Two online courses to navigate the contemporary art system

Two online courses to orient themselves in the world of contemporary art: aimed at students, artists and cultural workers, the two courses, scheduled between April and June 2026, offer an opportunity to delve into the contemporary art system and experience its practices through an integrated approach between theory and laboratory. The courses, promoted by Institution School, are developed along two complementary lines: on the one hand, the analysis of the dynamics of the art system, and on the other, the direct exercise of creative practice.

The first course, titled Being an artist today: theory and practice to navigate the art system, runs from April 29 to June 6, 2026, and offers a series of eight online meetings designed to provide concrete tools for those who wish to understand the workings of the contemporary art system. The course stems from the awareness that today the figure of the artist is located within a complex ecosystem, traversed by different actors, economies, platforms and languages in constant transformation.

Through the contribution of professionals from different fields, the course addresses the main issues that affect the construction of an artistic path: the relationship with the market and institutions, the sustainability of the practice, the communication strategies of one’s research and the legal and fiscal aspects of artistic work. Classes are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays on the Zoom platform and are conducted in Italian.

Speakers include artist Giorgio Andreotta Calò, curator Cristiana Perrella, museum director Luca Lo Pinto, collector Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and gallerist Paolo Zani. They are joined by philosopher Barbara Carnevali, cultural planner Virginia Ferraguti, cultural entrepreneur Patrizia Brusarosco, artist Elena Mazzi and curator Angelica Gatto. The program also includes talks by journalist and communication expert Lara Facco, journalist and lecturer Cristina Masturzo, lawyer Luca D’Amelio and accountant Franco Broccardi, as well as contributions from the curatorial platform Altremuse. Each meeting starts with a key question and develops through a dialogue between theoretical perspectives and operational tools.

The course also includes an individual portfolio review session by critic and curator Fabio Cavallucci and the Institution School curatorial team, offering participants a moment of direct discussion about their work. Registration is available on the Eventbrite platform at a cost of 250 euros, with a reduced rate of 150 euros for students under 26. Until April 7 there is an early bird promotion that allows access to the course for 150 euros, or 100 euros for those under 26. More information and registration by clicking here.

Alongside this theoretical course is the workshop series Image, Memory, Movement, Narrative: 4 online artist workshops to exercise the mind, scheduled from April 20 to June 9, 2026. The project offers an experience in contemporary art practice, divided into four independent modules that address specific areas of creation. The workshops are led by artists active on the international scene such as Stefano Arienti, Moira Ricci, Marinella Senatore and Alterazioni Video, represented by Lucapaolo Barbieri Marchi. The course develops through a direct dialogue between artists and participants, alternating moments of collective discussion with phases of operational work.

Each module explores a specific theme: the image as a device of experimentation and manipulation, memory as a field of reinterpretation of individual and collective histories, movement as a tool of knowledge and shared storytelling, and narration as a space of investigation into the dynamics of post-truth. The goal is to offer concrete tools for understanding how an idea is transformed into practice through methodological and operational choices.

The meetings, each lasting two hours, always take place in the 5-7 p.m. time slot and include work review sessions led by Institution School tutors. The workshop format, while within a digital environment, is designed to foster continuity of work between meetings and to create a space for shared experimentation.

The calendar is divided into four modules: the first, dedicated to the image and led by Stefano Arienti, takes place on April 20, 23, 27 and 29; the second, on memory with Moira Ricci, on May 4, 11 and 14; the third, on movement with Marinella Senatore, on May 18, 21 and 25; and the fourth, on storytelling with Alterazioni Video, on May 28 and June 4 and 9.

The cycle is aimed at a broad audience that includes emerging artists, students from the Academies of Fine Arts, curators, visual researchers and enthusiasts, even those without an academic background, but interested in engaging with the processes of contemporary creation. The approach is inclusive and experimentation-oriented, with the aim of connecting different practices and languages.

The cost of the full package is 140 euros, reduced to 120 euros for those under 26, while it is also possible to register for individual modules at a cost of 45 euros, or 40 euros for younger students. Click here for more information and registration. The activities are part of a training proposal that aims to integrate theoretical reflection and artistic practice, offering useful tools to orient oneself in a constantly evolving context and to develop a conscious path within the contemporary art system.

Two online courses to navigate the contemporary art system

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