Women of the art world: dealers, collectors and patrons
Explore the lives and work of some of the significant non-artists who have shaped our access to modern and contemporary art. We’ll look at the women who were willing to support new ideas, new art and avant garde projects during the artistic upheavals of the 20th century and beyond.
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The art world is comprised of artists and the people who support them. Women have played a vital and unique role in the support of artists, particularly artists of the late 19th and 20th century avant garde. This course introduces some of the significant supporters of modern and contemporary artists while also introducing certain structures that underlie the art world: curation, collection, patronage and sales.
After a brief history of women in the art world, we will look at noteworthy, non-artists who have made an impact on the history of art. We focus on their identification as women because women have held a unique place in the world of avant garde art, often taking risks to encourage progressive change. With the little time we have, this short course places emphasis on the art world of Europe and the United States from approximately 1900 to the present.
Each week we will look at two to three case studies of roles in the art world including curation/archiving, collecting, art dealing and patronage. We will come to understand the difference between galleries, museum and private collections and patronage. Art world figures included, but not limited to, are Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Philippa de Menil, Virigina Dawn, Peggy Guggenheim, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Belle da Costa Greene, Louisine Havemeyer, Koyo Kouoh, Betty Parsons, Edith Halpert, Ileana Sonnabend, Gertrude Stein, Galka Scheyer and Katherine Sophie Dreier.
Please be aware, this course takes a feminist approach and will critically engage with issues related to the patriarchal traditions of European/United States art systems because this was a major concern of the women who will be featured in this course.
What will we cover?
Different roles of those who work to support artists and art access in the art world
Examples of noteworthy women who have impacted access to art in the 20th and 21st centuries
Why it is necessary to have a robust support system for art and artists to succeed
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Explain the roles of different people who support artists and art access in the art world
Understand how and why women, in particular, have been at the forefront of modern and contemporary art collecting, curation and patronage
Discuss the impact of at least two individuals covered in this course
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. These handouts will be posted via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
A history of photography: the first 150 years
Women in art collections: a history of artists and sitters
Sarah Jaffray holds a BA and MA in Art History with an emphasis in 19th/20th century France and a minor in the Italian Renaissance. She holds a second MA in Cultural Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. Sarah was a lecturer for several colleges and universities in the Los Angeles area before relocating to London in 2012. She has worked in curatorial roles at the British Museum and Wellcome Collection. In addition to her current teaching at City Lit, Sarah is a lecturer at the University of Arts London and the Tutor Coordinator for City Lit's Art History programme. Her art historical practice focuses on experimental narratives, artistic process, art pedagogy, politics and philosophy. Sarah's current research is focused on translation and empathy.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/women-of-the-art-world-dealers-collectors-and-patrons2491261Women of the art world: dealers, collectors and patronshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/o/women-of-the-art-world-dealers-collectors-and-patrons-vb983-1080.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Galleries, collecting & curating/Courses/International Women's Day at City Lit228511361177189220031228511771136<p>Explore the lives and work of some of the significant non-artists who have shaped our access to modern and contemporary art. We’ll look at the women who were willing to support new ideas, new art and avant garde projects during the artistic upheavals of the 20th century and beyond. </p>002802852Women of the art world: dealers, collectors and patrons149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/o/women-of-the-art-world-dealers-collectors-and-patrons-vb983-1080_2.jpgInStockDaytimeFriKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-02-27T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allFeb 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB983149149Women of the art world: dealers, collectors and patrons11997149Sarah Jaffraywomen-of-the-art-world-dealers-collectors-and-patrons/vb983-2526<p>Explore the lives and work of some of the significant non-artists who have shaped our access to modern and contemporary art. We’ll look at the women who were willing to support new ideas, new art and avant garde projects during the artistic upheavals of the 20th century and beyond. </p>0000-Available|2026-02-27 00:00:00<p lang="EN-US">The art world is comprised of artists and the people who support them. Women have played a vital and unique role in the support of artists, particularly artists of the late 19th and 20th century avant garde. This course introduces some of the significant supporters of modern and contemporary artists while also introducing certain structures that underlie the art world: curation, collection, patronage and sales. </p><p lang="EN-US">After a brief history of women in the art world, we will look at noteworthy, non-artists who have made an impact on the history of art. We focus on their identification as women because women have held a unique place in the world of avant garde art, often taking risks to encourage progressive change. With the little time we have, this short course places emphasis on the art world of Europe and the United States from approximately 1900 to the present. </p><p lang="EN-US">Each week we will look at two to three case studies of roles in the art world including curation/archiving, collecting, art dealing and patronage. We will come to understand the difference between galleries, museum and private collections and patronage. Art world figures included, but not limited to, are Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Philippa de Menil, Virigina Dawn, Peggy Guggenheim, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Belle da Costa Greene, Louisine Havemeyer, Koyo Kouoh, Betty Parsons, Edith Halpert, Ileana Sonnabend, Gertrude Stein, Galka Scheyer and Katherine Sophie Dreier. </p><p lang="EN-US">Please be aware, this course takes a feminist approach and will critically engage with issues related to the patriarchal traditions of European/United States art systems because this was a major concern of the women who will be featured in this course.</p><p>Explore the lives and work of some of the significant non-artists who have shaped our access to modern and contemporary art. We’ll look at the women who were willing to support new ideas, new art and avant garde projects during the artistic upheavals of the 20th century and beyond. </p><ul><li>Different roles of those who work to support artists and art access in the art world</li><li>Examples of noteworthy women who have impacted access to art in the 20th and 21st centuries </li><li>Why it is necessary to have a robust support system for art and artists to succeed </li></ul><ul><li>Explain the roles of different people who support artists and art access in the art world</li><li>Understand how and why women, in particular, have been at the forefront of modern and contemporary art collecting, curation and patronage </li><li>Discuss the impact of at least two individuals covered in this course</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels. </p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion. </p><p>You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. These handouts will be posted via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date. </p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided. </p><p>A history of photography: the first 150 years</p><p>Women in art collections: a history of artists and sitters</p><p>Pioneering women at the National Portrait Gallery</p><p>Women behind the lens: 1920-2020</p>Art historyGalleries, collecting & curatingvirtual11914997VB983NONEFri27/02/26 - 27/03/2610:30 - 12:3010:3012:305 sessions (over 5 weeks)55-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetSarah JaffrayBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-02-27T00:00:00+00:00Feb 2026Culture, history & humanities149149Women of the art world: dealers, collectors and patronswomen-of-the-art-world-dealers-collectors-and-patrons/vb983-2526<p>Explore the lives and work of some of the significant non-artists who have shaped our access to modern and contemporary art. We’ll look at the women who were willing to support new ideas, new art and avant garde projects during the artistic upheavals of the 20th century and beyond. </p>0000-Available|2026-02-27 00:00:00<p lang="EN-US">The art world is comprised of artists and the people who support them. Women have played a vital and unique role in the support of artists, particularly artists of the late 19th and 20th century avant garde. This course introduces some of the significant supporters of modern and contemporary artists while also introducing certain structures that underlie the art world: curation, collection, patronage and sales. </p><p lang="EN-US">After a brief history of women in the art world, we will look at noteworthy, non-artists who have made an impact on the history of art. We focus on their identification as women because women have held a unique place in the world of avant garde art, often taking risks to encourage progressive change. With the little time we have, this short course places emphasis on the art world of Europe and the United States from approximately 1900 to the present. </p><p lang="EN-US">Each week we will look at two to three case studies of roles in the art world including curation/archiving, collecting, art dealing and patronage. We will come to understand the difference between galleries, museum and private collections and patronage. Art world figures included, but not limited to, are Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Philippa de Menil, Virigina Dawn, Peggy Guggenheim, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Belle da Costa Greene, Louisine Havemeyer, Koyo Kouoh, Betty Parsons, Edith Halpert, Ileana Sonnabend, Gertrude Stein, Galka Scheyer and Katherine Sophie Dreier. </p><p lang="EN-US">Please be aware, this course takes a feminist approach and will critically engage with issues related to the patriarchal traditions of European/United States art systems because this was a major concern of the women who will be featured in this course.</p><p>Explore the lives and work of some of the significant non-artists who have shaped our access to modern and contemporary art. We’ll look at the women who were willing to support new ideas, new art and avant garde projects during the artistic upheavals of the 20th century and beyond. </p><ul><li>Different roles of those who work to support artists and art access in the art world</li><li>Examples of noteworthy women who have impacted access to art in the 20th and 21st centuries </li><li>Why it is necessary to have a robust support system for art and artists to succeed </li></ul><ul><li>Explain the roles of different people who support artists and art access in the art world</li><li>Understand how and why women, in particular, have been at the forefront of modern and contemporary art collecting, curation and patronage </li><li>Discuss the impact of at least two individuals covered in this course</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels. </p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion. </p><p>You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. These handouts will be posted via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date. </p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided. </p><p>A history of photography: the first 150 years</p><p>Women in art collections: a history of artists and sitters</p><p>Pioneering women at the National Portrait Gallery</p><p>Women behind the lens: 1920-2020</p>Art historyGalleries, collecting & curatingconfigurable
Gods and heroes from Classical to Renaissance artFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00