Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Art Business

Abstract

This dissertation examines the barriers to entry for early-career professionals seeking to enter the commercial art market, focusing on how structural exclusivity limits access to art business careers. The research addresses a noticeable gap in art market scholarship by focusing on the professional ecosystem behind galleries, auction houses, and advisory firms, which remain underexplored. The study employs a qualitative methodology, supported by selective quantitative data, combining a critical review of existing literature, analysis of industry employment reports, and interviews with art market insiders. This mixed-method approach provides a multidimensional view of the sector’s systemic barriers. Key findings reveal the three interlocked barriers that perpetuate exclusivity: preexisting social capital, symbolic credentialism, and the normalisation of precarity. These barriers reinforce one another, creating a cycle of privilege that limits diversity and meritocratic access. The significance of this research lies in revealing how claims of accessibility in the commercial art market mask persistent structural inequalities. By investigating the mechanisms of exclusion, the dissertation contributes to ongoing debates on diversity and inclusion in the art world.

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