Contemporary Art Worlds: NYC and London is an immersive study abroad program exploring two global epicenters of modern and contemporary visual culture. Participants will examine world-class museum collections, contemporary galleries, and public art installations, analyzing the systems, markets, and curatorial frameworks that define today's international art landscape.
Dr. Danielle Stewart (NEHMA) and Dr. Marissa Vigneault (Art + Design) will lead this program.
The Program
A three-week, intensive field-based study of the contemporary art capitals of New York City and London, examining major institutional collections, independent galleries, and curatorial practices.
Course Credit
- Credits in ARTH coursework
- ARTH 3205: Contemporary Art Worlds
- ARTH 5730 The Art Museum
- Fulfills upper-division art history requirements for Art + Design majors
- No prerequisites
Museum Studies Certificate
ARTH 5730: The Art Museum counts toward fulfilling requirements for students earning the Museum Studies Certificate.
Curriculum
- Museum history and institutional critique
- Contemporary exhibition and gallery analysis
- Public art, memorials, and urban interventions
- Curatorial strategies and collections management
- Art market dynamics and international art networks
- Visual analysis and object-based research
- Provenance and critical museology
Career-Oriented
Skills gained are valued by museums, commercial galleries, auction houses, non-profit arts spaces, and cultural organizations seeking professionals with direct, field-informed knowledge of the global art ecosystem:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art / Museum of Modern Art
- Tate Modern / Tate Britain
- Commercial contemporary galleries and auction houses
- Independent arts foundations and residencies
- Museum education and public programming departments
- Graduate programs in Art History, Curatorial Studies, and Arts Administration
Location & Logistics
New York City
As the primary hub of the western contemporary art market, New York City offers direct contact with landmark institutions—from the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney to the concentrated gallery districts of Chelsea, Tribeca, and the Lower East Side. Students will analyze how historic institutions and grassroots spaces interact within a dense, evolving creative economy.
London
A historic crossroads for international modernism and global contemporary practice, London allows students to investigate civic and national collections—including Tate Modern, Tate Britain, and the Victoria and Albert Museum—alongside world-class independent exhibition spaces. The city serves as an ideal landscape for exploring public funding models, global biennale networks, and postcolonial curatorial dialogues.
Accommodations
Accommodations are arranged in centrally located, secure student lodgings or hotels in both New York City and London, providing quick, direct access to transit networks and key cultural districts.
Program Excursions
Participants will visit leading international museums, private collections, commercial galleries, public art sites, and artist-run projects across New York City and London.
Free Travel
Travel days and scheduled free time are structured into the program, allowing students independence to explore both metropolitan hubs, visit specialty collections, attend cultural events, and navigate neighborhoods at their own pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to be an ARTH or ART major? No. The program is open to all students interested in visual culture, museums, and contemporary arts.
- Are there prerequisites for the courses? No. There are no prerequisite courses required.
- Does this count toward the Museum Studies Certificate? Yes. ARTH 5730 fulfills requirements toward the certificate.
- Is airfare included in the program fee? No. Round-trip airfare is arranged independently by students; lodging, group transit between program hubs, and scheduled museum admissions are covered.
- Can I use financial aid? Yes. There are multiple funding options and study abroad scholarships available through USU.