How to use this database?

Freelance workers:

• If you are currently in the process of negotiating a contract with an institution, you can peruse annotated clauses/contracts to find alternative wording that may better protect your rights and labour conditions
• If you don’t see an annotated clause or contract that relates to your need, or want to submit a contract for community critique, attend an upcoming workshop or email us about how to make a contribution. 

Arts Institutions:

• Use the annotated clauses/contracts in this database to help you advocate better labour conditions as a gesture of care for the artists/curators/writers you invite to your organization.
• If you see an outdated copy of your institutional contract, we would be happy to replace it with your current version.
• Invite us to facilitate an in-person workshop at your institution. Minimum costs: 2 CARFAC presentation fees for workshop facilitators, a contribution to Gendai’s collective pot that supports a network of racialized arts collectives, and honoraria for up to 10 participants.

DIY Collectives: 

• “Clarity is kindness” (Tenthaus). Consider how you develop your labour relations with anyone you invite to collaborate and how you communicate your expectations and responsibilities.
• While a traditional contract may not be the most accessible/helpful/effective way of creating dialogue between collaborators, use the annotations of this database to support imagining and piloting more equitable forms of agreements, conversations, negotiations, etc.

Future versions of this project will offer: searchable data by clause, institution, or type of contract; more content/discussion from future in-person workshops; an FAQ written in collaboration with Canadian labour lawyers; and more opportunities for user feedback.

✨Disclaimer✨
We are not lawyers. The materials in this database are crowd-sourced and are intended solely for informational purposes. They do not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Legal advice should be tailored to your specific circumstances. Check the Resources page to help you find the specific legal advice you may need.