Art Collection Management

Duration

Jun. 10 - Jul. 08, 2025

Enroll before

Jun. 09, 2025

One-time Payment

189.00 € (incl. VAT)

Live sessions

2 hrs/week

Managing art collections is a practice that requires a broad set of skills—from working with digital inventories and legal procedures to supervising art conservation.

In this course, you’ll gain the tools and knowledge to confidently navigate the responsibilities of caring for an art collection—whether it’s a large institutional archive or a private inventory.

Through case studies and group discussions, you’ll learn the day-to-day administrative essentials that keep a collection running, such as managing inventories and documentation.

We’ll also take a long-term view, exploring how to shape a collection’s mission, enhance its visibility, and assess its condition and value over time.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Understand the principles and guidelines for acquiring and loaning artworks.
Recognize the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in the administration and care of art collections.
Work with museum databases to accurately document, catalogue, and track artworks.
Apply best practices for artwork storage and exhibition to ensure long-term conservation and manage risks.
Use tools to assess a collection’s relevance, condition, and value.
Develop acquisition plans and curatorial strategies for expanding the collection.

This course is designed for curators and art managers who want to enter the field of collection management or strengthen their skill set to ensure the effective stewardship of art collections for future generations.

Session 1: Introduction and Course Presentation.

This is a one-hour-only welcome session. The lecturer will introduce the program and participants will introduce themselves. No prior preparation is necessary.

Session 2: Introduction to Art Collection Management and Museum Collections

A brief historical introduction to the formation of art collections, including their origins, and types.
The missions and objectives of collections in museums.
Key players and roles involved in collecting and managing collections

Session 3: Acquisition, Loans, and Transportation in Collection Management

Policies, procedures, and decision-making for artwork acquisition
Policies, procedures, and logistics for lending and borrowing artworks.
Insurance coverage for acquiring or lending artworks
Best practices for the safe transport of artworks, including proper handling, packaging, and security during transit.

Session 4: Maintenance, Cataloging, and Preventive Conservation of Collections

Techniques and strategies for maintaining collections, including inventory management, cataloging, and digital tools to organize and track artworks efficiently.
Preventive conservation practices, including environmental controls (temperature, humidity) and routine condition checks.
Risk assessment strategies to safeguard art collections from damage or deterioration, including disaster preparedness and security protocols.

Session 5: Evaluation, Growth, and Long-Term Preservation of the Collection

Strategies for expanding the collection in a balanced and thoughtful manner, including curatorial decisions and acquisition planning.
Approaches to promoting, exhibiting, and sharing the collection with the public.
Methods and tools for regularly assessing the collection’s relevance, condition, and value.

We will use Zoom for the live video conferences, please check Zoom's technical requirements here.

Live captioning will be available during the video conference.

Art Collection Management

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