About
The Art Working Parents Alliance (AWP) is a UK-wide peer network and advocacy group supporting parents and carers working across the visual arts.
AWP was launched in 2022 by Jo Harrison and Hettie Judah, in response to the structural barriers that make it difficult for parents - and particularly primary caregivers - to sustain creative careers in the arts. These barriers include precarious employment, limited access to professional networks and opportunities, exclusion from events and work due to caring responsibilities, and a lack of clear guidance around rights, pay, and workplace support.
Through peer-to peer networking, collective discussion, mentoring and collaboration with arts organisations, AWP works to create more equitable and family-inclusive practices across the arts sector. We aim to make parents visible within the art world, reduce isolation, and support long-term participation in cultural work.
What We Do
AWP supports parents and carers in the visual arts by:
running a free national membership network
facilitating peer-to-peer mentoring and shared support
organising accessible online and in-person events
producing regular communications and resources
working in partnership with arts organisations and regional networks
All of our work is aimed at minimising the financial, geographic, and access barriers for artists and art workers, promoting sustainable practices across different roles, regions, and career stages.
Why It Matters
Parents working in the arts are frequently pushed out of the sector due to inflexible working practices, unpaid labour expectations and exclusion from professional networks. This loss of talent reduces diversity and weakens the cultural sector as a whole.
AWP exists to challenge these conditions and support structural change, ensuring that parenting and care are recognised as part of working life in the arts — not a barrier to participation.
Who We Support
AWP supports parents and carers working across the UK visual arts sector, including artists, curators, writers, educators, academics, and arts workers in public, commercial and independent contexts.
Membership is free and open to anyone who identifies as a parent or carer working in the visual arts.
Our Values
Our work is guided by a commitment to equity and inclusion, care and sustainability, collaboration, transparency and intersectional practice.
Governance
The Art Working Parents Alliance is a Community Interest Company (CIC). Any income generated is reinvested into our work to further our community purpose.
Get Involved
You can join AWP, attend events, access resources, or follow our work through our newsletter and social channels. We welcome parents and carers from across the visual arts, at all stages of their careers.
If you’d like to support our work, you can make a one-off or regular donation, or join our supporters’ circle to help sustain AWP’s activities and contribute to long-term change across the sector.
WhatsApp and Regional Groups
Cover image:
Jēkabs Kazaks, Three old Ladies, 1916
There are currently about 700 members of AWP spread around the country. We have established regional and sector hub WhatsApp groups. The activities of all WhatsApp groups are determined by the needs and wishes of those involved – they can range from playdates and gallery visits to something more like an informal resource to share experience and advice.
All this is opt-in and new members can be added to each group as we move forward. If you would like to join any of these groups, please email us and we’ll happily connect you – all are welcome.
We are currently in the process of setting up devolved regional hubs, which will be coordinated via a local organisation and managed by volunteer AWP liaisons.
If you would like to set up a regional AWP hub for local members to meet regularly, or occasionally, please contact us at artworkingparents.gmail.com to request more info.