Working in the arts is an absolute privilege, and one of the key factors is that you can enjoy your professional realm WITH a young child in tow. But art-focused spaces are often not super welcoming to parents. What would help? https://twitter.com/MaryMWalsh/status/1350395586684608513

1. Flexible work hours so you can spend time with your kids and attend that opening solo without the crushing burden of guilt.

2. Changing tables, not just in women’s, family, and all gender restrooms but in dedicated men’s rooms too. Normalize active working fatherhood across all industries.

3. Little things like coloring books, crayons, art-focused activities, a play space (ikea style) at art fairs, and museums, and not just for the VIPs.

4. A fricking smile would be nice from some of the colder/fancier spaces, when you come in with a little kid. Honestly. Today’s young parents are tomorrow’s art world leaders. We see your scorn. We’re doing our best. Be humane.

5. Art fairs, museums, conferences, etc: make info about lactation/feeding spaces easily found and not, for the love of god, the bathroom. Would you bring a plate of dessert into a bathroom? No? Don’t make us feed a baby in there.

6. Pay your people well enough that they stay in your industry and don’t marry/reproduce out of it.