Open Letter to Artists – An Appeal for Fair Dealing

Sara Wookey, a professional artist, dancer and choreographer, posted a passionate and well informed appeal to all artists to unite to form fair and ethical work standards based on the story of her treatment during auditions for a performance at one of Los Angeles’ respected arts institutions.

Please read Sara’s Open Letter to Artists.

“If my call for labor standards for artists seems out of bounds, think of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG, established 1933), the American Federation of Musicians (AFM, founded 1896), or the umbrella organization the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (the 4A’s, founded in 1919), which hold the film, theater and music industries to regulatory and best practice standards for commercial working artists and entertainers. If there is any group of cultural workers that deserves basic standards of labor, it is us performers working in museums, whose medium is our own bodies and deserve humane treatment and respect. Artists of all disciplines deserve fair and equal treatment and can organize if we care enough to put the effort into it.” – Sara Wookey, Open Letter to Artists excerpt.

MALC applauds Sara’s step forward and encourages all artists to bring her appeal, and your own, to the attention of your state legislators. MALC has advocated, and will continue to advocate, for fair dealing in all aspects of the arts, whatever their discipline.

“I was to be paid $150. During the audition, there was no mention of safeguards, signs, or signals for performers in distress, and when I asked about what protection would be provided I was told it could not be guaranteed. What I experienced as an auditionee for this work was extremely problematic, exploitative, and potentially abusive.” – Sara Wookey, Open Letter to Artists excerpt.

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