Careers with Art History: Breaking into the Art World

Thinking about a career in museums, galleries, auction houses, or arts nonprofits?

This practical webinar is designed to help students take the next step toward working in the art world. Learn how to craft a compelling CV, write a persuasive cover letter, and build meaningful professional connections. Whether you're applying for internships or your first job, this session will give you the tools and confidence to stand out.

Breaking into the creative industries requires resilience, and an understanding of how to navigate a fast-changing cultural landscape. This event explores how aspiring creatives and art professionals can find their place within the sector, offering practical guidance on building careers, developing networks, and seizing opportunities. Hear how organisations like Artiq are shaping a more sustainable model for the arts by championing fair pay, fostering collaboration, and creating new pathways between artists, clients, and institutions. Discover how skills in research, curation, and critical thinking can translate into impactful roles across the cultural and commercial spheres.

Programme

11am – Introduction by Christina Bradstreet, Head of Programmes, Association for Art History

11.05am – 11.25am Riki Auton, Marketing Executive, Artiq and Henry Dowson, Associate Curator, Artiq, Careers, Collaboration and Fair Practice in the Creative Industries

11.25am – 11.45am Diana Ewer, Building your Professional Future: CVs and Cover Letters for a Career in the Art World

11.45am – 12.05pm Alexandra Steinacker-Clark, Practical Dos and Don'ts of Networking and How to Build a Robust Network that Lasts

12.05-12.30pm - Q&A

Speaker biographies

Riki Auton is a London-based artist, writer, and marketing professional working at the intersection of creativity and cultural engagement. As Marketing Executive at Artiq, they collaborate with artists and organisations to champion the arts, promote fair practice, and build visibility for diverse creative voices. With experience spanning curation, advertising, gallery operations, and design, Riki is dedicated to shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and dynamic future for the arts.

Henry Dowson is a London-based curator and creative professional dedicated to cultural storytelling and equitable art engagement. As Associate Curator at Artiq, he was nominated as a Brit List Rising Star for his curatorial work at The Old War Office. He is also Co-Founder and Editor of SuperGlue Collective, a platform amplifying emerging voices in the arts. Holding both a BA and MA in Art History, Criticism and Conservation, Henry combines research expertise and narrative-driven curation to bring innovation and inclusivity to an evolving cultural landscape.

Diana Ewer, Head of Careers (London), Sotheby’s Institute of Art

Diana brings over two decades of dedicated careers experience in the commercial artworld, having lived and worked in both London and New York. Holding a degree in Art History from Manchester University and a Masters from the Courtauld Institute of Art, she began her career at the leading London art appraisal and advisor group Gurr Johns before moving to the prestigious modern art dealer, The Mayor Gallery in Cork Street.

In 2007, Diana co-founded TAG Fine Arts, the London-based contemporary art dealer and publishing house, where she continues to serve as a private client advisor. For the past 15 years, she has successfully operated her own art consultancy business working on both sides of the Atlantic, specialising as a fully qualified art appraiser, advisor and curator.

Alexandra Steinacker-Clark is an American-Austrian art historian, curator, writer and podcaster. She lives and works in London, UK. Steinacker is the founder and host of the All About Art Podcast, which covers the variety of professional paths that exist in the arts and cultural sector. According to Spotify Wrapped 2022, the podcast was within the top 10% of most followed and most shared podcasts worldwide and remains within the top 10% today. Steinacker is also the co-director of NXT-GEN: AWITA x All About Art, a program designed to support early career arts professionals. She has previously worked as Gallery and Exhibitions Manager at Galerie Max Hetzler in London along with past positions at Skarstedt Gallery, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Shezad Dawood Studio, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, and Sotheby’s Auction House.

Chair: Christina Bradstreet is Head of Programmes at the Association for Art History where in 2024, she led a project to create 50 Careers in Art History videos on YouTube. She has a strong interest in careers, having worked as Head of Careers at Sotheby's Institute of Art, London, managing adult learning at the National Gallery and taught A Level Art History at Godolphin and Latymer School.

This event is part of the Art History Festival 2025 organised by the Association for Art History

Further information

NXT GEN is an inclusive network to support professionals within the first five years of pursuing a career in the visual arts. The network is designed to demystify the roles and responsibilities of art careers and provide real world skills and industry knowledge. Events are online and in person. Supported by AWITA (Association of Women in the Arts) and All About Arts Podcast.