Becoming an art dealer is possibly one of those high status, high pay occupations that appears to offer a life of variety, glamour and excitement. The popular image of dealers varies from the talented and gifted loner spotting a long lost master in a barn or house clearance; to the expert who values art and prepares it for sale in a prestigious gallery or at an international auction in London, New York, Paris, or any of the ‘art capitals’ of the world. So what is the truth, how do you become an art dealer and what is required?

Whatever type of art dealer you want to become, from independent to gallery entrepreneur, there is one minimum requirement needed by all; an understanding and love of art, if not a passion. So choosing a type of art that you have a passion for is vital, as you will need a prodigious work rate and commitment to learn and acquire the relevant knowledge and expertise to make a successful career within the art world. Understanding what makes a piece or art good or excellent has to be matched by an understanding as to why that art is seen as good or excellent. In other words, why it is highly valued and desirable enough for people (and increasingly institutions) to want to buy and acquire.

Many art dealers have undertaken History of Art degrees and then gone to work for collections, museums, galleries and auction houses. Yet this can still be a lottery in terms of becoming a successful art dealer or art dealership employee. What is currently ‘hot’ or fashionable varies, both in terms of the type of art, as well as within sectors. An art dealer who understands painting will also need to understand fashion and taste trends in terms of whether a particular genre is increasing in popularity or not; let alone an individual artist. Any art dealer knows that a Van Gogh will always find a buyer and a price, but what about a Spencer? Add to this the variety and expertise needed when thinking of sculpture, or graphic art and posters, or ceramics, or fabrics, or video installations or…? Think also of time and geography within a sector such as Russian Revolutionary Posters or British commercial transport art of the 1930s; and becoming an art dealer doesn’t appear as straightforward. So again, what type of art dealer do you want to become and what sector do you want to work in?

A specialist Art History degree that allows you to focus on a particular form and period may be a good starting point. However a qualification and training in the business of art in order to understand how to make a real living as a professional art dealer might be even more useful. If your desire is to work for a large, top-end dealership or auction house, then understanding the business of art will be critical to your chances of success. Luckily there are now an increasing number of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees offering training and qualifications in the business and understanding of art markets, but be careful. Choose a course offered by a provider that has a reputation and status that employers value and your future maybe secure. London, Paris and New York are traditional centres of excellence for art business and commerce. Yet new centres are emerging all the time in other art capitals such as Singapore, Tokyo and Beijing.

The fact is that Art is not a luxury, but the activity and passion that distinguishes human beings from all other life. Once humans have enough to eat, they are then passionate about their cultures, languages, religions and countries; and that means their art. Being an art dealer allows you to partake in that passion, as well as earn a good living if you have the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise. For that you need a training and qualification that is itself both expert and recognised. So ask any provider what expertise and reputation they have. Ask who will be teaching you and how expert they are. As with any qualification or training, make sure you also like the facilities and location.