The Art Acquisition Playbook: A Practical Guide to Buying Art Through Galleries & International Art Fairs
Course overview
The Art Acquisition Playbook is a four-week structured programme for anyone who wants to understand how to confidently acquire art through galleries and international art fairs.
It focuses on how the art market actually works in practice—from gallery relationships to fair access, evaluation, and acquisition decisions.
Guided by the former Director of Education at Christie’s London, Glen Hardwick-Bruce and alongside leading galleries, the programme combines rigorous insight with real-world expertise. Each session delivers the practical tools and deep understanding essential to evaluating and acquiring art.
What Will You Learn
How to approach and communicate with galleries
How access to artworks is structured at galleries and fairs
How to navigate art fairs strategically
How to evaluate works beyond aesthetics (context, value, logistics)
Pricing, VAT, export, and acquisition processes
How to build long-term relationships with galleries
How to make structured acquisition decisions
Students of the 4-week will also receive access to the Art World Advisory Alumni community.
Beyond the Classroom
While the course is delivered online for maximum accessibility, participants will also have the opportunity to join a practical session at an art fair:
This includes:
guided fair walkthrough
real-time gallery engagement
applied evaluation and shortlist building
post-fair debrief
Who Should Join
Emerging and developing collectors
Professionals entering the art market
Individuals seeking structured guidance when buying art
Anyone looking to understand galleries and art fairs more effectively
No prior experience is required.
Why This Programme?
Most art courses focus on appreciation, history, or market overview.
This programme focuses on something different:
It teaches how acquisition actually works in practice.
In the real art market:
The best works are often allocated before public access
Galleries prioritise known or credible buyers
Access is shaped by communication, timing, and perception
Buyers are evaluated as much as artworks are
Most collectors only see the final layer of this system—the exhibition floor.
This programme reveals what happens before that point.
It teaches you how to operate within the system rather than observe it from the outside.
The Dates
8 - 29 September 2026
Tuesday evenings via Zoom
Time: 7.00pm - 8.00pm (UK time)
Fees
Registration Standard: €980
Complete access to all 4 sessions
Learning materials
Certificate of Completion
Registration Premium: €1800 (use code for your 10% discount on the Premium Package)
All benefits of the standard registration
2 day Access to an art fair with group lunch and debriefing session
Certificate of Completion
Meet Your Lecturer
Glen Hardwick-Bruce
With over 20 years of international experience across the arts, education, and cultural sectors, I have built a career connecting people with art through education, strategic advisory, and meaningful cultural engagement. As Founder and Director of Art World Advisory Group, I advise private collectors, institutions, and cultural organisations on acquisitions, exhibitions, educational programmes, and audience development, while curating bespoke art experiences, lectures, and international study tours. Previously, I spent thirteen years at Christie's Education in London, culminating as Director of Education, where I led the development of international programmes, managed strategic partnerships and budgets, and expanded global learning opportunities. Earlier roles in Japan, South Korea, and Australia further strengthened my expertise in education, communications, administration, and cross-cultural collaboration, bringing a truly international perspective to my work.
