Show Notes
This week’s episode of All About Art talks about money 💶💰💸👛💷✨👩💻.
The art world - well, in every profession I think, not just in our bubble - only speaks about it in whispers or over a few glasses of wine (if at all) but the silence around salaries and financial sustainability is actively harming people, especially those without a financial safety net behind them. Espeically now, when on last weekend’s episode of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC, Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott (Conservative MP) stated that the Conservatives plan to stop government funding for "dead-end" university courses (meaning creative arts) if they win the next general election. (Source: Arts Professional)
Although this episode was written and recorded before that interview aired, it is still an important listen. Drawing on data from the SML x ArtTactic Talent Report and my own career trajectory, I break down what jobs in the art world actually pay (spoiler: often less than the London Living Wage), why museum roles are structurally inaccessible to working-class applicants, and what the access problem really looks like in practice.
I also share practical advice including: the questions I now ask myself before taking on unpaid work
how I managed my budget in my early London career
and why transparency around money is one of the most radical things we can do for this industry.
Whether you’re just starting out, feeling stuck in a low salary, or wondering how anyone affords working in culture, this episode is for you.
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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
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