Happy Labor Day! Today, we're celebrating all the incredible artists and workers out there who make our industries thrive. Labor Day isn’t just another holiday to union members—it’s a reminder of the power of solidarity, of standing up for what’s right, and of having each other’s backs.
The AGMA Constitution, our foundational document, lays out these principles and our commitment to protecting and advocating for artists in opera, dance, and choral fields across the United States. In this video, AGMA’s Executive Council reads the preamble of the AGMA Constitution. May this serve as a reminder of why we keep pushing forward together.
Please enjoy this Labor Day message from AGMA Leadership. Solidarity forever!
"We are AGMA.
We are singers, dancers, actors, stage directors, stage managers, choreographers, and other professional artists who create and perform opera, dance, and choral and concert productions across the United States.
We come together in union, harnessing our collective strength, as we stand in solidarity with our fellow Artists. We call, with one voice, for dignity, respect, and justice in our workplaces; for safe studios, rehearsal rooms, and theaters; and for compensation and benefits that value our labor and enable us to create works of art that delight, entertain, comfort, and inspire audiences throughout the world.
AGMA is a union founded in hope, premised on the fundamental truth that Artists, like all workers, are stronger together. Tempered through trial, AGMA members have fought together and won, establishing industry standards that have protected, supported, and uplifted generations of Artists.
As AGMA members, we are part of this legacy of unionism and activism, beneficiaries of the courage and perseverance of the leaders who came before us and stewards for the Artists who will one day follow in our footsteps.
Our union is and will be a force for good, in our industries and in the wider world. We will continue to fight for our fellow Artists and, in so doing, ensure the future of the Arts in our nation."