Need for space. How artists rely on space to face precarious work conditions

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
Author/s Damiano Razzoli, Stefano Rodighiero, Lorenzo Mizzau, Fabrizio Montanari
Publishing Year 2020 Issue 2020/157
Language English Pages 22 P. 164-185 File size 294 KB
DOI 10.3280/SL2020-157009
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Artistic labour markets present some features that can be considered paradigmatic of work in the contemporary gig economy. Extant literature identified these features by focusing on how artists can be deemed exemplars of new and more flexible ways of organising a workforce. While studies examined workers’ conditions in contemporary economy, the literature on artistic work has not delved into the role of space in artist’s work experience. Thus, this study aims to look at how space can be harnessed by artistic workers to respond to the most pressing needs they express. To this end, the paper presents the results of a qualitative study conducted on young artistic workers in the city of Reggio Emilia. The authors propose three mechanisms (anchoring, framing, belonging) through which space can serve as a personal compass that helps mitigate the effects of the precariousness of work.

Keywords: Space, artistic work, precariousness, gig economy

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Damiano Razzoli, Stefano Rodighiero, Lorenzo Mizzau, Fabrizio Montanari, Need for space. How artists rely on space to face precarious work conditions in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO " 157/2020, pp 164-185, DOI: 10.3280/SL2020-157009