researches the working conditions and social security of self-employed and hybrid workers in the performing arts and develops recommendations for action in order to improve them.

Independent and self-determined work: what is often described as a vision of the future of working life is already largely a reality in the performing arts. Yet for the majority of people working in the arts and culture sector, the freedom to work independently artistically also means a lack of social security, for example in the case of illness, unemployment or in old age. This affects both self-employed and hybrid workers. The Corona pandemic showed once again that the existing social security systems are not sufficient. They urgently need to be updated so that they are adequate for the future and fair for everyone. The key mission of “Systemcheck” is therefore to improve the social security for self-employed workers in the performing arts.

There have been no concrete, empirical analyses of working conditions in the independent performing arts up till now. Although the lack of social security has been discussed for decades, it has not been systematically researched in either labour sociology or in cultural studies. “Systemcheck” aims to correct this and carries out studies on the reality of working life in the independent structures of the performing arts. The big research question is: Can existing social security systems also be made effective in the medium- and long-term for self-employed and hybrid workers in the performing arts sector? And if so: how?

To answer this question, “Systemcheck” brings together stakeholders and experts from the arts, politics and trade unions, from the sciences, professional associations and administrations. “Systemcheck” collects and examines statistical data and practical reports, records them in scientific dossiers and discussion papers, and elaborates on them. Relevant topics and working areas are examined and discussed in a series of interactive workshops and in larger conferences. In this way, initial conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of the social security systems and additional needs identified. At the end, a specialist publication will be published: this will translate the findings of the scientific analysis and the interdisciplinary dialogue into concrete, actionable recommendations for policymakers.

Documentation of "Systemcheck" Conference from 22nd & 23rd November 2022

The second conference of the research project "Systemcheck" took place on 22nd and 23rd November 2023 at Oyoun in Berlin-Neukölln. Prasanna Oommen and Anne Schneider guided through the conference. The main topic was the recent research results on the social security status of self-employed and hybrid workers in the performing arts.

This playlist includes the presentations by Hannah Speicher, Prof. Axel Haunschild, Verena Tobsch on the first day, and the panel discussion on the workshop results, the presentation on the European study by Cilgia Gadola & Elisabeth Roos, the presenations of the artistic research by Ute Kahman, Stela Korljan, Bridge Markland and Johannes Lange, as well as the final panel discussion on shaping the social future of the performing arts from the second day.

Logo des Bundesministeriums für Arbeit und Soziales, Förderer des Projektes Systemcheck aufgrund eines Beschlusses des Deutschen Bundestages

Team + contact information

Project management

Portraitbild Cilgia Gadola

Cilgia Gadola
E-Mail: @email

Project staff

Portraitbild Elisabeth Roos

Elisabeth Roos
E-Mail: @email