The Art of Art Collecting

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.

Notebook and pen
Digital notebook or tablet

Nick Vickers has worked in the Australian creative arts industries for over 30 years and has championed the works of emerging artists by establishing several galleries through universities and art colleges, including his first gallery at the University of NSW Art & Design in 1984. He has presented, curated and hosted national and international artists and has lectured in tertiary, intermediary and secondary institutions.

Nick 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.

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 separate 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.

Nick is an independent art curator and lecturer at Meadowbank TAFE. In 2024 he curated a major exhibition Beyond the Brush in NSW Parliament House, Sydney. He has also co-curated exhibitions at The Armory at Sydney Olympic Park.