According to the latest report ‘Being a Cultural Worker in Spain and Having a Future’ by Fundación Banco Santander and Una más Una, “the industry accounts for 3.4% of employment in Spain, nearly 700,000 jobs. It is a sector where 70% have higher education, yet their salaries are below average, and there is a constant sense of crisis.” These figures are essential for understanding the structural difficulties of the sector and reinforce the concept of the “labyrinths” the sector faces. Concerns about employability and economic challenges are not just anecdotal perceptions but confirmed realities.
During a talk held at the Ateneo de Madrid, together with a renowned group of panelists: Ana Crabiffosse, a private advisor for collectors; María Sancho-Arroyo, an expert in the international art market and author of her recent book on the art market ‘Investment or Passion?’, and Antoni Ferrer, Founder and Director of the Fermay Gallery, accompanied by María Gracia de Pedro, founder of ARTEPRENEUR, who moderated the session, the discussion focused on employability within the cultural sector. They shared their professional journeys and their views on the current state of the global visual arts sector, exploring both the challenges and emerging opportunities.
The most significant points highlighted from this conversation included, on one hand, the impact of the roles of auctions, collection advisors, and galleries in the art market and how each contributes to maintaining balance in an ever-changing sector. María Sancho-Arroyo noted that “in the auction world, while market prices were very high in 2022, people have continued to buy, albeit at lower values.” This suggests that, although the market has shown lower figures in recent years in terms of consumption, it has maintained consistency. Ana Crabiffosse, a private collection advisor, stated that “the role of collection advisors allows people not only to stay informed but also to access highly demanded works and artists, facilitating access and acting as a bridge between galleries. Therefore, being transparent helps with a complete flow of information and provides an analysis of it.” This ties in with Antoni Ferrer’s remarks, who stated, “there is a lot of ignorance about what a gallery represents. There is the commercial side, which allows it to be a sales link for artists, giving them opportunities to continue working on their creations and to have a decent life. This enables the professionalization of the sector. Thus, we help position artists by working with various institutions and roles within the sector. A gallery is a place of encounters between artists, art lovers, collectors, curators, and others.”