Ask, Pay, Trust Takes To the Streets
This 1 May, Labour Day, we’re reclaiming the streets for culture. Join the Culture Action Europe team in Brussels—or organise locally—to demand our political leaders ASK, PAY, and TRUST artists as essential workers shaping Europe’s future. Culture is labour. From filmmakers to street performers, artists’ work fuels Europe’s soul, democracy, and security—yet they are often undervalued, underpaid, and excluded from decisions that affect us. On Labour Day, we unite with workers everywhere to tell politicians to:
‣ Ask for our expertise: Artists and cultural professionals should be part of every policy discussion, bringing their creativity and innovative approaches to the table.
‣ Pay for our labour: Ensure decent working conditions and fair remuneration for the use of our intellectual property. Invest in culture to help build a more resilient Europe.
‣ Trust our process: Embrace the unpredictability of the arts—we deliver results, even if we don’t always tick every box.
Join Us in Brussels:
- Where: Mont des Arts/Kunstberg
- When: 13.00-15.00 CEST
- What we’ll do: Distribute campaign flyers, meet with neighbours and friends, and spark conversations about culture as essential work.
Not in Brussels? Organise Locally!
- Endorse, endorse, endorse! Share the link to endorse the campaign in your channels or pass around endorsement sheets at your events
- Pass the Mic: Choose a script and record a video explaining why we should ask, pay, and trust artists. “Pass the mic” to someone else who should, too.
- Flyer in your city: Use our campaign pack, including translated graphics, to spread the word at your local Labour Day activities
- Social Media Blitz: Post photos or videos with #AskPayTrust and tag other orgs and EU leaders.
- Host a letter-writing session: Use our template letter to write to your national Ministers of Culture about how they can center culture in their policymaking.