Artnet Talks is a series of live conversations between artists, curators, gallerists, and arts professionals that brings an in-depth dimension to our coverage of the art world’s biggest stories.

A conversation between: Alexandra Gill, Christie’s senior specialist, prints and multiples, who also runs the disability pillar for the equity, diversity, and inclusion team in Europe; Jonathan McBride, partner, Heidrick & Struggles executive search firm; Liz Munsell, curator of contemporary art, MFA Boston; and Amani Olu, founder, Olu & Company, a consultancy at the intersection of art and social justice; moderated by Artnet News executive editor Julia Halperin

When: Thursday, February 24 at 11:00 a.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. GMT

Where: Zoom

From left: Liz Munsell, Amani Olu, Alexandra Gill, Jonathan McBride.

The art industry is full of people who got into it for love. But making what you love your profession is a whole different ball game. Is it financially sustainable? How do you identify which workplaces will enable you to learn and grow, and which ones may exploit or burn you out? How best to navigate an industry that, like many others, was built by non-disabled white cis men primarily for people who looked just like them?  

If you are an employer, there’s a whole different set of questions to consider. How can you create an environment that attracts and retains talent? How can you build a workplace that is a reflection of the world in 2022, and how can you make sure that women, gender non-confirming people, people of color, and disabled people are empowered to do their best work once they arrive? 

We’ll aim to answer these questions in the second part of our free three-talk series about art-world careers in partnership with Art Market Mentors, a three-month mentorship program initiated by Catherine Manson and Caroline Sayan pairing art-market professionals with established members of the industry.

We bring together an Obama administration official-turned-executive recruiter with a focus on DEI, a museum curator working to create a culture of accountability and equity within the sector, an arts consultant who built a social justice-oriented workplace from the ground up, and an auction specialist who is working to help a 255-year-old company reflect 21st-century values. Together, they’ll discuss what makes a rewarding workplace, what doesn’t, and what choices you can make to help build one. 

An audience Q&A session will follow the chat. Please note the time zone for the start time.

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