How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents)

by Hettie Judah

For too long, artists have been told that they can't have both motherhood and a successful career. In this polemical volume, critic and campaigner Hettie Judah argues that a paradigm shift is needed within the art world to take account of the needs of artist mothers (and other artist fathers, parents who don't identify with the term 'mother,' and parents in other sectors of the art world). Drawing on interviews with artists internationally, the book highlights some of the success stories that offer models for the future, from alternative support networks and residency models, to studio complexes with onsite childcare, and galleries with family-friendly policies. Some artists have described motherhood as providing them with renewed focus, a new direction in their work, and even inspiration for a complete change of career. Other artists choose to keep their domestic and creative lives compartmentalised. All are placed at a disadvantage by the art world as it is currently structured. This book argues that by making changes and becoming more sensitive to the needs of artist parents, the art world has much to gain.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Womens

104 pages, Hardcover

Published January 13, 2023

Reviews

[Tabish Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book to have been published given how the art world needs to be better to accommodate parents, particularly mothers. Hettie Judah takes us through all the various elements of the wider art world and how problematic it can be - how art schools often don't have breastfeeding facilities or allow maternity breaks in a course, galleries have evening openings which are terrible timing for parents with young children, and residencies don't accommodate parenting duties into them.

It's an eye opening read for those who don't have children and is an important step in trying to even up the playing field that has been stacked against parents, and mothers in particular, to date.

[Rachelle Wunderink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew, ate this book up… this is the beginning… we Artist parents are going to make some noise!

[Freya Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

So important. Brilliant writing and research by Hettie Judah.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This started as a study among artists in the UK, became a post on instagram, and is now expanded into this slim, smart book, and even though I have been thinking about these issues for at least as long as I have been running Sustainable Arts Foundation (13 years) and possibly longer, I learned a few things and appreciated how concisely Judah makes her argument. I particularly liked learning about galerie asterix* , established by artists in Berlin , an entirely online space, that lets artists claim gallery shows the year that their children were born. It’s an excellent form of political protest: “…it exposes the artist-parent’s position in a professional way, and breaks the taboo around mentioning parenthood in the art world. It enables artists to fill the gap on their CV in a feminist, activist way.”

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of powerful ideas. I like the quote near the end of the book with the more general idea of "How might the art world adapt to the fact that a lot of people don't have high mobility, don't have financial independence and high availability? I think the art world should in principle adapt to the fact that many of us have barriers to traveling non-stop, being available non-stop, being able to respond non-stop, and look in general at expectations of availability and flexibility." Something to think about in more than just the art world.

[Gareth Schweitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small, beautiful book. Good articulation of the issues and exemplars for change.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for folks working in all kinds of creative fields. Inspiring and persuasive.

[Hannah Ferreira-Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important read for artists, producers, gallerists and curators. This book was well researched and really engaging.