Meg Molloy, founder of the Working Arts Club, discusses the systemic barriers facing working-class professionals in the art world. Launched last year, the independent network provides social and professional support for arts workers from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, a demographic often excluded by the industry's reliance on unpaid internships, low entry-level salaries, and expensive urban hubs like London.
This interview highlights the intersection of class and gender in the fine-arts sector, noting that 75 percent of the club's nearly 1,000 members are women. By addressing the lack of art history education in state schools and the financial hurdles of living in major art capitals, Molloy’s initiative aims to dismantle the 'taboo' surrounding class and foster a more equitable and diverse workforce within museums and galleries.