From Monasteries To The Market: The Legal And Spiritual Economies Of Himalayan Art In China,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
From Monasteries To The Market: The Legal And Spiritual Economies Of Himalayan Art In China, Hengshi An
MA Theses
In recent years, the Himalayan art market in China has shown a remarkable transformation, emerging as one of the most dynamic segments within the broader Asian art economy. While much of the global and domestic art market has stagnated, Tibetan and Himalayan artworks have achieved sustainable growth and high auction price with major collections been published, showing structural strength rather than speculative enthusiasm. This paper examines the drivers behind this phenomenon through a qualitative analysis of auction data, dealer networks, and collector behavior across key hubs in China such as Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The findings suggest that …
When Fine Art And Commercial Art Merge: A Playbook For Emerging Artists Without Gallery Representation To Create Successful And Sustainable Careers,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
When Fine Art And Commercial Art Merge: A Playbook For Emerging Artists Without Gallery Representation To Create Successful And Sustainable Careers, Regina Escobedo Guerra
MA Theses
Pursuing a career as an artist comes with no clear path nor directions. The first years after graduating are filled with confusion and uncertainty. Emerging artists are oftentimes unequipped with the necessary resources to create sustainable and profitable careers. In a saturated market where only a select few are able to make a living solely from art, artists need to gain autonomy and control over their practices. This thesis provides emerging artists with no gallery representation with the tools to create an independent career that prioritizes artistic authenticity and sustains profit. Through a dismissal of the negative perceptions placed on …
The Language Of Value: Lot Note Complexity And Auction Performance In Abstract Expressionism,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
The Language Of Value: Lot Note Complexity And Auction Performance In Abstract Expressionism, Artur Sharifullin
MA Theses
This thesis asks a simple question: does the language in lot notes relate to price and to whether a lot beats or misses its estimate? I study eight Abstract Expressionist artists: Ad Reinhardt, Adolph Gottlieb, Barnett Newman, Franz Kline, Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, Robert Motherwell, and Sam Francis because their works are less representational and often need supporting text to explain the context. The main sample includes only lots sold for more than $1 million at Christie’s or Sotheby’s in New York or London over the past ten years. I measure a small set of writing features that are easy …
Corporate Patronage In Art And Education: A Case Study Of Bloomberg's Interventions,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
Corporate Patronage In Art And Education: A Case Study Of Bloomberg's Interventions, Xiaojun Tian
MA Theses
This study focuses on the application of corporate sponsorship in the fields of art and education, delving deep into the interventions and cases made by Bloomberg L.P. in these two domains. Corporate sponsorship for the arts acts as a significant display of Cultural Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), not only fostering diversity in the production of art institutions and artists but also having a profound effect on the educational sector. Utilizing case study methodology, this research deconstructs key projects and activities funded by Bloomberg, encompassing support for exhibitions and public art projects, as well as various initiatives aimed at art education, …
The Flavor Of Marketing: How Food Is Revolutionizing Luxury Brand Communication,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
The Flavor Of Marketing: How Food Is Revolutionizing Luxury Brand Communication, Aloisa Ruf
MA Theses
This thesis explores how food operates as a cultural, psychological, and strategic instrument within the global luxury industry. Drawing from art history, marketing theory, and sensory studies, it traces how societies across Europe, the Middle East, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States have long used food to express hierarchy, belonging, and emotion—from the banquets of seventeenth-century Versailles to the branded cafes and collaboration of the 2010s and 2020s. Through a comparative and interpretive methodology, the research connects historical visual traditions with contemporary brand strategies, examining case studies such as Gucci Osteria, Louis Vuitton’s Desert Iftar, Dior Café, Loewe’s “Tomato” …
Global Art: An Economic Exploration Of The Factors Driving Sensible Gallery Expansion,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
Global Art: An Economic Exploration Of The Factors Driving Sensible Gallery Expansion, James Mclennan
MA Theses
The goal of this thesis is to develop a practical and defensible decision tool to guide art gallery expansion. Focusing on four cities – New York, Hong Kong, London, and Doha – the thesis translates heterogeneous considerations into a matrix that scores each of the cities according to eight factors: Market & Demand; Regulation & Tax; Logistics & Shipping; Labor & Immigration; Legal Entity & Finance; Brand, PR & Audience; Competition & Benchmarking; and Risk. Sub-factors are scored and averaged to provide results on how each city scores against each other. The output is a ranked set of city recommendations …
Evolving Motives: How Art Collecting Has Changed Across Generations,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
Evolving Motives: How Art Collecting Has Changed Across Generations, Giovanni Mazzoleni
MA Theses
This thesis elucidates the changing reasons for collection in recent years and focuses on three generations of collectors: those born before 1950; those born between 1951-1980; and those born after 1981. It commences with a literature review of the initial collecting motivations and challenges, motives based on socio-cultural, economic and technological advancements which foster the importance and reasons for collections. To make this investigation tangible, a quantitative survey was adopted. Forty-five participants, each ranking their levels of agreement from one to five based on an assessment of eight statements based on five motives: economic, normative, uniqueness, hedonic and intellectual. Descriptive …
Does Blue-Chip Art Genuinely Provide Diversification And Risk Mitigation Once Illiquidity, Transaction Frictions, And Survivorship Bias Are Explicitly Incorporated Into Performance Analysis, Or Is The “Safe Haven” Label Fundamentally Misleading?,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
Does Blue-Chip Art Genuinely Provide Diversification And Risk Mitigation Once Illiquidity, Transaction Frictions, And Survivorship Bias Are Explicitly Incorporated Into Performance Analysis, Or Is The “Safe Haven” Label Fundamentally Misleading?, Radhika Vissanji
MA Theses
Blue-chip art is widely presented as a safe haven and portfolio diversifier, particularly during periods of financial market uncertainty. This perception is reinforced by art price indices and industry reports that emphasise long-term appreciation, relatively low volatility, and weak correlation with traditional financial assets. Despite the growing prominence of these claims in advisory and institutional discourse, there remains limited agreement on whether such properties persist once the structural characteristics of the art market are fully taken into account. This thesis evaluates whether blue-chip art genuinely delivers diversification and risk-mitigation benefits under realistic market conditions. Focusing on three structural factors, illiquidity, …
Beyond The Stream: Valuing Music Catalogs As An Alternative Asset Class,
2026
University of New Hampshire, Durham
Beyond The Stream: Valuing Music Catalogs As An Alternative Asset Class, Amelia Jade Magay
Honors Theses and Capstones
This thesis builds a quantitative valuation framework for music catalog transactions and tests its limits systematically. The goal is not to produce a formula that perfectly prices every deal. The goal is to identify where streaming-based financial analysis is a useful underwriting tool, where it breaks down, and what categories of value investors appear to be pricing beyond publicly available streaming data.
Human Resource Policy And Practice In The American Regional Theatre: The Intersection Of The Actors’ Equity Association And The League Of Resident Theatres,
2026
University of Kentucky
Human Resource Policy And Practice In The American Regional Theatre: The Intersection Of The Actors’ Equity Association And The League Of Resident Theatres, Kathleen Holland
Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration
Human resource management plays a critical yet understudied role in the American regional theatre, an industry characterized by project-based labor, mixed union and nonunion workforces, and deeply ingrained cultural norms that prioritize artistic production over worker well-being. This dissertation examines how institutional human resource policies intersect with the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) collective bargaining agreement and the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), and the implications of these intersections for human resource practice in regional theatre organizations. While entertainment-industry unions predate the formalization of contemporary human resource management, little scholarship has examined how union agreements may shape or substitute for organizational …
A Holistic Approach To Country Branding: Examining A Master Brand And Sub-Brand Framework,
2026
Valparaiso University
A Holistic Approach To Country Branding: Examining A Master Brand And Sub-Brand Framework, Musa Pinar, Aycan Duran Tekoglu, Tulay Girard
Atlantic Marketing Journal
Recently, nation branding has drawn the attention of policymakers worldwide, as nations recognize its strategic importance in achieving and sustaining success in the global competitive landscape. This study provides a conceptual framework based on master brand and sub-brand architecture to examine country branding holistically by integrating macro and micro perspectives, country brand equity, and their effects on consumer preferences. The specific objectives are to 1) identify the dimensions of master brand, sub-brand, and country brand equity and develop reliable and valid measurement scales for each dimension, and 2) develop a conceptual framework that integrates the master brand, sub-brand, and brand …
From Regulation To Practice: Exploring Aml/Kyc Compliance, Proportionality, And Technology In The Art Market,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
From Regulation To Practice: Exploring Aml/Kyc Compliance, Proportionality, And Technology In The Art Market, Layla Rujugiro
MA in Art Business Dissertations
To sum - this dissertation examines how the UK’s adoption of 5AMLD through MLR 2019 has shaped compliance practices within the AM, focusing on SMEs classified as AMPs. Five interviews and a survey of 24 London galleries, highlight how uniform regulation create uneven impacts across the sector. The study argues that clearer guidance, proportionate fees, and accessible training are essential for effective compliance, while RegTech tools, though helpful, cannot replace AMP responsibility.
An Investigation Into The Scottsdale Art Week: Cultural Focus, Location, And Sustainability In An Already Saturated Environment,
2026
Sotheby's Institute of Art
An Investigation Into The Scottsdale Art Week: Cultural Focus, Location, And Sustainability In An Already Saturated Environment, Sophia K. Meshel
MA Theses
This thesis examines the role of regional art fairs within the wider American art market and examines how these events contribute to the growth of local cultural artistic ecosystems. While firmly established international art fairs often dominate attention within the global market, lesser known regional fairs play an important role in connecting artists, galleries, collectors, and cultural platforms within specific communities. Through analysis of established regional fairs and consideration of factors such as artist selection, audience engagement, institutional partnerships, and economic impact, this study investigates how art fairs can move beyond temporary commercial events to become meaningful cultural platforms. Particular …
Developing Christian Artists: The Live Music Sphere,
2025
Lipscomb University
Developing Christian Artists: The Live Music Sphere, Camille Crites
Student Scholar Symposium
Christian/Gospel music was the fourth-fastest growing music genre in 2024, and many artists are seeking to enter the Christian music industry. This research seeks to examine the exploration of live music opportunities for Christian music artists in the developing stages of their careers. Every musical artist’s career consists of about five sectors: Songwriting/Publishing, Recording/Releasing Music, Live Music, Merch, and Sync (Film/TV). While parts like Songwriting and Recording are very accessible for new Christian artists, it can be challenging to know how to best approach the Live Music sector, one of the major sources of income for any performing artist. There …
Liminal Arts And Business: An Autoethnographic Analysis Of A New Arts Venture In An Entrepreneurial Startup Accelerator Program,
2025
University of Kentucky
Liminal Arts And Business: An Autoethnographic Analysis Of A New Arts Venture In An Entrepreneurial Startup Accelerator Program, Jill Schinberg, Rebecca A. Ferrell, Dan Sandfelder
Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education
In this study, we explored the intersection of performing arts and entrepreneurship through an autoethnographic study of a new arts venture, theLAB*, which participated in the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship's accelerator program at the University of Kentucky. In creating theLAB*, we investigated the feasibility of establishing a dance-forward performing arts presenting organization within a profit-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a multi-generational team of arts managers, we analyzed the experience utilizing scenario-planning and the DIEP (Describe, Interpret, Evaluate, Plan) model of reflection to assess the challenges and benefits of participating in this environment. Key findings reveal a significant disconnect between the …
A Comprehensive Digital Marketing Strategy Guide For Independent Musicians,
2025
Lindenwood University
A Comprehensive Digital Marketing Strategy Guide For Independent Musicians, William Elree Hilburn
Theses
Creating and implementing a sound digital marketing strategy is a crucial element to consider as an independent musician. In this thesis report and the strategy guide that follows, a number of current digital marketing strategies are discussed at length. The strategies that are discussed in this report and within the strategy guide have been gleaned through semi-structured qualitative interviews with two separate up-and-coming music artists. The information shared by these case studies has been documented and synthesised into this report, as well as, into a comprehensive strategy guide that has been written to aid fledgling music artists in their digital …
Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania,
2025
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray
Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …
The British Photographic Industry And The Roles Of Women 1840-1920: A Survey,
2025
Independent scholar
The British Photographic Industry And The Roles Of Women 1840-1920: A Survey, Michael Pritchard
Art Inquiries
This essay surveys the role of women within the British photographic industry to 1920 and attempts to quantify the numbers involved, their roles and how they were perceived by contemporary commentators. In common with so much of nineteenth century arts and sciences women are rarely present having been excluded by legal constraints on wealth and property, from the membership of professional bodies, and by being ignored by the contemporary press, this essay provides substantive numbers emphasising their significance.
The Self-Curating Musician: An Innovative Concept And An Intensive Learning Experience By Systemic Design Thinking,
2025
KASK & Conservatory Ghent, Belgium
The Self-Curating Musician: An Innovative Concept And An Intensive Learning Experience By Systemic Design Thinking, Joris Blanckaert, Ellen Loots, Saskia Westerduin, Pawan V. Bhansing
Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education
Self-curation is an emerging notion in the artistic practice that we propose as an alternative to the questioned notion of entrepreneurship in the realm of classical music. Systemic Design Thinking (SDT) methods helped conceptualize self-curation and develop an intensive, week-long learning experience. Participants validated the self-curation concept and its five components: activating creativity, seeking uniqueness, developing a discourse, understanding the performance practice and engaging communities. Our study further highlights that rather than suffering from a tension between arts and commerce, young (performing) musicians experience a tension between the expectation of the outside world that they need to be exceptional as …
From Altamont To Astroworld: An Analysis Of Management Issues In Large Scale Music Festivals,
2025
Pace University - New York
From Altamont To Astroworld: An Analysis Of Management Issues In Large Scale Music Festivals, Jennifer Morriss
Honors College Theses
The most common problems in music festivals can largely be broken into two categories: risks to the individual and risks on a grand scale. It is the responsibility of event managers to consider how to best keep everyone safe and maintain proper organization. Risks to the individual are often things like substance use and abuse, harm reduction, and sexual assault or harassment. Meanwhile, broad risks tend to be issues of evacuation and emergency management, crowd safety, stampedes, and casualties or violence. It is crucial to reflect on prior common safety and security issues when setting out to produce a large …
