So you want to learn about the art world? Here are the top FREE courses you can take in your spare time. These aren't just art history- they are about managing and working in the art world.
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This arts management course is free and comes with a certificate. It's short, so I'm not sure how rigorous the content is.
Arts Management: The Complete Guide | Alison
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Offered by MoMA, this course explains everything about contemporary art.
What Is Contemporary Art?
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Study 'at risk cultural heritages education series (ARCHES)', ‘creating & conserving’, and ‘not your grandfather’s art history'
Special Topics in Art History
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Harvard offers multiple courses on EdX for free. You can take literature, architecture, and art history in various college course like sessions.
HarvardX: Tangible Things: Discovering History Through Artworks, Artifacts, Scientific Specimens, and the Stuff Around You
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Want to learn about museum management? The Smithsonian offers this amazing course.
SmithsonianX: Interdisciplinary Teaching with Museum Objects
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I just found this Coursera class on form and design. I can't wait to take it and add it to my knowledge of design.
The Language of Design: Form and Meaning
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This 3-part audio series offers a wealth of information about curating.
Show Time: Curating contemporary art | Tate
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Open University is another great learning platform. This is an interesting way to study art history greats- through the lens of the seasons.
The Seasons in Art
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What makes this fascinating is the geopolitical angle. It's not easy to find courses on art in the Americas, so this one should be fabulous.
Art and the Mexican Revolution
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20 hours of free instruction on Caravaggio??? Sign.Me.Up!!
Helen Langdon's ‘Caravaggio’
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Learn about the inspirational work of the leading European painters from approximately 1400 to 1800, and explore the issues expressed through the art of painting.
European Paintings: From Leonardo to Rembrandt to Goya
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Not art history- but using art as a backdrop to teaching critical thinking skills. Perfect for business people of all areas.
SmithsonianX: Teaching Complex Thinking through Art with the National Gallery of Art
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This course explores visual art forms and their cultural connections across historical periods, designed for students with little experience in the visual arts.
Art History - Saylor Academy
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MoMA offers a plethora of free courses online. Many come with certificates. They are one of my favorite museums.
Online courses | MoMA
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This course is next up on my learning list.
The Art of Curating and The Curating of Art - Art Education on Collecteurs
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Are you a teacher? Here are some really helpful teaching resources and free courses for people of all ages.
Art Learning Resources for Students and Teachers from the National Gallery of Art
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Very thorough course on Asia's art
The Art of Asia
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Very short. Very helpful.
Breaking Down Art Collecting - Art Education on Collecteurs
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I thought this was an interesting addition to the art world courses. Art therapy has helped a lot of people.
Healing with the Arts
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Arts and heritage management is at the heart of the matter- learn about protecting our art and cultural history.
Arts and Heritage Management
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Earn a certificate from LVMH- great for the business and luxury side of the art world.
INSIDE LVMH
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Taught using artwork directly from the Yale museum
Let This Be a Lesson | Yale University Art Gallery
