3) Understand how precarious working conditions increase vulnerability to potential abuse. And take action

Why?

• Precarious working conditions of cultural workers (financial insecurity, predatory contract clauses, competitive atmospheres, unsafe work spaces...) are fertile breeding grounds for harassment and abuse of all kinds in the arts.

• Many arts professionals do not speak up about being abused or harassed in the cultural workplace. Often this is because they fear that, if they do, they will be retaliated against or punished (losing jobs, having their reputation tarnished, losing visa privileges...).

Recommendations

• As an organisation, in addition to working with staff members, be proactive in addressing the needs of independent artists, freelance cultural workers, young professionals, and students. Many of them operate with little or no ‘safety net.’ Some may also lack knowledge as to what constitutes abuse or harassment and have very little experience in handling such situations.

• Consider getting your organisation certified by an independent entity (such as W.A.G.E25) with regards to fair remuneration for arts workers.

Discussion point

• Has your organisation ever used the power of its reputation to push for an arts worker to accept a low fee or wage and/or for contract conditions that clearly put them at a disadvantage?