Pros
-Near guaranteed art world access, which can be an advantage -Hardworking colleagues and occasionally close-knit teams -Resume-building experience -Mid to higher-tier benefits - Catered lunches on Fridays and various gallery-sponsored events - Twice yearly gallery breaks and flexible mental health days - Existing sales track for those willing to stick things out
Cons
- "Artists First" (and Therefore Employees Second) Culture - Extreme burnout amongst most staff, worsened by the pandemic - Low pay, especially for entry level employees - Little room for growth across most departments, despite positive performance reviews (think decades, not years) - Extremely high workloads and pressure, worsened by faster than are realistic turnarounds - Disrespect for time in addition to a general lack of resources and support - Extremely toxic workplace culture leads to inescapable competition and nastiness amongst colleagues - Lack of common purpose amongst staff outside of the sales bubble - High turnover rate and attrition - As things stand, these trajectories are unsustainable