Anne-Claire Morel is a History of Art graduate (2014) from the University of Cambridge, UK. She obtained a B.A. (Hons) and did her thesis on Marina Abramovic’s presence and image in post-1970s performance art. In order to further develop her interest for the arts, Anne-Claire decided to carry out internships in various areas of the art world. She gained valuable insights into the art market when interning at Sotheby’s London in the Valuation Department (2012) and Gagosian Gallery, New York (2013). Following these two experiences, she assisted a leading New York-based art adviser during the Summer of 2015.
Anne-Claire has also kept a focus on art and artists at the very heart of her internships. In 2011 and 2013, she interned at Residency Unlimited, a Brooklyn based, non-profit artist residency. She also turned to museums and joined MoMA’s curatorial internship program (Media and Performance Art) in the Spring of 2015. She is currently interning at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in the Corporate Development department.
Anne-Claire grew up between Paris, Barcelona, London, and New York, and has had the opportunity to interact with a wide range of people. Her passion for art and the art world is fed by the many stories and cultures she gathered throughout the years. At the moment, she is exploring the opportunities and limits of branding strategies used to shape the image of historical private collections.
What attracted you to the Arts Administration Program at Teachers College, Columbia University? I was drawn to the program because of ARAD’s intrinsically diverse nature. Upon finishing my undergraduate degree, I had a strong background in history of art and critical theory, yet no understanding of the art world per se. ARAD has allowed me to explore new topics such as advertising, branding, and marketing, while also encouraged me to nurture and further topics such as philosophy. Should I wish to take a class about international conflicts and the role of culture tomorrow, I could too! ARAD’s strength lies in its diversity, and it challenges your own previous perceptions.
How are your studies helping to advance your career goals? The link between studies and career goals was not immediate for me. I came to the program straight out of undergrad and had never held a permanent position. It took a few months, a fair amount of discussions, and three internships for me to realize how I could relate career and studies. I realized that advertising and branding, along with corporate development and history of art, could be combined for the best and be used as a powerful strategy by art world entities.
Describe student life as a member of the ARAD community. The ARAD community is a support system. A group of wonderful, bright, and ambitious people that help each other out, in any possible way. I feel very confident about the future, of the arts and mine, thanks to the people I met in this program.
Arts Administration 