How to nail it as a woman in the art world

Marguerite, a club for women who work in the arts across fashion, design, fine art and photography launched in 2015, aiming to advance the careers of women in the industry by providing a professional network and safe spaces in which to hear from some of the most influential people working in their fields today. Speakers at their events have included museum directors Maria Balshaw (Tate) and Nicholas Cullinan (National Portrait Gallery); Frieze founders Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp; artists Idris Khan OBE and Gavin Turk; fashion designers Roksanda Ilinčić and Dame Zandra Rhodes – and many more.

Ahead of her talk on Monday 28 October at Soho Farmhouse, Payne shares her tips on how to succeed as a woman in the arts.

Recognise that other women are not your competition

Women so often undermine, undercut and compete with one another. This is a real problem in the working world, where there have historically been fewer senior level positions available to women than men. I think that when women gain positions they’ve fought so hard for, they can feel as if they need to fight to retain them – hence the common desire to hold the other women back.

The #MeToo movement has proven that women’s voices are so much stronger together than apart. Next time a friend or colleague is doing well, do anything you can to help her or promote what she’s doing. Her success is not your failure. (And let’s be honest, if you help her, she’s likely to return the favour in the future so it’s not entirely selfless.)

Don’t ask, don’t get

When I was about 25, I remember asking one of the directors at Frieze whether I could use her invitation to a private view at a big gallery as I knew she wouldn’t be in town. She replied to say that it was a very cheeky request, but that she appreciated my enthusiasm so, yes, I could take it.

The pay gap in the UK exists for many reasons but a huge factor is women’s confidence in comparison to men’s – women are less likely to ask for a pay rise or promotion. And, with the absence of the formal pay bands that you might find in the corporate sector, the only way you’re likely to get a pay rise in the art world is by asking for one. Worryingly, the problem in the arts may actually be even worse than we think: only companies with more than 250 employees have to report their performance on pay equality, whereas the employee number in the majority of arts organisations comes in far below that, so there’s no way of knowing the true figures.

Whether it be a party invite or a pay rise you’re after, ask for it. After all, the worst that can happen is that you’re told no.

Meet as many people as you can

I haven’t formally applied for a job since I was 22. Every job that’s come my way since has been through word of mouth, meaning that it’s important that you’re doing as much talking as possible. So much recruitment in the art world is done by recommendations from friends and often jobs aren’t even advertised.

One of the reasons I launched Marguerite was to create a ready-made network for women in the art world. It can be tricky to meet people, especially when you’re first starting out. Our events are intimate and designed to be warm and welcoming so that you don’t feel weird about introducing yourself to a complete stranger. As well as going to events, I’ve met a huge number of brilliant people by just asking them to go for a coffee. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you admire to pick their brains – they might even be flattered.

Be genuine

Aim to make genuine, meaningful connections rather than ‘networking’. Gone are the days when shoving a business card in someone’s hand and bragging about your job got you somewhere. In fact, I would go as far as to say it can seem tacky and insincere. Much of the art world is based on genuine friendships and trust, so authenticity is key.

Stay resilient

Inevitably, asking for what you want can result in rejection. I think failure can feel even more personal in an industry which is so heavily based on friendship. It’s important to remember that there might be a multitude of different reasons why someone has rejected your offer or suggestion. Perfecting the art of ‘dusting yourself off and trying again’ and not taking business too personally is crucial to growth.