Announcing the Sponsored Membership Programme 2025-2027
“AWITA, in many ways, is like a big, beautiful garden. As caretakers of this community of extraordinary women, our role is to nurture it - by enriching the soil, watering wisely, and occasionally doing a little pruning. That’s what AWITA is about - care, support and a group of people to share with and listen to.” - Sigrid Kirk, Co-Founder at AWITA
AWITA X Working Arts Club X Working Class Creatives Database “Networking is Weird But Community is Everything’ June 2025 event. Image by Jennifer Moyes
Hauser & Wirth, DRAW Recruitment and Rachel Verghis and her gin MarGin, continue their sponsorship of memberships for women and non-binary professionals to encourage the widening participation and diversity of the AWITA community. This year, The Wick, the content platform and hub for the culturally curious founded by entrepreneur Katy Wickremesinghe, will support two memberships for women of Southeast Asian heritage.
“As a British-Sri Lankan founder deeply committed to widening participation in the arts, I’m proud that The Wick is championing these memberships. Women of Southeast Asian heritage remain underrepresented and often face distinct challenges around visibility and recognition. By enabling access to AWITA’s community, we hope to empower these professionals to amplify their voices and help shape a more inclusive and dynamic creative landscape.”
AWITA is committed to supporting the talent pipeline through professional development, mentoring, and networking. 15 two year sponsored memberships are available for individuals who identify with groups underrepresented in the visual arts sector.
Each member will gain access to upskilling, peer mentoring, and networking events, in turn supporting motivation, performance, and job satisfaction. Hardwiring Change for Women in the Arts Workplace, AWITA’s 2025 survey with Artnet, completed by over 2,000 respondents, observed a strong demand for mentorship, with 79 percexnt of mid-career and senior professionals expressing a desire for expanded mentoring especially in the areas of art and industry knowledge, leadership and management, and individual coaching.
The process will be supported by Cat Manson, who founded Art Market Mentors in 2020 and is an experienced Mentor, Executive Coach and Communication Consultant. She will work with AWITA to match each sponsored member with a mentor and provide guidance on how to optimise the relationship.
Applications open til 27th October 2025.
Please note:
Applications will be reviewed and applicants notified of the outcome by mid-November, with the new cohort announced at the end of the month. Memberships will run until November 2027.
AWITA Membership is for those with 5+ years working in the professional arts. We do not accept applications from artists. The full critera can be found here.
AWITA’s primary activities are based in London, but applications from across the UK and abroad are welcome.
Any questions about the application form or about membership, please contact Amy Cope at membership@awita.london
AWITA is an inclusive network that celebrates and embraces the talents, perspectives, and lived experiences of women and non-binary professionals across the art world. We offer year-round online and in-person events that foster collaboration, facilitate mentorship, develop skillsets, and expand professional networks. Membership is individuals with 5+ years working across the visual arts sector. Its NXT GEN gender-inclusive initiative is targeted at those in the first five years of their career. www.awita.london
In 2016, Nina Langford and Julia Henderson founded DRAW, a specialised recruitment agency in the arts and culture sector. Their team combines decades of experience from inside both the art and recruitment worlds, priding themselves in their fuss-free approach to connecting skilled professionals with career opportunities. With a commitment to fostering talent and creativity, DRAW plays a pivotal role in shaping the cultural workforce.www.drawrecruitment.com/
Hauser & Wirth was founded in 1992 in Zurich by Iwan Wirth, Manuela Wirth and Ursula Hauser, who were joined by Partner and President Marc Payot in 2000. They represent over 90 artists and estates who have been instrumental in shaping its identity and who are the inspiration for Hauser & Wirth’s diverse range of activities that engage with art, education, conservation and sustainability. Hauser & Wirth’s international learning program fosters dialogue, creativity and discovery among the widest possible range of audiences, through activities and events catalysed by the work of the gallery’s artists. www.hauserwirth.com/
MarGin Gin is an artisanal London Dry Gin founded by entrepreneur and art patron Rachel Verghis. Inspired by the British ‘white fiver’ - the first five-pound note issued by the Bank of England in 1793 - MarGin Gin embodies the elegance and simplicity of this historic currency. Rachel Verghis, with a background in banking and a deep involvement in the art world, aimed to create a premium spirit that could be savoured neat, akin to a fine single malt or Cognac. Her vision was to produce a gin that reflects both quality craftsmanship and a rich historical narrative. Since its launch, MarGin Gin has been featured at various art events and is available at select venues, including Chiltern Firehouse, KOKO Camden, and Hedonism Wines. Its distinctive character and homage to British heritage have garnered appreciation among gin enthusiasts and art aficionados alike. https://marginlondon.com/
Katy Wickremesinghe is an award-winning British-Sri Lankan entrepreneur and the founder of The Wick and KTW, a content hub and consultancy that bridges art, business, and culture by connecting culturally curious audiences. She works with global brands, institutions, and collectors to build cultural equity and broaden access to the art market. Through The Wick, Katy creates expert content and strategic initiatives designed to make art and culture more inclusive and accessible. Deeply committed to education and diversity, she serves as a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and Dulwich Picture Gallery, and sits on the Board of Advisors for The Line. She is also a regular commentator on the intersections of culture and commerce. In 2024, Katy was honoured at the House of Lords as one of the Top 50 Career & Professional Women in the UK for Business & Social Impact Start-ups by the international organisation Women in Management. https://thewickculture.com/
Cat Manson is a long-term campaigner for equality in the workplace having led a Gender Pay Gap Taskforce in her role at Christie’s as Global Head of PR, Communications and Corporate Affairs to address systemic challenges in supporting women into leadership roles. Having since qualified as an Executive Leadership Coach, Cat now works with international clients and in 2020 launched Art Market Mentors connecting an international network of mentors, all leaders in the commercial art world, with individuals seeking access, support and development. www.instagram.com/artmarketmentors/?hl=en