Opera Conference 2023: The Workforce

The opera field — like all the arts — has depended on the hidden subsidy of discounted labor. For generations, employers have assumed that a love of the art form compensates for long hours, low pay, and challenging conditions. In the wake of COVID, viewpoints about the sacrifices required for art-making have changed, and as a result, companies are struggling to recruit and retain talented staff and artists. How can we change our fundamental approach to the workforce to be more respectful to the people who bring opera to life?