Philadelphia Arts Workers United!
November 13th, 2026
Philadelphia Arts Workers United! is the fight to make a life in the arts stable, sustainable, and affordable. We all know that everyone working in the arts deserves healthcare and housing, secure and dignified employment, and the ability to make and share art without constant hardship and sacrifice. The question is, “How do we build the power necessary to get what we deserve?”
Bring your friends, collaborators, and coworkers, and join us on November 13th across two full group sessions, four breakout sessions, a mutual aid and vendor market, an after-hours happy hour, and more.
Come with your people. Come ready to get active with us in the way that you want to–get deep into strategy, learn how to step into organizing for the first time, connect to the history of arts worker movements in the city, or just feel less alone in your struggle. Come ready to work together. Come with your questions, come with your pain, come with your hope, come with your big ideas, come with your willingness to try.
Together we’ll unite and take concrete action towards building power across medium, position, and sector.
Rundown of the Day
9:00 AM - Registration opens
10:00 AM - Opening Session:
Who are we, and what is at stake?
11:45 AM - Break
12:00 PM - Breakout Sessions Begin
1:30 PM - Lunch Break
2:30 PM - Breakout Sessions Continue
4:00 PM - Break
4:15 PM - Closing Session:
What will we do to build and wield power together?
6:00 PM - Social Event
Breakout Sessions
Session A - How Do We Get Organized?
Led by Ben Fink
An introduction and refresher on how people build power through common self-interest, and how to talk to other people about it.
Session B - To be confirmed
Session C - Who Has the Power Now?
Led by Rebecca Subar
Mapping power in Philadelphia’s arts ecosystem, and finding out who the most strategic and impactful targets are.
Session D - What Are the Opportunities and Challenges to Building Power?
Led by Matthew Armstead
What is happening right now in Philadelphia, and what are the strategic campaigns that get us where we need to be?
The Team
More team members will be added as we get closer to the event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I an arts worker? If you work in the arts and want to build power for yourself and your fellow workers, you are! And yes, being an artist is work. We’re still honing our definition, so if you’re not totally positive if this is you, assume it is. Generally, when we think about the arts we’re thinking about fields like: dance, theatre, visual art, music, film, literature, craft, photography, drag, game design, circus, folk art, cabaret, etc. etc. etc. We also think about people working in positions like: artists, administrators, editors, facilities staff, technicians, docents, teaching artists, handlers, crafts people, fabricators, box office staff, program officers, culture bearers, service providers, teachers, stage managers, and so so many more.
Who is Obvious Agency and why are you doing this? We are a worker-owned cooperative, a playable theatre company, and a group of artists who have been working together for nine years now in Philly. Over the course of our careers and and in line with our succesess, we have seen that it is only getting harder to be an arts worker in the US. We want to make art, but we also care about how that art is made and the people who make it. We are doing this because we can’t really be the artists we want to be until the world around us can support that. The core of our mission is to Play hard, work together, get free.
Do I have to come for the full day? No - you're welcome to come and go throughout the day. However, the sessions are designed to build on one another, so we do recommend attending for the entire day if you are able! This is designed to a full day immersion into the movement and into community with other arts workers.
Do I have to RSVP ahead of time or can I just walk up? We welcome walk-up attendees but encourage RSVPing ahead to help us make sure we have enough printouts and other materials for the number of attendees.
Is Philadelphia Arts Workers United! associated with any unions? We are not formally associated with any unions, but sure love the work they do!
Other Ways to Get Involved
Invite your People
Come with your people - we are strongest together; connect with us on scial media and share the word with your coworkers, colleuagues, collaborators, friends, loved ones, and more.
Donate and Connect
Help us host - we are hosting PAWU at no cost to attendees; if you would like to donate to Obvious Agency or get in touch with us about sponsorship or other methods of support, click here.
Lead support for Philadelphia Arts Workers United! is provided by the William Penn Foundation
Lead Sponsor - the Philadelphia Cultural Fund
Part of Collective Futures, a six-week, citywide project activating Philadelphia’s network of artist-run spaces, DIY venues, and community-based initiatives
Additional Sponsors and Supporters
.png)
Vox Populi
