ARTS. WORK. LIFE.

An organization is the sum of its people, so decisions about who to recruit, who to hire, and who to fire radically shape an organization's work culture. This is especially true in the human-centered work of the arts, where culture matters. The storytellers in Episode 5 put the human back in human resources as they share personal experiences about barriers to hiring, tokenism, layoffs, and what we can learn from other industries before it’s too late.Intro: “You and Whose Army” with Yukio Kuniyuki,

“Community” is a popular buzzword in the performing arts, but how do we truly deliver on its promise? It takes intentional effort to build a supportive work community, secure community gathering spaces, find a place to belong, and truly serve our audiences. The storytellers in Episode 4 share their unique experiences with space, place and community.Intro: “Make Some Noise” with Rick Whitaker, the concerts and theater manager for The Italian Academy at Columbia University.Act One: “For The Record”

Arts workers often walk a tightrope between healthy boundaries and total burnout. But can we achieve balance? Episode 3 tells the stories of professionals assessing risks to physical and mental health, promoting work/life balance in the workplace, and finding harmony in arts, work and life.Content warning: This episode mentions depression from 20:38 to 21:28 and suicide from 23:22 to 23:37.You can find mental health resources on APAP's website:

Let’s leave the “starving artist” trope firmly in the past -- The stories in Episode 2 are all about money: staying in the green while promoting pay equity, doing the hustle, healthcare scares, and making money by making change.Introduction: “In The Green” with Lynn Neuman, who lives in Benton Harbor, Michigan and is the artistic director of Artichoke Dance Company, which is based in Brooklyn, New York.Act One: “Running The Numbers” with Thamara Bejarano, the executive director of Open Scene, a

The word inclusion is heard a lot in the arts industry, but are we truly inclusive? Episode 1 explores who is and isn't in the room, disability and access, the toll of leading DEI efforts, and choosing which community to serve and why.Introduction: “Language Barriers” with Claudia Norman, an independent producer, artistic director and cultural worker based in Queens, New York.Act One: “The First Step” with Lynne Jordan, a Chicago-based singer, band leader, writer and emcee.Act Two: “Unfiltered” with