NEW MBA IN FINE ART INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Posted by Iain Brunt on 14/07/2021

There is a growing consensus amongst professionals in the art world that formal education is
needed in order to create a more transparent sector with better standards of governance.
This need was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic as a boom in digital artworks,
little understood by advisors and collectors, flipped the industry on its head.

The virtual world of cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) sparked a
wave of innovation that challenged industry expectations. As well as creating new mediums,
technology has assisted the distribution, management and sales of fine art and antiques.
This, coupled with an increased demand for alternative asset classes to hedge against
market disruption, led the faculty at Geneva Business School to take up the challenge of
addressing commercial education in the art sector.
“The pace of change over the past year has been electric” course director, Sixtine
Crutchfield told antiques.com. “Previously, those wishing to enter the industry perhaps had
some academic grounding in art history but have largely trained on the job, but that is no
longer sufficient. The added complexities, brought by new digital formats, have highlighted
the need in the industry for people with real business management expertise. We have
designed this course specifically to meet that demand.”
This September, Geneva Business School will be launching a unique, comprehensive MBA
program aimed at bankers, lawyers, insurance specialists, collectors, dealers and young
artists that will enable them to develop the business skills necessary to acquire a
professional edge in the sector.
“We are looking for strong students who will continue the tradition of excellence. It is
absolutely necessary today for any manager in the business of taking care of UHNW clients
and their wealth to be able to discuss art. Especially when financial markets and political
situations are unsettled. When I worked in a bank, I used my art background to retain and
gain clients. It never failed.” Sixtine Crutchfield said.
Ranked 2nd in Switzerland and in the top 60 best business schools worldwide, Geneva
Business School’s MBA programmes offer 3 combined elective courses, 7 specialisations, 2
leadership weeks over a period of two semesters and a third final semester to present a
thesis, project or management report. The classes are held in the evening allowing our students to carry on with their professional careers while pursuing their studies. The course
is held 100% in English.
With FAIM (Fine Art International Management) students are required to successfully
complete modules in the history of art, art law, art finance, cultural project management,
entrepreneurship, logistics and museum science.
The course will also include extracurricular activities such as private visits to blockbuster
exhibitions and artist studios, trips to major events on the art calendar, conferences,
workshops and forensic laboratory experiences. The professors will ensure that students
have the opportunity to meet and exchange with the experts, event organisers, artists and
curators. These connections will lead to career opportunities for some of the students.
The first intake will begin their studies in September with a second intake in February.
Applications are open now!

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