A model
that works

We believe that advocacy that is visible is valuable. That’s why we pair Advocacy You Can See with traditional lobbying to get things done.
Credit: Jennifer Makholm Featuring:
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

Our Membership-based 501(c)(4) aims to establish the American Arts & Culture sector as a non-partisan legislative priority for support, investment, and representation commensurate with its socioeconomic value.

AWU Foundation

Our foundation, a 501(c)(3) aims to educate, organize, and mobilize American Arts Workers (and all Americans) in order to advance the interests of the Creative Economy and its workers through visible advocacy, education programs and grassroots campaigns.
Learn More

MILESTONES

We are incredibly proud of our accomplishments to date. Your membership will help us create new milestones, maintain our revolutionary momentum, and build an inspiring future for Arts Workers.

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

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

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

June 1, 2020

Policymakers & Legislative Stakeholders partnerships: 70+ Senate offices; 20+ House of Representatives e.g., Sen. Majority Leader, NIVA, CSC, AFTA, etc.

Muralist Corie Mattie stands in front of her mural entitled:  "After the Plague Came the Renaissance."
Credit: Corie Matie, LA Hope Dealer
Featuring: Corie Matie

Join us in making a difference

Let’s build the future together.
get involved
Arrow