Turning access into advantage in the art market
The Back Room is a community for people who want to learn how the art market really works. Through exclusive insight, meaningful discussion, and genuine connection, it brings together collectors, professionals, and enthusiasts who want to experience the art market from the inside out.
The Back Room offers a subscription service with three distinct and complementary elements, designed to bring you closer to the art market, wherever you are and however you engage with it.
The Back Room
Bulletin
The Back Room Bulletin is your private line into the art market’s inner discourse. Each month, hear what insiders are really saying, find out what was missing from the coverage you’ve read, and go deep into one timely topic. Giving you rare, behind-closed-doors access to the conversations that matter most. Whether you’re collecting, networking, or shaping strategy, these are the insights that put you ahead in the art market.
The Back Room
Briefing
The Back Room Briefing is a forum where experts unpack the world’s major art events, four times a year. We explore what everyone is talking about in fairs, auctions, and exhibitions around the world, but from vantage points only insiders can access. You’ll gain insight you can use to inform conversations, influence decisions, and advance your position in the art world.
The Back Room
Gathering
The Back Room Gathering is an annual summit where The Back Room comes to life, combining conversation and connection, insight and influence. Industry leaders share candid perspectives shaped by experience, while fellow subscribers meet and forge relationships, ideas and opportunities that travel beyond the event. The Gathering is both a snapshot of the art market, and an invitation to step inside the frame.
Meet the expert
Joe Dunning is an art market expert with twenty years’ experience in the art world. He has worked with artists, galleries, auction houses, art fairs, advisors, collectors, foundations and museums, with a focus on business development, client engagement, and the intersection of art with the fields of technology, finance, and philanthropy.
He has taught at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art for eight years, where he leads introductory, intermediate and advanced courses on all facets of the art market.
He runs Dunning & Partners, providing business development services to cultural organisations around the world.
He holds a number of pro bono roles, advising nonprofit organisations including Hospital Rooms, UP Projects, and CORA Foundation.
He has a BA in Modern Languages from Oxford University, and an MA in Cultural and Creative Industries from King’s College, London.
What people say
Here are answers to the questions people ask most often, about membership, pricing, and benefits.
Got a question we haven’t answered? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to answer it.
FAQs
What is The Back Room and who is it for?
The Back Room is a membership community for people who want to understand how the art market really works. It’s designed for collectors, art professionals, and enthusiasts who want insider access to art market knowledge, conversations, and networks they can’t get elsewhere.
How does The Back Room help me understand the art market?
The Back Room gives members access to exclusive insights, expert analysis, and genuine conversations happening behind closed doors in galleries, auction houses and fairs, between artists, collectors and agents. Through monthly and quarterly content, plus an annual in-person gathering, it offers a 360-degree view of how the art market operates.
What do I get with a membership to The Back Room?
There are four subscription packages catering to different needs and different levels of engagement in the market. These packages include:
The Back Room Bulletin – A monthly deep-dive into what insiders are really saying.
The Back Room Briefing – A quarterly expert forum analysing the art world’s major moments.
The Back Room Gathering – An annual summit that brings the community together for insight and networking.
Additional one-on-one sessions with Joe.
Who creates The Back Room’s content?
All content is led by Joe Dunning, an art-market expert with twenty years of experience working with artists, galleries, auction houses, art fairs, collectors, and nonprofit organisations. He teaches at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and runs a consultancy advising cultural organisations globally. Joe curates every Bulletin, Briefing, and Gathering to ensure accuracy, context, and practical relevance.
Why is The Back Room valuable for collectors?
Collectors gain access to the knowledge that can inform buying decisions but that is rarely available publicly: insider commentary, market nuance, and professional insight. It helps collectors become more informed, more confident, and more connected in the art world.
Is The Back Room suitable for people new to the art market?
Yes. The Back Room is intentionally structured for people at all experience levels – whether you're a new collector, a student exploring the field, or an established professional. The content is designed to deepen understanding, build networks, and provide clarity in an industry that can feel opaque.
How does The Back Room support professional development?
Through expert insight, case studies, industry analysis, and exposure to high-level conversations, The Back Room helps members develop sharper judgment and a stronger strategic understanding of the art world. It is especially beneficial for early-career professionals, looking to grow their knowledge and their network.
Can The Back Room help me build a network in the art world?
Yes. The Back Room brings together members from across the ecosystem – collectors, curators, gallerists, academics, advisors, and students. The annual Gathering and ongoing conversations help you build meaningful relationships and expand your network in a way that is organic, informed, and insider-led.
Is The Back Room suitable for international members?
Absolutely. Although based in London, The Back Room covers global markets – major fairs, auctions, exhibitions, and developments worldwide. Many members join from Europe, the US, the Middle East, and Asia to gain international perspective and access to global conversations.
How much does membership in The Back Room cost?
There are four tiers of membership. Each tier offers access to core content, with varying levels of additional benefits depending on your needs and engagement level.
Membership tiers are:
Guest – £500
Regular – £1,000
Patron – £1,950
Resident – £3,950
Are there any discounts available?
Yes. Subscribe before the end of the year to become a Founding Member and enjoy discounted subscription prices and priority access to events.
How do I join The Back Room?
For Guest and Regular membership you can sign up here. To discuss your specific needs as a Patron or Resident, or if you’re not sure which subscription is right for you, complete the very simple enquiry form and Joe will get back to you.