Christie's Summer School 2024

The scholars spent the week with student art enthusiasts from around the world, learning about art collection, attending lectures on art history and gaining valuable skills which can be applied to their studies and beyond. For the scholars who attended this Summer School, the experience was so much more than a learning opportunity. It was a glimpse behind the curtain of one of the most exclusive industries and a rare insight into the art world. Students spent the week learning about the wide range of services Christie’s offers, from auctioneering and curation to research and conservation. The scholars even got to organise and run their own mock auction!

In addition to the amazing learning experiences, the Summer School was a valuable opportunity for the scholars to build professional networks and develop their employability skills through the expert advice they received and access to world-class facilities. Students left their week at Christie’s with a fresh perspective and new ideas about their futures. Participation in the programme not only elevated their aspirations but also boosted their confidence and broadened their horizons.

Kerry, an Art History and Curating student, shared her thoughts on the experience “the week at Christie’s was an opportunity I felt I could not miss, and I was correct in thinking so. From day one I felt welcomed and calm ready for the week ahead. I would like to thank everyone involved for giving myself and others this rare opportunity”. English & Philosophy student Xavier came away wanting to learn more. “I just want to say thank you to Christie’s for this opportunity as it enabled me to be able to go to a new city to learn about topics of my interest, as well as introducing new areas of interest, like the history of fine art in China and Asia”.

For Fine Art student, Lucy, the week at Christie’s changed her outlook on working in the art industry and she now sees it as a much more accessible and inclusive field. “It was really encouraging to see the high representation of women in the art world too. Before coming to Christie’s, I was used to my understanding of the art world as a very male-dominated space, but now feel much more optimistic about finding a career path for myself as a young woman”.

Manchester Met is proud to collaborate with partners like Christie’s to offer such remarkable opportunities for our students. For our First Generation Scholars, who are the first in their families to attend university, these opportunities are incredibly important and make a significant impact on their lives. Our ambition, particularly for First Generation students, is to enable access to enriching experiences they might not otherwise have. Many of our scholars face significant barriers in accessing higher education and succeeding at university, so when organisations like Christie’s help to overcome these obstacles through initiatives such as their Summer School, it can have a transformative impact on our students’ lives.