Tsinghua, Sotheby's will foster top art talent

Qian Yingyi (L), dean of the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University, David Levy (M), president of Sotheby's Institute of Art and Lu Xiaobo (R), dean of the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, sign a deal to foster art management talent in China on Wednesday in Beijing. [Photo/Chinagate.cn]

A first top art management talent training program in China was co-launched by three world-class institutions on Wednesday in Beijing, aiming to cultivate new talent for China's surging art market.

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"China's sky rocketing art market is thirsty for talent with investment and management skills," said Lu Xiaobo, dean of the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, "Transaction volume last year stood around 380 billion yuan (about $62 billion), with a 77 percent growth rate."

With the combined resources and experiences from all three institutions, it will offer courses on finance, art management investment, artwork evaluation, and so on, steered towards the needs of exhibition curators, artwork connoisseurs, art professionals and the senior management staff of museums, art galleries and auction houses across China.

"What we are trying to do is very similar to the business school model. We take on case studies; have faculties with academic backgrounds, plus those professionals in this industry who are selling art and running galleries. As a result, it will be a unique combination," explained Michael Chung, CEO of the Education Division of Cambridge Information Group.

"We have major study centers in Beijing, Shanghai, New York, London and Los Angeles. Students also have the chance to travel to different major art festivals and events around the world," added David Levy, president of Sotheby's Institute of Art.

The first phase of this program plans to enroll 50 students from autumn term this year; a specialized master program will be added at a later time, said Zhang Gan, deputy director of the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University.

The program was co-established by Academy of Arts & Design and School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University, together with Sotheby's Institute of Art.