learning in the Field
The teaching approach is also based on immersion: visits to galleries, auction houses, museums, fairs, and restoration workshops, and meetings with industry professionals.
What Are the Goals of This Program?
The program combines general culture, art market expertise, and professional practice. It enables students to understand artworks, their value, their circulation, and their marketing.
Students gradually develop skills in:
- art history: understanding artworks, artistic movements, and their link to major historical contexts;
- appraisal and promotion: analyzing artworks, artistic sectors, and marketing issues;
- art market: mastering the processes of appraisal, authentication, restoration, and preservation;
- professional relations: adopting the codes, interpersonal skills, and practices specific to the sector;
- project management: writing catalog entries, organizing exhibitions, building a communication strategy, managing a budget, working with service providers, and building client loyalty.
What Skills Are Developed?
The Sales Manager for Artworks and Art Objects title validates skills directly related to art market careers.
Upon completing the program, students are able to:
- Appraising Artworks and Art Objects
- Organizing the Exhibition and Transport of Artworks and Art Objects
- Selling Artworks and Art Objects
- Promoting Sales and Exhibitions of Artworks and Art Objects
What Is the Art Market Bachelor Program?
The Art Market Bachelor program is organized over 3 years. It allows students to acquire a solid grounding in art history, an understanding of the art market, and skills in communication, marketing, appraisal, exhibition, law, budgeting, and professional development.
The program alternates theoretical courses, tutorials, visits, real-scale projects, practical workshops, seminars, study trips, and professional simulations related to the art market sector.
Year 1
UE1 — General History of Art
- General History of Art from Prehistory to the Renaissance
- Arts & Politics in Europe from the Early Middle Ages to the Renaissance
- Tutorials: Louvre
- Western Iconography (Mythological, Biblical, and Civil)
- Medieval Art Seminar
- Manuscripts and Illuminations
- Study Trip to Rome
- History of Art and Civilizations: Africa, Asia, America
- Introduction to Oceanic Arts
- Aesthetics and Critical Thinking
Unit 2 — Art Market
- History of the Art Market
- Art Market News
- Research Methodology
- Discovery Lectures: Auction House and Art Objects (MOA), Jewelry and Luxury, Prints, Luxury
Unit 3 — Art Market Law
- Legal Approach to Art and Intellectual Property
- Introduction to Auction Law
Unit 4 — Communication and Marketing
- Introduction to Marketing and Communication
- Branding and E-Reputation
- DTP workshop linked to a project
- Writing workshop
- Public speaking workshop
Unit 5 — Professionalization and Innovations
- Museum Visits
- Professional English
- Professional Development
- Market Discovery & Meetings with Professionals
- JUVENARS Prize Endowment Project
- Asia Now Art Fair
- Ecological Transition
- Team Building
Year 2
UE1 — General History of Art
- General History of European Art (Renaissance to the Late 18th Century)
- General History of French Art (Renaissance to the Late 18th Century)
- Bronze and Sculpture (Renaissance to the Late 18th Century)
- History of Architecture and Interior Decoration
- Tapestry from the 15th to the 18th Century
- Introduction to French Furniture
- Louvre Tutorials — Visits (Renaissance to the Late 18th Century)
- Aesthetics and Critical Thinking
- Study Trip to Florence
- Compiling an Artwork Dossier, Writing an Article, and End-of-Bachelor Practical Case
Unit 2 — Specialization Electives
(4 of your choice: 1 major + 1 minor required)
- Leonardo da Vinci, His Work and His Legacy
- Drawings and Prints from the 15th to the 19th Century
- Decorative Arts Track: Introduction to Ceramics
- Decorative Arts Track: Introduction to Glass Arts
- Decorative Arts Track: Introduction to French Furniture (the French Seat)
- Art & Luxury Track: Introduction to Jewelry Arts
- Art & Luxury Track: Introduction to Watchmaking Arts
- Art & Luxury Track: Introduction to the Vintage Luxury Market
Unit 3 — Law and the Art Market
- Introduction to Provenance Research
- Collections and Collectors: History of Collections, from the Kunstkammer to the Western Museum
- Art Market Law Seminar
Unit 4 — Communication and Marketing in the Art Market
- Digital marketing and social media
- Designing a media kit
- GDPR & Loyalty Marketing
- Communication Practical Case
- Video workshop
Unit 5 — Professionalization and Innovations
- Real-Life Project — Producing an Exhibition
- Professional English Ă— Art Market News
- Art Ă— Inclusion
- Ecological Transition — Planetary Boundaries: Climate and Biodiversity
- Professional Development
Exams and Defenses
Year 3
Unit 1 — General History of Art
- French and European Painting of the 19th Century
- Modern Art from 1880 to 1945
- Introduction to Contemporary Art
- Introduction to Non-Western Arts
- Bronze and Sculpture of the 19th Century
- Study Trip to Munich
- Exhibition Preparation — End-of-Bachelor Practical Case
- Title Preparation — Appraisal and Commentary of an Artwork
Unit 2 — Specialization Electives (1 track of your choice)
- Classical Decorative Arts Track: French and European Furniture
- Classical Decorative Arts Track: French Ceramics 1789-1950
- Classical Decorative Arts Track: Introduction to Antique Goldsmithing
- 20th-Century Decorative Arts Track: Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Design Furniture
- 20th-Century Decorative Arts Track: Glassware from 1789 to 1950
- 20th-Century Decorative Arts Track: 20th-Century Sculpture
- Graphic Arts Track: 19th- and 20th-Century Drawing and Prints
- Graphic Arts Track: Marcel Duchamp, His Work and His Legacy
- Graphic Arts Track: Photography (1836-1980)
- Contemporary Art Track: Street Art
- Contemporary Art Track: Art and Market in Asia
- Contemporary Art Track: Art and Luxury Markets
Unit 3 — Law and the Art Market
- Appraising an artwork or art object
- Discovering Workshop Museums (courses in English)
- Designing and writing a budget
- Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Project Development in the Art Market
Unit 4 — Management and Exhibition of Artworks
- Scenography
- Scenography — Technical Hands-On Practice: Illustrator and SketchUp
- Preventive conservation, transport, and insurance
- Appraisal service providers
- Having a Graphic Artwork Restored
- Seminar — Writing a Condition Report
Unit 5 — Communication and Marketing
- Editorial calendar
- Setting up and managing a communication plan
- Technical Refresher Seminar — Photography
- Press relations
Unit 6 — Professionalization & Innovations
- Ecological Transition — Planetary Boundaries: Climate and Biodiversity
- Professional Development
- Discovering the Market
- Orientation Seminar
Exams and Defenses
Assessment in the Art Market Bachelor:
Academic Assessment
It tracks the student’s progress throughout the program.
Knowledge and know-how are assessed continuously through:
- continuous assessments: presentations, case studies, reports, written or oral assignments, practical exercises;
- written or oral semester exams to validate learning at the end of each semester;
- an internship or work-study report, presented in an oral defense before an academic jury.
Each professional experience allows students to analyze the tasks performed and link them to the courses taken.
Assessment for the RNCP Certification
It validates the skills of RNCP title No. 39220.
The Bachelor prepares for the level 6 title Sales Manager for Artworks and Art Objects, registered with the RNCP.
The certification is based on 4 skill blocks, assessed through professional simulations and concrete deliverables.
1. Appraising Artworks and Art Objects
- Professional Simulations
- Practical Cases
2. Organizing the Exhibition and Transport of Artworks and Art Objects
- Professional Simulations
- Practical Cases
3. Selling Artworks and Art Objects
- Professional Simulations
4. Promoting Sales and Exhibitions of Artworks and Art Objects
- Professional Simulations
- Practical Cases
Personal End-of-Studies Project
At the end of the program, students present a personal project supervised by a professional.
This project draws on all the skills acquired during the Bachelor. It is defended before a certification jury made up of industry professionals.
Assessment Accommodations
Students with disabilities may benefit from specific adjustments to assessment methods, on the recommendation of the disability coordinator and in compliance with the certification framework.
Project-Based and Field-Based Learning
The teaching approach of the Art Market Bachelor combines theoretical courses, professional simulations, and field immersion. The goal: to enable students to acquire a solid grounding in the art market while developing skills directly applicable in a professional setting.
Courses Taught by Experts
Courses are taught by academics and industry professionals. Students take part in different teaching formats:
- lectures;
- case studies;
- thematic lectures;
- specialized seminars;
- study days;
- application workshops.
This approach provides an understanding of the history of the art market, its stakeholders, and its economic, legal, and cultural rules.
Strong Field Immersion
The program places significant emphasis on direct observation of artworks and professional practices.
Students regularly take part in visits to:
- auction houses;
- museums;
- galleries;
- fairs;
- restoration workshops;
- antique dealers' venues.
These experiences help train the eye and give a better understanding of materials, techniques, styles, valuation methods, and the channels through which artworks are promoted.
Real Projects Throughout the Program
Project-based learning is at the heart of the program. Students design and organize events supervised by professionals, such as:
- the Juvenars Prize for Young Creation, carried out in partnership with art schools;
- an original exhibition, designed and set up collectively by the class.
These projects develop essential skills: teamwork, schedule management, budgeting, mediation, communication, and coordination of a cultural event.
A Personal End-of-Program Project
Each student gradually builds a personal end-of-program project, supervised by a professional.
This project draws on all the skills acquired during the program. It is part of a career orientation process and is defended before a certification jury.
Support Toward Professionalization
Students' professional development is reinforced by:
- individual coaching;
- meetings with art market professionals;
- internships at professional organizations;
- regular feedback sessions.
These formats allow students to test what they learn against the realities of art market careers.
Open Day: December 5
Open days let you discover the campus, meet the teams, ask your questions about the program, admissions, work-study, student projects and career opportunities.
It is also an opportunity to better understand the teaching approach of IESA arts&culture and the organization of these programs.
Work-Study, Internships, and Schedule of the Art Market Bachelor
The Art Market Bachelor lasts 3 years. The program follows an alternating schedule from the 2nd year, allowing students to gain a first professional experience.
Periods in a company may take the form of internships and/or work-study. They are mandatory to complete the program and allow students to connect courses to the realities of the sector.
What Careers After an Art Market Bachelor?
The Art Market Bachelor prepares students for roles related to the sale, appraisal, auctioning and exhibition of works and objects of art.
Sales and marketing Artwork and art object sales officer
Assistant or sales/customer officer in a gallery or antique shop Appraisal and auctions Appraiser’s assistant
Auctioneer’s clerk
Voluntary sales company associate Exhibitions and fairs Exhibition officer
Art fair or show client officer
Graduates can work in art galleries, appraisal firms, auction houses, antique shops, consignment shops, flea markets or charity sales.
Certification
This master’s program prepares for the RNCP title level 6:
"Sales Manager for Artworks and Art Objects"
| Employment Rate | 75% at 6 months for students awarded the title, class of 2022 (most recent France Compétences rate - RNCP title 39220) |
|---|---|
| Certification Rate | 84% for the Furniture specialization and 68.4% for the Painting and Graphic Arts specialization (Class of 2024). |
| RNCP Code | RNCP 39220 |
This title is issued by: ECAD Consultants - IESA arts&culture by decision of the Director General of France Compétences dated 06/27/2024 for a period of 3 years.
How to Apply to IESA?
Admission is based on an application file and an interview with the admissions committee
- 1. You find out about the school and its programs.
- 2. You apply to the school by filling out a form on the website.
- 3. We call you to schedule an admission interview
- 4. A few days after the interview, you receive your admissibility decision
How Much Does the Program Cost?
For the 2027-2028 year, the fees are as follows:
| Year | Tuition |
|---|---|
| 1st year | 8 500 € |
| 2nd year - direct admission | 9 400 € |
| 3rd year - direct admission | 9 700 € |
| Tuition fees | 150 € |
Applicants can contact the admissions team to find out about:
- payment options
- funding options
- the conditions related to work-study
In work-study, program fees under a professionalization contract or an apprenticeship contract will be covered in full or in part by the employer or by a funding body (OPCO).
The Bachelor Lasts 3 Years
Number of in-class teaching hours and exams:
- Bachelor 1: 634.5 hours
- Bachelor 2: 588 hours
- Bachelor 3: 543 hours
Current-year schedule: the number of hours may vary slightly from year to year.
The program follows an alternating schedule from the 2nd year of the bachelor, allowing for part-time and full-time professional placements (internships and/or work-study), which are mandatory to complete the program.
Initial prerequisite and work-study:
- For entry into 1st year or a 3-year curriculum: hold a level 4 certification, a baccalaureate, a DAEU or an equivalent degree (foreign degree, etc.).
- For entry into 2nd year or a 2-year curriculum: hold a level 4 certification, a baccalaureate, a DAEU or an equivalent degree (foreign degree, etc.) and demonstrate a sufficient level in the field targeted by the certification (art, culture, history, art history, etc.).
- For entry into 3rd year or a 1-year curriculum: hold a level 5 certification or an equivalent degree (foreign degree, etc.) or demonstrate a sufficient level in the field targeted by the certification (art, culture, history, art history, etc.).
Admission is based on the submission of an application file and an interview
Access timeframe: Admissions are open from October 2026 to August 2027 for the September 2027 start. Applications are processed within 3 weeks maximum after receipt of the complete file. Enrollment is possible until the start date, subject to availability. By exception, enrollment is possible after the start date of the program, following review and verification of the learner’s ability to catch up on the learning already delivered, within a maximum of 1 month after the start of the program.
This program can be completed as work-study from the 2nd year. The program follows an alternating schedule, with internships and/or work-study at professional organizations. These placement periods are part of the program’s validation.
Apprentice pass rate: 100% (class of 2024)
Apprentice dropout rate at CFA ECAD during the 2024-2025 year: 2% (Class of 2025)
The program takes place at IESA on the LE DELTA campus (16 rue Claude Bernard, 75005 Paris) and at partner cultural venues.
IESA premises are accessible to people with disabilities. The admission interview and the course of study can be adapted to the needs of those concerned, who are therefore invited to express them as soon as they apply to the school. Contact: handicap@iesa.fr.
As part of the RNCP title validation, the jury may decide on a partial validation of skills. The candidate will be invited again to submit their file and take their oral exam at the next title session in order to validate the missing skills.
Skills block: Validating all blocks leads to the award of the certification. In case of equivalences, whether through VAE and/or the award of a corresponding skills block or certification, it is up to the candidate to present this equivalence to the jury for validation.
Equivalences: No equivalences for this program.
Bridging paths: No bridging path for this program.
Further studies: This program awards a level 6 professionally certified title and can be followed by a level 7 program such as the 5-year post-secondary art market programs at IESA arts&culture:
- MBA in Arts & Cultural Management
- MBA in Contemporary Art: Sales, Display & Collecting
- International Master MAGMa (Managing Art & Cultural Heritage in Global Markets)
- Master International Art Market - Contemporary Art (program in French)
- Master International Art Market - Old Master Art (program in French)
- Master Exhibition Curation (program in French)