The Art of Art Collecting
- Number of classes: 5
- Total Course Hours: 10
- Discipline: Art + Culture
- Lecturer: Nick Vickers
- Age: 16 years and over
- Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Location: National Art School
The Art of Art Collecting
Course Details
Do you love contemporary art? Have you thought about starting a collection but aren’t sure where to begin? The art world can sometimes feel mysterious—even overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. This five-part lecture series is designed to make art collecting accessible, exciting, and confidence-building. You’ll gain the knowledge and tools to navigate the art ecosystem in a meaningful way.
Across the course, we’ll explore:
- Why people collect art and what motivates collectors
- Key considerations before starting your own collection
- How the art market operates—locally and globally
- Insights into the Australian and international art scenes, from emerging spaces to established galleries and major art fairs
Each session begins with a themed lecture by an invited expert from the primary and secondary markets and is followed by an open discussion with Nick Vickers who has an extensive background in gallery and collection management. The guest presentations with professionals from Sydney’s leading commercial art galleries, auction houses and corporate collections will offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on the creative industry and paths to negotiate insights into galleries, exhibitions, artists, and collectors.
Whether you’re already involved in art or simply passionate about it, this course will help you understand and appreciate collecting artworks and perhaps inspire you to begin building a collection of your own. The secondary market is an important access point for collectors and an understanding of how that sector works will be the subject matter in an in-depth Q & A with an industry professional.
Included within the course is a segment on establishing a register of artworks - the essential information required to keep an art collection in order for asset registration as well as increased accessioning and possible de-accessioning.
Whilst this course does not purport to offer investment advice it aims to give participants the insight and tools to explore their interest in collecting fine art.
* Please note: This course consists of 4 sessions on campus on Thursday evenings. The 5th session will be held off-campus on Saturday, 7 November 2026 11am-1pm. The location, date and time will be confirmed during the course with lecturer Nick Vickers.
* NAS Short Courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over. The NAS Art Club is open to students between 15 - 17 years of age.
* What to bring? Please refer to the list of required materials in the Art Materials field below.
Art Materials
Notebook and pen
Digital notebook or tablet
Lecturer Profile
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Nick Vickers has been involved in the Australian creative arts industry for over 30 years when he established his first gallery through UNSW Art & Design in 1984. Throughout Nick’s career he has championed the works of emerging artists by establishing a number of galleries through universities and art colleges. He has presented, curated and hosted national and international artists and has lectured in tertiary, intermediary and secondary institutions.
Nick had the privilege of working on an international exchange exhibition, From the Empire’s End, that linked Spanish and Australian contemporary photography. He also established two international student exchange exhibitions linking Australian students to their Irish and Slovenian counterparts. During his career, Nick has contributed to the curatorial expanse of the University of Sydney Art Collection where, through his expertise as Curator of the University Union art collection, he added works of some considerable cultural significance. He established the Sir Hermann Black Gallery & Sculpture Terrace through which he hosted and curated ten years of highly rated art exhibitions and prizes that included The Blake Prize and The Freedman Foundation annual exhibitions. He has also acted as Curator to the Activate UTS art collection. One of the most exiting projects that became a highlight of Nick’s career was his involvement with the law firm Curwoods who offered a studio residency program from their offices in Australia Square. This project offered a studio space with a generous stipend to an emerging artist for 10 months and an exhibition in the Australia Square foyer that promoted the artists and established a springboard for their future careers. On a local government level Nick has served on curatorial panels with the Sawmillers Sculpture Prize at North Sydney, The City of Ryde Council as Curator of SWAP. Most recently he initiated Artists4Ukraine and Prints4Ukraine, 2 seperate fundraising exhibitions that support displaced children from the Russian/Ukraine conflict. Over 100 of Australia’s leading artists donated works and raised over $75,500 for this worthy cause. Currently, Nick works as an independent art curator and casual lecturer. In 2024 he curated a major exhibition Beyond the Brush in NSW Parliament House, Sydney. He has also co-curated a number of exhibitions at The Armory at Sydney Olympic Park.
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