Navigating the art and luxury industries can be both exhilarating and challenging, especially for those just starting out. Drawing from her expertise, Diana Ewer, Head of Careers at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, shares key advice on how students and emerging professionals can successfully position themselves in these competitive fields.
How does the Careers Services Team at Sotheby’s Institute of Art support students in navigating the competitive art and luxury job markets?
Our Master’s degree programs attract a diverse and globally minded student cohort with a range of professional experiences. What unites them is a shared desire to enhance their knowledge base, skills, and work-relevant experience while they study with us. Whether a student is pivoting from a different sector, has some experience in the art and luxury worlds, or has recently graduated, our tailored careers service ensures everybody builds a strong foundation, gaining the insights and expertise needed to stand apart in the competitive art and luxury job markets.
From orientation through graduation and beyond, we work closely with students to help them position themselves for targeted art and luxury job opportunities. Bespoke services include one-on-one sessions with industry-recognized Career Advisors, a dynamic industry-facing events schedule, opportunities for a work placement or internship with a leading art or luxury business, and access to employability workshops covering global recruitment trends. In addition, there are opportunities to network with our global alumni community through panels and alumni-student career events, alongside employer roundtables. Moreover, our students have exclusive access to an annual Careers Fair on both the London and New York campuses.
Finally, students can enjoy lifelong access to an exclusive Sotheby’s Institute of Art jobs board featuring internships and job opportunities from a global network of art and luxury employers.
With over 20 years of art world experience, how do you apply your expertise to mentoring students and recent alumni?
As a dedicated commercial arts professional, I bring extensive knowledge and insight to mentoring students and recent alumni. My diverse career, spanning both London and New York, has given me access to multiple facets of the global art industry.
I've had the privilege of working with a range of businesses within that global ecosystem, and co-founding my own contemporary gallery and art consultancy has further strengthened my understanding of the industry's deep complexities. Throughout my career, I've been responsible for mentoring and coaching people, enabling me to help emerging art and luxury professionals position themselves effectively. I appreciate the unique challenges they face in the competitive art and luxury worlds, having experienced them firsthand.
My top priority is to leverage my extensive networks to help bridge the gap between academia and real-world application, providing guidance on how to navigate the competitive hiring landscape, build confidence and meaningful connections, and develop a strong professional identity upon graduation.
How does the Sotheby’s Institute of Art’s Cultural Leaders Program help foster diverse talent in the industry?
The Sotheby’s Institute of Art’s Cultural Leaders Program fosters diverse talent in the industry by providing fully funded scholarships to talented students from underrepresented communities. This initiative —launched in collaboration with Culture&—aims to empower the next generation of leaders in the arts. By expanding access to educational opportunities, the program seeks to create a more diverse and equitable art world.
What are the biggest workplace developments in the art and luxury industries that students should be aware of?
Digital transformation, including the use of AI, is reshaping both sectors, with virtual exhibitions, online auctions, and e-commerce platforms enhancing accessibility and fostering transparency.
We’ve also seen a move towards sustainability and ethical practices as increasingly prioritized, with a new focus on environmentally friendly materials and further regulation in business transactions.
In the luxury sector specifically, there is arguably a shift towards an experience-based offering, such as bespoke art brand collaborations and luxury travel. With ongoing economic challenges and shifts in collector behavior, businesses must be agile and innovative to stay relevant and profitable. It’s a fascinating time to be part of it!
How does your team help students identify new and emerging job opportunities in these fast-evolving sectors?
As a team, we collaborate closely with our outstanding faculty and the wider Sotheby’s Institute of Art community to share industry reports and sector expertise through Careers ‘In Conversations’ with industry innovators.
We utilize our global alumni networks and encourage students to actively engage with the SIA Jobs Board from the moment they arrive. Our published careers resources cover all aspects of employability. Additionally, we share new and emerging job opportunities through a weekly careers newsletter.
What role does the international alumni network play in helping recent graduates find opportunities?
The international alumni network plays an important role in helping recent graduates by sharing job opportunities through the bespoke SIA Jobs Board, participating in careers events such as ‘Speed Networking With Alumni’ that provide invaluable connections and advice, and offering work experience placements and internship opportunities to give current students a head start as they graduate.
What trends do you see shaping the future of careers in the art and luxury industries?
As the art industry continues to grapple with the impact of AI, the online marketplace will become increasingly important. New technologies are revolutionizing how art is authenticated, bought, and sold, providing artists with alternative ways to monetize their work and reach global audiences outside of established channels.
The merging of art and technology will require innovative thinkers with highly refined digital commerce skills. Additionally, the focus on sustainability, with galleries and artists seeking to reduce their environmental impact through eco-friendly practices, will demand new skill sets.
In the luxury industry, sustainability and ethical practices are becoming paramount, with brands prioritizing green manufacturing and circular fashion to meet consumer demand for eco-conscious products.
Digital transformation is also significant, as the rise of e-commerce and virtual fashion platforms creates new opportunities and requires professionals to have strong digital experience.
What excites you the most about mentoring the next generation of art and luxury professionals?
It's a privilege to be around master’s students and witness firsthand how their confidence grows as they identify and explore career pathways. It's incredibly rewarding to be part of their individual journeys and support them along the way. I get a huge buzz when I hear from graduates who have secured exciting new roles upon graduation. Knowing that I may have played a small part in their success is truly fulfilling.
If you could give one key piece of career advice to incoming students, what would it be?
My one piece of career advice would be to seize every opportunity at Sotheby’s Institute. I would highlight the work placement offer in particular, as data shows it significantly boosts employability. But also, forge friendships and build connections from the start, as these relationships will become your future work peers and colleagues. Embrace the journey, and let it shape your path to success!