A model
that works


AWU Executive Director Carson Elrod, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney; NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera; Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Gonzalo Casals; Artistic Director of The Public Theater Oskar Eustis; Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jennifer Egan; CEO of PEN America Suzanne Nossel; Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Anne del Castillo; New York State Senator Brad Hoylman; and Saheem Ali, theater director and Associate Artistic Director of The Public Theater.
Two ORGANIZATIONS.
maximum impact.
Arts Workers United
AWU Foundation
MILESTONES
April 9, 2024
AWU endorses the introduction of the STAGE Act
February 8, 2024
AWU endorses the introduction of the CREATE Act
January 30, 2024
NEA White House Summit with Creative Economy Stakeholders: Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities
November 28, 2023
AWU Foundation formed
March 1, 2022
Arts Education Series: The Green Room with Nadia Brown in partnership with Ovation TV
January 19, 2022
AWU Makes History: The Power, Peril, Promise of the Creative Economy: The first house hearing in U.S. history
September 28, 2021
AWU endorses introduction of the Creative Economy Revitalization Act
August 8, 2021
Award Winning Brand Identity in partnership with One Design Company
June 14, 2021
Dance Workers Unite! A nationwide letter writing campaign, organized in partnership with Dance/USA & National Dance Education Organization
April 22, 2021
Dear Mr. President and Madam Vice President: a nationwide letter writing campaign, organized in partnership with the American Circus Alliance
March 16, 2021
Editorial Cartoonists Unite! A nationwide illustration campaign featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonists illustrate compelling points of view on their own particular struggles of the editorial cartooning industry and the Arts & Culture sector crisis at large. In partnership with Counterpoint.
January 14, 2021
Dear Mr. President and Madam Vice President: a nationwide letter writing campaign, organized in partnership with The Dramatists Guild of America
November 1, 2020
Arts Are My Superpower: a nationwide letter writing campaign for children, young adults, families, and classrooms to write letters to Senators, organized in partnership with a coalition of organizations focused on arts and education for young people, including TYA/USA, AATE, IPAY, ATA, iTheatrics/JTF, and New Victory.
September 22, 2020
AWU formally established
September 7, 2020
Labor Day of Action: Time Square Demonstration for the Arts with National Media Coverage
September 7, 2020
July 26, 2020
Earned Media: CNN 1.03 Million; Late Night with Seth Myers 3.46M; Washington Post 86M; New York Times 130M
July 25, 2020
Letter to the Senators of the 116th Congress: 17,000+ signatures
June 1, 2020
Policymakers & Legislative Stakeholders partnerships: 70+ Senate offices; 20+ House of Representatives e.g., Sen. Majority Leader, NIVA, CSC, AFTA, etc.