Celebrating Women in the Arts
March is Women’s History Month, and today we mark International Women’s Day. At Artifax, we felt this was the perfect moment to speak with women working across the arts and cultural sector and to hear their stories directly. Throughout this month, we will be sharing spotlights on their work, experiences, and insights.
A special thank you to:
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Sandra Parr and Hilary Browning – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
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Pam Chowhan – Southbank Centre
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Fiona Goh – British Arts Festivals Association
Their generosity and openness shaped every part of this project.
Why These Conversations Matter
In speaking with these women, one theme came through repeatedly: they are deeply driven by the purpose of their organisations. Moreover, their passion mirrors the values we hold at Artifax, where supporting cultural work — and the people behind it — is at the heart of what we do.
Historically, women have been denied access to many creative spaces. Today, in the UK, International Women’s Day serves as both a celebration and a reminder. It encourages us to reflect on how far women’s rights have come while recognising that progress is not equal across the world. Therefore, we celebrate, but we also stand in solidarity.
Women Leading the Way
At Artifax, we are fortunate to work with many inspiring venues, institutions, and cultural organisations that are led, shaped, and driven by women. Breaking into arts management has long been seen as intimidating, and it can still be hard to know where to begin. For this reason, I wanted to hear directly about how women started, what their working days look like, and what challenges they navigate today.
These conversations revealed how much has changed. Women no longer face the same barriers that shaped the careers of previous generations. However, this progress only exists because women worked extraordinarily hard to create space for others — often while underpaid, overloaded, or expected to outperform their peers. Even now, some of these pressures still affect women starting out in the sector.
Challenges That Still Persist
It was powerful — and at times sobering — to discuss the obstacles that remain. Issues such as childcare, funding pressures, class, and the role of positive action all surfaced.
Although progress has been made, barriers to inclusivity still exist within arts organisations. International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to name those challenges, reflect on them, and continue the conversation.
What I Learned
These discussions were a huge source of inspiration for me. The women I spoke with pour their heart, soul, and expertise into their work. As a result, their commitment shaped the way I approached this piece and left me with a renewed sense of motivation.
Their voices matter. Their stories matter. Sharing them, in turn, helps our industry move forward.
Arts management is not what it once was. Women are leading teams, shaping programmes, and driving change, and they have worked incredibly hard to get here. As a young woman beginning my own career, these conversations filled me with passion, excitement, and hope — a feeling I will carry through Women’s History Month and beyond.