Labor Arts
Labor Arts was founded in 2000 by the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation, the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives/Tamiment Library at NYU, and Bread and Roses, the cultural arm of the hospital workers union 1199/SEIU.
The organization uses visual images to encourage exposure to, as well as understanding and appreciation of, the overlooked contributions working people make to our society. Primarily an online museum, it features exhibits on topics ranging from art in W.E.B. DuBois' The Crisis magazine to "Defending the Social Safety Net."
The site's searchable collections include images of posters, buttons, banners, flyers, paintings, sculptures, and photographs—art and artifacts by and about working people.
Outreach efforts include the Clara Lemlich Awards for social activism honoring unsung heroines (held at the Museum of the City of New York) and the Making Work Visible contest, targeting undergraduate students in the CUNY system. We welcome collaboration opportunities with all educators—especially those who share with us the great adventure of teaching and learning.
For more information, visit the Labor Arts website.
