| Art and Labor in a Gig Economy |
| 04/29 - 04/30/2025 |
| 9:00 am - 3:00 pm |
| Online/Virtual |
| Event Description: |
The Fourth Annual Conference of the California Labor Lab explores the evolving nature of artistic labor in an era of economic instability and shifting employment structures. As entertainment and media workers continue to organize for fair wages and protections, and as new technologies reshape creative work, the arts serve both as a case study in contemporary labor struggles and a lens through which to examine the future of work itself.
This two-day virtual conference will explore the relationship between art and labor. Day One will open with an overview of the arts’ role in California’s economy, featuring presentations from the Commission on the Creative Economy and findings from the California Labor Laboratory’s Work and Health Survey on the scope of arts-related employment in the state. The conversation will then delve into key aspects of artistic work, including the growing influence of media conglomerates in film production, the realities of life for actors outside of stardom, and the lived experience of those working in the arts. Day Two will shift focus to how the arts critique and illuminate the changing world of work through discussions interwoven with clips and readings. From literature and film to performance and music, creative expression has long served as both a mirror and a battleground for labor struggles.
Note: We are committed to responsible media use and have taken great care to ensure that the media used in presentations are appropriately sourced and credited. We have encouraged our presenters to use openly licensed materials and obtain permission from copyright owners when needed.
Audience:
This conference is intended for labor market analysts, labor activists, and anyone concerned with the impacts of changes in the nature of employment on the well-being of the working age population; for health professionals spanning the fields of occupational and environmental health and safety, and health professionals who want to understand how employment translates into health outcomes; and for policymakers wishing to construct a firewall of laws and regulation to protect worker health.
Registration Fees:
Registration for Continuing Education CEUs: $49.00
Please select this category if you would like to be provided with a Certificate of Completion following the activity. Please see 'Accreditation' for more information regarding CEUs.
General Registration: FreePlease select this category if you plan to attend the conference, but do not require a certificate of completion for continuing education credit (CEUs).
Free registration is made possible by the California Labor Laboratory, a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Center of Excellence for Total Worker Health® (Grant: U19OH012293).
Sponsors:
This event is made possible through the joint providership of The California Labor Lab and The Center for Occupational and Environmental Health UC Berkeley.
Accessibility:
If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to fully participate in this event, please contact Will Bellamy at coehce@berkeley.edu or (510) 642-8365 with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.
