The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of many people who are independent contractors and underscored the urgency of creating a more inclusive social contract—one that drives economic security, equity, and dignity for all workers, including independent contractors. Arts workers, who include artists and others who work in the arts, cultural, and entertainment industries, have been particularly affected by the pandemic’s economic effects on the arts and cultural sector and the sector’s reliance on nonstandard work arrangements.

California is on the forefront of efforts to address misclassification—when organizations treat workers who are legally entitled to be employees as independent contractors. By focusing on California, home to one of the world’s most prominent arts communities, this report aims to offer a better understanding of arts workers, their working arrangements, and the challenges they face, particularly when working a independent contractors. This information offers a lens to identify policy solutions to create a more inclusive social contract that provides freelance arts workers and other independent contractors with access to fundamental social insurance programs and worker protections. This framing of the social contract aims to empower workers and improve worker outcomes by (1) providing greater economic security through inclusion in social insurance programs, such as unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and paid leave; (2) increasing the equity, safety, and dignity of work through workplace standards, including antidiscrimination, health and safety, and wage and hour protections; and (3) strengthening workers’ ability to organize to improve working conditions.