Art Market Management
Why study Art Market Management?
Your Business Administration Degree with a Focus on the Art Market
If you want to understand how the art market truly work, both nationally and internationall, and envision a future in art dealing, auction houses, galleries, or exhibition management, the Master’s program in Art Market Management (M.A.) at mdh Berlin is tailored for you. The program places you at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic art capitals, providing an environment that is unique in Germany. Surrounded by galleries, museums, studios, and creative hubs, you will become part of a network that offers genuine market insights.
What You Will Learn
During the program, you will build solid expertise in the core areas of the art market: from market structures and current trends to international art market studies and the economic and legal fundamentals essential for professional handling of artworks. The program combines academic analysis with practical application. You will work on real projects in exhibition and auction management, engage deeply with materials and gain insight into the operations of art fairs and institutions. This approach allows you to develop a profound understanding of how the market functions and where opportunities arise.
Your Skillset
At the same time, you will strengthen your ability to prepare market analyses, develop pricing strategies, and create business plans for art institutions or creative projects. Step by step, you will be equipped to strategically evaluate the art market and make informed decisions.
Your Career Prospects
The Master’s program provides the academic and practical knowledge you need to navigate the art market with confidence and assume positions of responsibility. Whether in trading, auctions, galleries, or collection management, you will qualify for roles that demand expertise, sound judgment, and a keen sense for trends.
The program is scheduled to start in the winter semester of 2026, subject to approval by the Senate Administration of Berlin.
Duration
ECTS points
Degree
Start
Language
Campus
Berlin (DE)
Düsseldorf (EN)
Düsseldorf (DE)
Format
Düsseldorf (On site)
Monthly fees
Your Studies
The Master’s program in Art Market Management combines essential knowledge from art history, business administration, law, psychology, sociology, and cultural studies. You will learn how galleries, dealers, auction houses, and artists operate successfully in the art market—and how to navigate it professionally yourself.
With this specialized degree, your chances of establishing yourself as an employee, manager, or entrepreneur in the art business increase significantly. Terms like resale rights, hammer price, log-price, or provenance will become a natural part of your daily vocabulary.
Over 3 to 4 semesters, you will explore topics such as the origins of artworks, professional sales strategies for galleries, trade, auctions, and studios, as well as project and auction management in the German and European markets. In addition, you will gain essential fundamentals in law, business administration, and financial management for the art sector.
The program also includes modules that provide a compact overview of the art market’s development from antiquity to the present, along with scientific research methods in art market studies. Elective courses allow you to tailor your focus: legal frameworks in Europe, current trends such as digital, diverse, or performative art, or skills in intercultural communication and “Art & Society.”
With this combination of theory and hands-on projects, you will be well prepared for careers in galleries, auction houses, museums, artist studios, art trading, or logistics and consulting firms in the creative industry. Alternatively, you can move directly into a PhD in art market studies or cultural sciences.
If you want to combine art history, management, and practical experience and actively shape the art market of tomorrow, the Master’s program in Art Market Management at mdh is the perfect fit!
You can look forward to:
Your Study Content
At the mdh, you will work on practical projects in exhibition and auction management, materials studies, and art fairs. You will learn how artworks are presented, evaluated, traded, and auctioned, developing exactly the skills that will help you succeed in the international art market.
Art Market Management: In-Depth Knowledge in 3–4 Semesters
In the core modules, you will address key questions of the art market:
– Origins and provenance of artworks
– Sales strategies in galleries, art trade, auction houses, and studios
– Project management for art fairs
– Auction management in the German and European markets
Additionally, specially designed modules in business and law provide essential expertise in legal foundations, business administration basics, and financial management for the art sector.
Understanding the Art Market – from Antiquity to the 21st Century
You will gain a broad foundation in the development of the art market and sharpen your academic profile through modules on art market research and scholarly work.
Elective Modules to Shape Your Profile
You choose four electives to tailor your Master’s program to your interests. Options include:
– European legal frameworks in the art market
– Current trends such as intangible, diverse, performative, or digital art
– Intercultural communication
– Art & Society
This allows you to strategically align your studies with your future role in the art market.
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Why study at mdh?
A Master’s Degree at mdh comes with many advantages:
Advanced Expertise: You will gain in-depth skills in art market research, a field that has been trending in recent years.
Networking Opportunities: Thanks to mdh’s partnerships, you will build an excellent network during your Master’s program, connecting with people in Berlin—the art capital.
Confidence & Independence: The Master’s program helps you get to know yourself better. With electives, you can develop your own style and stand out from the crowd. This boosts your skills and gives you the confidence you need, both professionally and personally, to accelerate your career.
Career Boost & Fast Track: A Master’s degree opens the door to more exciting, better-paid jobs and significantly improves your chances of a successful start in the art market.
Is Art Market Management the right fit for your career?
If you don’t want to be just a spectator in the art market, but actively shape, trade, and act strategically, the Master’s in Art Market Management offers the perfect playing field. The program combines in-depth knowledge of market mechanisms with practical insights into the international art scene, using Berlin as a vibrant hub for your professional development.
The Master in Art Market Management is ideal for:
- Art enthusiasts who want to trade art and earn from it
- Those who want to truly understand how the art market works
- Anyone looking to combine art, management, and cultural studies
- Students who want to grow both professionally and personally in Berlin, a multicultural art metropolis
- Those who want to actively engage with the Berlin art market, gain initial work experience, and build an international network
Your Professional Perspectives
The Art Market is Diverse – So Are Your Career Opportunities
The art market offers a wide range of professional paths. You could work as a gallery owner or art dealer, manage auctions, serve as a registrar or cataloguer, or advise collectors as an art consultant. Companies with corporate art collections, banks, insurance firms, or trade fair organizers also provide exciting opportunities. In addition, there are prospects in managing private collections or working for major public or private art foundations.
Typical Careers
- Gallery Owner
- Art Dealer
- Auctioneer
- Registrar
- Art Consultant (Collection Advisory)
- Manager in an Art Insurance Company
- Manager and Exhibition Director in a company with its own art collection
- Manager and Exhibition Director for a private art collection
- Exhibition Manager for a public or private institution, such as an art foundation with an acquisition budget
- Manager in an Art Logistics Company
- Expert in Provenance Research at a public or private institution
- Manager in Art Restoration
- Manager in an Art Technology Engineering Firm, working on conservation and restoration technologies
- Artist
- Curator
- Art Critic
- Manager for an Art Fair
- Manager in a PR Agency
- Expert in Public Relations for an Art Institution
With a Master’s degree from the Mediadesign Hochschule, you enter the art market with strong prospects. Entry-level salaries in many areas range from approximately €40,000 to €50,000—a solid start for your career in the industry.
In Short: Your degree directly invests in your future. It opens doors to positions that are both professionally rewarding and financially attractive. mdh provides the foundation you need to succeed.
Application & Admission
Enrollment Requirements
- Graduation diploma
- English skills: C1
Information for applicants from abroad: You have the possibility to check your international certificates independently in advance via uni-assist and to inform yourself about the requirements for your admission: TO UNI-ASSIST
>> International applicants who have not met the necessary HZB requirements need to complete the mdh preparatory programme for admission to a higher education programme at MDH.
Your personality and talents are more important than top grades!
Please apply via e-Mail (or regular mail). This is what we need from you:
- A motivation letter (tell us what inspires you – ca. 1 page)
- Relevant grade reports (Graduation diploma can be submitted after completion of your secondary school)
- Curriculum vitae with your current photo
You may apply during the school year (even before secondary school graduation)
Admission Requirements
- Higher Education Entrance Qualification (Abitur) or equivalent diploma, i.e. IB or A-levels (check with our counseling department whether your diploma qualifies)
Personal Requirements
- Good communication skills, spoken and written
- Commercial understanding and creative problem-solving skills
- Being a team player and showing personal initiative
- English and a bit of organisational skills
Tuition Fees:
- Campus Berlin: English language program: EU citizens: 4.110,00 EUR/Semester | Non-EU citizens: 6.300,00 EUR/Semester (with foundation programme 6.700,00 EUR/Semester)
For all courses we charge a one-time registration fee of 490,00 EUR and a one-time examination fee of 1.050,00 EUR.
For non-EU citizens, the one-time examination fee of 1.050,00 EUR is included in the tuition price.
In case of prepayment (semesterly, annually, completely) the tuition fees can be reduced by up to 5%. (This discount is not compatible with early registration discounts).
