What makes a place an art “destination”? How does the significance of artistic practice converge or diverge across different contexts? What is the impact of policy-making and market forces on the formation of art worlds? This course draws on examples from key cities in the industrialized and developing world, including New York, London, Beijing, and Hong Kong, to highlight the cultural and social contingent nature of artistic production, consumption, and interpretation. Topics include boundaries and distinctions within art worlds; the transformation of art as a commodity product in the global economy; and the interaction between urban renewal policies and art in post-industrial settings. Through field research assignments, students will conduct assignments that take advantage of Hong Kong’s multiple arts institutions and communities to gain a grounded understanding of the increasingly complex relationships between art, power, money, and society in a globally connected world.