The international art sector is a booming market worth billions of dollars. Hundreds of thousands of art pieces are being exhibited, auctioned, restored, shipped, and stored worldwide. Art management is a field that encompasses all these diverse activities of handling art, from storage to exhibition. In this blog post, we’ve outlined the main answers to the question, “What is art management?” to help you navigate this fast-developing industry.

What Is Art Management? Examples of Activities

As the name suggests, art management involves various activities associated with managing art galleries, art events, private art collections, etc. Art managers deal with financial, legal, organizational, PR, and even human resource issues. For example, an art manager of a private or public art collection is responsible for record-keeping, auditing, and insurance of valuable objects. In turn, an art curator is more concerned with programming events, which may involve researching and selecting art pieces, staging performances, and organizing exhibitions that align with their client’s objectives and mission.

Art management also involves logistical concerns, such as shipping and safe storage of art pieces. In such cases, managers are most concerned about the physical integrity of the art pieces. A PR-related aspect of art management is also very important for promoting artists. Professionals working in this area help with image development, communication, negotiations, and press appearances. Thus, art managers can work not only with art directly but also with the people creating it. As such, they act as a link between artists and the public and help ensure that truly worthy art pieces are seen and recognized.

Skills and Competencies

Now that you know the answer to the question, “What is art management?” you are probably curious about what skills one must possess to succeed in this career. Above everything else, a good art manager should be passionate and knowledgeable about art. An in-depth understanding of the cultural milieu, artistic trends, and art market is a must. In addition, art managers must possess a variety of soft skills, including organizational skills, time management skills, and communication skills. Attention to detail, diligence, integrity, and willingness to learn are welcomed as well.

Fine Art Shippers also deals with art management in terms of fine art shipping and storage. If you are looking for someone to take care of logistics, contact us for more details on our services.