The issue of employment standards in Canadian Artist-Run Organizations has been identified as a key priority to be addressed by the Independent Media Arts Alliance/ Alliance des arts médiatiques indépendants (IMAA/AAMI).

Similarly to other studies conducted in recent years, this study finds that overall, employment conditions in artist-run media arts organizations are challenging. Wages are low, there is a lack of benefits, workloads are high and organizations are stretched thin with too few employees.

Across a number of studies, similar findings have been reported with respect to low wages, lack of benefits, a high rate of uncompensated overtime work, and high workloads occasioned by low staffing levels and high rates of staff turnover, in spite of alternative offerings such as flexible working hours.

These Recommended Employment Standards was prepared by Marilyn Burgess and Maria De Rosa MDR Burgess Consultants