London Gallery Weekend is becoming an increasingly important initiative for the case for London as one of the world's most dynamic and important creative economies. AWITA has partnered with London Gallery Weekend to deliver two online masterclasses ahead of the weekend to support the professional development of women who are the majority (circa 70%) of the commercial gallery workforce.
"Tour de Force: How to Lead a Great Gallery Tour” with Wedel Art
Wednesday 22nd May 12:00 pm - 12:40 pm
“Maximising Impact: How to Activate your Audiences” with Katy Wickremesinghe, Cultural Strategist and Founder of The Wick
Thursday 30th May 12:00 pm - 12:40 pm
Please RSVP using the form below to receive the Zoom invitations.
All participating galleries in LGW who wish to join AWITA as team members will receive a 6-month membership extension. This offer is available between 16th April and 16th July 2024. Team membership allows all staff who are women or identify as women to participate events which are designed to support motivation, performance, and job satisfaction. Click here for more information.
London Gallery Weekend is the world’s largest event of its kind and unique among global gallery weekend events in the breadth and diversity of its participating galleries. The event takes place over three days, each focusing on a different area of London. Free for all to attend, it provides an opportunity to discover and explore London’s world-class gallery scene, celebrating the city’s diverse cultural and creative communities. An extensive programme scheduled by galleries specially for the weekend includes talks, family workshops and special events.
Pernilla Holmes is the Director of Wedel Art, an art advisory firm working with private, institutional and corporate clients on their collections, property developments, museum planning, exhibition programmes and cultural strategies. An art historian by training, prior to joining Wedel Art Pernilla advised top private collections and worked closely with artists at leading galleries. She has curated numerous solo and group exhibitions of both emerging and established artists at key points in their careers including Frank Bowling, Gutai artists, Laurie Simmons, Faith Ringgold and Oscar Tuazon. Pernilla has an MA from the Courtauld Institute and has written extensively on art in catalogues and for such publications as the Financial Times, Newsweek, World of Interiors and ARTnews, as well as giving lectures at museums and colleges.
Before setting up Wedel Art Advisory in 2006, Amelie von Wedel worked for various high-profile art institutions and galleries. Amelie graduated with a double Masters in Art History and Economics from Edinburgh and Berlin Universities. As a curator, art consultant and gallerist, she organized the first UK exhibitions of Sam Gilliam and Theaster Gates, and many critically acclaimed group exhibitions including Dansaekhwa and Impulse: American Abstract Art in the 70s, as well as performance art commissions. Amelie has lectured extensively around the world on contemporary art and co-edited a survey book on Chinese contemporary art published by Dumont. Closely engaging with each client’s unique profile, Amelie additionally develops meaningful cultural strategies for institutions and international corporations as well as advises on art strategies for property developments. In 2009, Amelie co-founded Intelligence Squared Asia with Yana Peel and since 2011 is co-owner and co-chair of Intelligence Squared Group.
British-Sri Lankan entrepreneur and award-winning creative leader Katy Wickremesinghe is the founder of KTW & The Wick - a global consultancy and content platform based in London, on a mission to connect the culturally curious and to make businesses more art engaged and responsible.
Katy has placed in the top 10 PR Week Powerbook of Luxury and Leadership 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 and been recognised as one of the top three luxury communicators in Britain. She has worked for two decades across strategic communications, cultural programming and business development spanning visual arts, global brands, and private individuals. Her previous role was at Freuds, working with global brands, entertainment, and talent for ten years. Her diverse client portfolio includes prestigious names such as: Claridge’s, The Design Museum, Montblanc, BAFTA, Fortnum & Mason, The British Fashion Council, Belmond, Soho House Group, Burberry, Ben Brown Fine Arts and Gordon Ramsay, along with various independent artist and gallery projects.
Katy is an art world authority, advising on stakeholder engagement, patronage strategy, institutional relationships, and personal branding to enhance cultural impact and legacy projects. During the lockdown, she established The Wick, a cultural content platform providing dynamic, specialist content and events in the UK and internationally. Dedicated to education and creativity, the platform offers navigation to a complex art world, allowing anyone to be an art world insider, and enabling individuals and businesses to engage closely with visual arts, culture, and design.
Additionally, Katy holds several prestigious roles: she is a Trustee of the Royal Academy, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Dulwich Picture Gallery, sits on the advisory board of The Line, London's first public art walk, and is a cultural advisor for CogX. She also participates in the leadership committee for the Creative Circuit, created by Brent Hoberman connecting new technologies with the creative sector. A passionate cultural advocate, she supports various institutions like the V&A Museum, Serpentine Future Contemporaries, and The Association of Women in The Arts (AWITA).
Most recently Katy was recognised and awarded at the House of Lords as one of the top 50 Career & Professional Women in the UK for Business & Social Impact start up from the international organisation Women in Management.
A regular moderator and cultural commentator across arts and business, Katy strives to build female and diverse voices. She presented Sotheby’s contemporary previews in 2023 for their digital audience of 19 million and also regularly speaks as an expert on Radio Times and BBC.
She has moderated prominent conversations: London Tech Club at Sotheby’s ‘NFT’s Uncovered’; Chairing The Hospital Rooms Symposium with Hauser & Wirth, ‘Rethinking Mental Health Care Through Art’; ‘The Healing Power of Art’ as part of Goals House to mark the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations; keynote close of the Walpole Luxury Business Summit 2022 interviewing Chair of Southbank, Misan Harriman as well as Photographer & Film Maker Rankin. The future of AI, in conversation with Suhair Khan for the Luxury Communications Council.