An upswing of women and non-binary participants in the art world has been recorded by The Countess Report who credit the change in representation to conversations stirred by their 2016 findings and ongoing commitment to highlighting the issue of inequality. Women’s participation in exhibitions has increased by 10-20%, however in the collections and exhibitions of state museums and galleries representation has decreased from 36.9% to 33.9% from 2016 to today. Women as ‘Australia Council Funded Artists’ is on the rise, and their position as curators and in senior roles remains strong, indeed, 52% of prize-winners are women – with the top ten prizes (in dollar value) being a 50/50 split.
Amy Prcevich and Elvis Richardson at Seventh Gallery, Melbourne. Photograph: Phoebe Powell
