Buying Back Time: How Galleries Can Keep Their Best People

In this conversation, Margaret Carrigan, Artnet News Editor and author of Hardwiring Change: Buying Back Time, the 2026 report from Artnet and the Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA), talks with Millie Jason Foster (Gillian Jason Gallery) and Niamh Coghlan (Richard Saltoun) in a discussion on what's driving mid-career talent out of the arts and the changes in the industry.

Originally aired Thursday, October 15, 2026 · 43 min

Originally aired Thursday, August 6, 2026 · 63 min

From the report · Hardwiring Change: Buying Back Time

Get the full report →

Why they leave, and what
makes them stay

Why they leave, and what makes them stay

The people ready to lead your gallery are the ones most likely to leave. Three key findings from the Artnet and AWITA report show why, and what you can do about it.

Millie Jason Foster

Gillian Jason Gallery

Get the full report →

Niamh Coghlan

Richard Saltoun

Margaret Carrigan

Artnet News

01 / 03

Finding 01 · Retention

More than half of women aged 35-44 are thinking about leaving the arts. You can't afford to lose them.

They are the people ready to step into leadership. And the risk of leaving is highest at small galleries.

"If there’s not necessarily a progression in seniority, there has to be an everyday progression in learning abilities."

Millie Jason Foster, Gillian Jason Gallery

By the numbers

50.6%

of women aged 35–44 are considering leaving within five year, the highest of any age group.

Finding 02 · AI at work

Your team is already using AI. Show them how to use it well.

Admin takes up a huge share of the working week, and most people have turned to AI on their own to keep up. Training them helps them get that time back.

There needs to be a care in using AI at work, Niamh points out that her team will use it to polish writing but never the first draft.

Niamh Coghlan, Richard Saltoun Gallery

By the numbers

67%

have never been shown how to use AI, though 76.9% of people in the commercial art market already use it at work.

Finding 03 · Pay & mentorship

Fair pay, clear promotion paths, and mentorship keep people in the arts.

When asked what would most help them stay, respondents put fair pay and job security first (54.7%), followed by clearer pay and promotion structures (46.7%).

"I really would love to see more women in positions of power hold up their hands and say, ‘If anyone wants to contact me, I would love to be a mentor."

Millie Jason Foster, Gillian Jason Gallery

By the numbers

44%

of people without a mentor are considering leaving the arts, compared with 31% of those who have one.

01 / 03

Finding 01 · Retention

More than half of women aged 35-44 are thinking about leaving the arts. You can't afford to lose them.

They are the people ready to step into leadership. And the risk of leaving is highest at small galleries.

"If there’s not necessarily a progression in seniority, there has to be an everyday progression in learning abilities."

Millie Jason Foster, Gillian Jason Gallery

By the numbers

50.6%

of women aged 35–44 are considering leaving within five year, the highest of any age group.

Finding 02 · AI at work

Your team is already using AI. Show them how to use it well.

Admin takes up a huge share of the working week, and most people have turned to AI on their own to keep up. Training them helps them get that time back.

There needs to be a care in using AI at work, Niamh points out that her team will use it to polish writing but never the first draft.

Niamh Coghlan, Richard Saltoun Gallery

By the numbers

67%

have never been shown how to use AI, though 76.9% of people in the commercial art market already use it at work.

Finding 03 · Pay & mentorship

Fair pay, clear promotion paths, and mentorship keep people in the arts.

When asked what would most help them stay, respondents put fair pay and job security first (54.7%), followed by clearer pay and promotion structures (46.7%).

"I really would love to see more women in positions of power hold up their hands and say, ‘If anyone wants to contact me, I would love to be a mentor."

Millie Jason Foster, Gillian Jason Gallery

By the numbers

44%

of people without a mentor are considering leaving the arts, compared with 31% of those who have one.

01 / 03Swipe →

Finding 01 · Retention

More than half of women aged 35-44 are thinking about leaving the arts. You can't afford to lose them.

They are the people ready to step into leadership. And the risk of leaving is highest at small galleries.

50.6%

of women aged 35–44 are considering leaving within five year, the highest of any age group.

"If there’s not necessarily a progression in seniority, there has to be an everyday progression in learning abilities."

Millie Jason Foster, Gillian Jason Gallery

Finding 02 · AI at work

Your team is already using AI. Show them how to use it well.

Admin takes up a huge share of the working week, and most people have turned to AI on their own to keep up. Training them helps them get that time back.

67%

have never been shown how to use AI, though 76.9% of people in the commercial art market already use it at work.

There needs to be a care in using AI at work, Niamh points out that her team will use it to polish writing but never the first draft.

Niamh Coghlan, Richard Saltoun Gallery

Finding 03 · Pay & mentorship

Fair pay, clear promotion paths, and mentorship keep people in the arts.

When asked what would most help them stay, respondents put fair pay and job security first (54.7%), followed by clearer pay and promotion structures (46.7%).

44%

of people without a mentor are considering leaving the arts, compared with 31% of those who have one.

"I really would love to see more women in positions of power hold up their hands and say, ‘If anyone wants to contact me, I would love to be a mentor."

Millie Jason Foster, Gillian Jason Gallery