The fields of art, design, architecture and media (and their study) have been transformed over the past century by new industrial technologies and increasing integration within a world market. At the same time, these fields have taken on an increasingly powerful role in shaping the direction of technological innovation and the nature of market change as cultural production has become a driving force in so-called post-industrial, globalized economies. We will address these broad–based historical shifts by critically examining and documenting the changing political economy of cultural production at the level of local cultural institutions, including museums, commercial galleries, art sponsorship foundations, and art schools, using both written and visual research methods. The seminar course provides a strong foundation in the theoretical and social context of contemporary art- and culture-making. We will deal with ideas explored throughout the course through research-based group projects in the form of texts and visual presentations in class.