Precarious Work in Italian Cultural Sector: An Analysis

The 46th Santarcangelo Festival in 2016 saw interns secure a portion of the Fondo Speculativo di Provvidenza, an artistic project by Luigi Coppola and Christophe Meierhans, to invest in research on labor conditions in Italy's cultural sector. In March 2017, they commissioned Tools For Culture to conduct a technical and critical study on youth employment in live performance. The resulting project, Equilibri precari, is a collective reflection on precariousness, professional recognition, and fair treatment in cultural work. According to UNESCO, diverse roles—from theater actors to museum managers—fall under cultural occupations, yet Italy lacks a clear legislative framework. The article highlights how cultural work is often undervalued as a productive activity, leaving workers in a gray area. Precariousness manifests through low-protection contracts, involuntary part-time work (double the national average), and abuse of volunteerism. The author, Fabiana Lanfranconi, calls for tailored protections that balance flexibility and stability, criticizing the absence of adequate legislation.