A recent survey highlights a growing trend of mid-career women leaving the art industry, despite progress in gender representation within the sector. The study, conducted by the Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA) in partnership with Artnet, gathered responses from 2,000 female professionals working in museums, galleries, auction houses, and other art institutions. It found that over half of women aged 35 to 44 are contemplating exiting the field.

This pattern is not unique to the art world. A separate 2023 survey by Encompass Equality of 4,000 women across various industries revealed that 39 percent of women in the same age bracket plan to leave their jobs within two years. Though the rate is higher in the arts, both surveys identify common challenges, including care responsibilities for children and aging parents, lack of clear career progression, low pay, job insecurity, and heavy administrative workloads.

The AWITA and Artnet survey focused exclusively on women, while the Encompass Equality study also examined male perspectives. It found that pay concerns and job security are shared across genders, but challenges related to childcare, work flexibility, and unpaid labor outside contracted hours disproportionately affect women.

Research by Clare McAndrew, founder of Art Economics, shows women comprise 67 percent of staff at top auction houses and 54 percent within the dealer sector. However, structural barriers impede women’s advancement to senior leadership roles. Martina Batovic, who spent two decades in advisory and auction house roles before retraining into data and systems management, reflected on the experience: "The art world is a phenomenal place in your twenties and thirties, but as you seek to build a meaningful career balanced with life, the lack of visible structure becomes a significant obstacle."

The report emphasizes the toll of financial instability and structural inequities on mid-career women. Batovic noted that while some challenges affect men, women often bear a disproportionate share of caregiving responsibilities. Furthermore, women in leadership roles reported considerably fewer structural barriers, with obstacles dropping from 80 percent among general respondents to 33 percent when women led the workplace.

Elaine Bedell, Chief Executive of London’s Southbank Centre and the first woman to hold the post in its 75-year history, underlined the importance of female representation in leadership. She also highlighted class and race as additional barriers. Data from AWITA and Artnet shows that women of color aged 35 to 54 face structural challenges at a higher rate (81 percent) than white women (69 percent). For Black and Asian women, racial barriers often overshadow gender obstacles.

Rosanna Cundall, a partner at executive search firm Saxton Bampfylde, pointed to the continued dominance of white men in leadership roles across major British museums. With only a handful of female chairs and leaders—and scant representation of ethnic minorities—the sector’s leadership lacks diversity, affecting organizational culture and retention.

Ese Jade Onojeruo, associate curator of the British Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, described the added pressure on people of color tasked with driving institutional change, often without sufficient support, leading to burnout amid tight budgets. She also noted that women face health-related challenges that impact their career decisions around age 30, with disparities in healthcare access further complicating matters.

The authors of the report stress the need for systemic changes and allyship beyond the female workforce. "The issue is not a lack of female ambition but a shortage of time, support, and sustainable structures," said Sigrid Kirk, AWITA co-founder. Male allies, she added, play a critical role in advancing gender equity.

David Gray, co-founder of London’s Interval gallery and one of few men present at the report launch conference, acknowledged the insights gained from the findings. He emphasized the foundational role of artists’ welfare, arguing that better pay, pensions, and insurance for artists are prerequisites to improving the broader support systems within the art world.