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Kate Enters - Visionary Woman Founder to Watch — 2026
- Women Story
- Jan 19
- 3 min read
Category
Arts & Culture · Creative Communities · Social Enterprise · Non-Profit Leadership · Artist Empowerment
Kate Enters
Founder & Director, ArtCan
📍 Based in: London, United Kingdom
“Artists need time, trust, and fair opportunity — everything else grows from there.”
Introduction: Why She Matters
At a time when many artists struggle with visibility, sustainability, and fair compensation, Kate Enters has built an organisation that quietly but powerfully rewrites the rules of how emerging artists are supported.
As the founder and director of ArtCan, Kate has created an international, artist-led ecosystem that prioritises opportunity over gatekeeping, fair payment over commissions, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of art, wellbeing, social enterprise, and global collaboration, offering artists not just exhibitions — but long-term support structures for sustaining a creative practice.
Company Overview
Organisation Name: ArtCan
Industry: Arts & Culture · Social Enterprise · Non-Profit
Team Model: Artist-led, volunteer-supported
Headquarters: London, UK
Website: https://www.artcan.org.uk/
What ArtCan Does
ArtCan is a not-for-profit arts organisation dedicated to enabling artists to find their voice, sustain their practice, and reach wider audiences — without financial exploitation.
ArtCan creates value through:
Exhibitions & Events — physical, virtual, and international shows across the UK and abroad
No-Commission Sales Model — 100% of artwork sales go directly to the artist
Peer-to-Peer Artist Network — a global community across 26+ countries
Practice Development — access to specialist knowledge, talks, workshops, and mentoring
Professional Recognition — curated opportunities that complement traditional gallery systems
From Vienna to Wales, from London hubs to bespoke virtual galleries, ArtCan enables artists to be seen, valued, and fairly rewarded.
Founder’s Approach & Philosophy
Kate Enters’ leadership is grounded in one clear belief: Artists need space, time, and equitable structures to thrive.
Her approach is defined by:
Artist-first economics (no commission, fair payment)
Collaboration over hierarchy
Global openness with local roots
Sustainability — creative, financial, and environmental
Drawing on her background in arts PR, high-end museum events, and international cultural programming, Kate has built ArtCan as a complementary force to established galleries — not a competitor, but an enabler of emerging and under-represented talent.
Key Achievements & Milestones
🌍 Built an international artist community spanning 26+ countries
🖼️ Delivered hundreds of physical, virtual, and hybrid exhibitions
🏛️ Launched The ArtCan Hub in Angel, Islington, in partnership with The Artists Window
💻 Created a bespoke virtual gallery during the pandemic to maintain global access
👥 Expanded governance with new trustees, strengthening long-term resilience
🌱 Active member of Social Enterprise UK and Gallery Climate Coalition
Awards & Recognition
🏅 Women Entrepreneur Award for the Arts (2023)🏆 Finalist – Great British Businesswomen of the Year (Creative Category, 2024)🏆 Finalist – Great British Entrepreneur of the Year (Arts Category)
These recognitions reflect Kate’s impact not just as a founder — but as a steward of cultural value.
Why She’s One to Watch in 2026
Kate Enters is one to watch in 2026 because the global arts sector is undergoing a profound shift.
As artists face:
Economic instability
Mental health pressures
Climate responsibility
Barriers to traditional gallery access
ArtCan’s model offers a future-ready alternative — one that is ethical, scalable, and community-powered.
With its no-commission structure, international collaborations, and strong sustainability ethos, ArtCan is positioned to become a reference model for artist-led cultural organisations worldwide.
Kate isn’t chasing growth for its own sake. She is building infrastructure for creative longevity.
Impact Beyond Business
Enables artists to earn fairly from their work
Reduces isolation through global peer communities
Expands access to art beyond traditional spaces
Promotes sustainability and climate responsibility in the arts
Strengthens wellbeing through creative expression and collaboration
Kate Enters represents a new generation of cultural leaders — those who combine creative vision, ethical conviction, and organisational discipline.
Through ArtCan, she proves that art ecosystems can be inclusive, fair, international, and sustainable — without losing integrity.
That is why Kate Enters is a Visionary Woman Founder to Watch in 2026.
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