The Truth About Art World Careers: Inside Talent, Hiring, & Strategic Navigation with former co-managing partner of Sophie Macpherson Ltd.

In this episode, I sat down with Rosie Allan, former co-Managing Partner of Sophie Macpherson, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the art market.

I speak to Rosie about her journey into art world talent and recruitment, and what drew her to this particular corner of the industry. We talk about the groundbreaking Art Market Talent Reports that Sophie Macpherson has released over the past few years - research that has sparked essential conversations about working conditions, career pathways, and structural challenges across the sector.

I ask her about the UK Employment Rights Bill and what it actually means for people working in galleries, auction houses, and museums today. We discuss what a strategic job search looks like in the current landscape, how the process differs between the US and UK art markets, and what mid-level professionals can do to convince employers they're ready for senior roles.

We also talk about career progression in an industry where traditional advice doesn't always apply, Rosie's decision to step down as co-managing partner after years with the company, and so much more.

Thank you Rosie for coming on the podcast!

You can follow Sophie Macpherson Ltd on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/smlsearch/

You can follow Rosie here:

https://www.instagram.com/rosieallan_art/

You can check out SML’s website here: https://www.sophiemacpherson.com/

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If you love what we do, support ALL ABOUT ART on PATREON! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart⁠

Keep up to date on Instagram @allaboutartpodcast ⁠https://www.instagram.com/allaboutartpodcast/⁠

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations are in contemporary art and the contemporary art market along with accessibility, engagement, and the demystification of the professional art sector.

SOCIALS:

• Instagram⁠ @alexandrasteinacker https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasteinacker
• and LinkedIn at ⁠Alexandra Steinacker-Clark⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-steinacker/

This episode is produced at Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/the-podcast-studio/

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.liser-art.com/ and Luca Laurence https://www.graffitikunst.at/

Research and Creative Assistant: Iris Epstein

From Tip Jars to Patreon: Rebuilding Arts Funding from the Ground Up?

This week’s episode of All About Art tackles “patronage”, but on the micro scale. You’ve surely seen it before: “Buy me a Ko-Fi!” “Support me on Patreon!” and more - the latter of which you hear every time to tune into an episode of All About Art, because these sites allow your community to show support for the work they love and engage with.

So, using FOLLOW.ART’s Support My Practice feature as one of my case studies, I dive deeper into the initiatives helping reshape how creative work gets funded. I explore why these models emerged, what they're replacing, and what it actually feels like to ask for support as a creator, especially when you are juggling so many other platforms (spoiler: it's complicated!).

I also share some personal reflections on running this podcast for the last five years, the mental & emotional tax of self-promotion, and why £3 a month from one listener can make all the difference.

So, whether you're a creator navigating these platforms (FOLLOW.ART is for curators and artists specifically), or you’re someone who's wondered if those small contributions actually matter, or maybe you’re just curious about the future of creative sustainability, this episode offers a little bit of an overview of where we are and where we might be heading with micro-patronage.

You can follow FOLLOW.ART on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/followart.world/

You can check out FOLLOW.ART’s website here: https://follow.art/

ℹ️ #paidpartnership with FOLLOW.ART

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If you love what we do, support ALL ABOUT ART on PATREON! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart⁠

Keep up to date on Instagram @allaboutartpodcast ⁠https://www.instagram.com/allaboutartpodcast/⁠

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations are in contemporary art and the contemporary art market along with accessibility, engagement, and the demystification of the professional art sector.

SOCIALS:

• Instagram⁠ @alexandrasteinacker https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasteinacker
• and LinkedIn at ⁠Alexandra Steinacker-Clark⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-steinacker/

This episode is produced at Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/the-podcast-studio/

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.liser-art.com/ and Luca Laurence https://www.graffitikunst.at/

Research and Creative Assistant: Iris Epstein

How Curators & Artists Are Supported In The Digital Age, with Evelina Gorbačova, Head of Digital Development at FOLLOW.ART

FOLLOW.ART is a platform working to reshape how artists and curators connect in the digital age - You should listen in if you are interested in working at the intersection of art and technology, working at a startup compared to more traditional roles in either tech or the art world, or you are an artist and/or curator wanting to find digital career support online.

We talk about the exclusions that curators and artists face in existing digital ecosystems - how they're often left out or underserved by platforms that weren't built with their needs in mind - and how FOLLOW.ART is trying to address those gaps. I ask her about the Nexus Card, a digital identity format that the team describes as "the heart of FOLLOW.ART," and why they chose to build this rather than just another social media profile or portfolio site. We discuss the technical challenges of combining physical art world interactions with digital infrastructure, how the team thinks about balancing accessibility with building a sustainable business, and so much more.

Thank you Evelīna for coming on the podcast and FOLLOW.ART for the partnership!

You can follow FOLLOW.ART on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/followart.world/

You can check out FOLLOW.ART’s website here: https://follow.art/

ℹ️ #paidpartnership with Follow.Art

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If you love what we do, support ALL ABOUT ART on PATREON! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart⁠

Keep up to date on Instagram @allaboutartpodcast ⁠https://www.instagram.com/allaboutartpodcast/⁠

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations are in contemporary art and the contemporary art market along with accessibility, engagement, and the demystification of the professional art sector.

SOCIALS:

Instagram⁠ @alexandrasteinacker https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasteinacker

and LinkedIn at ⁠Alexandra Steinacker-Clark⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-steinacker/

This episode is produced at Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/the-podcast-studio/

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.liser-art.com/ and Luca Laurence https://www.graffitikunst.at/

Research and Creative Assistant: Iris Epstein