The ACWU was created by the founding members of the Vancouver Artists Labour Union Cooperative (VALU Co-op), a workers’ cooperative that was formed to unite Vancouver-based artists and create good jobs shaped by a democratic and unionized workplace. 

In January 2020, the worker members of VALU Co-op met for the founding meeting of the Arts and Cultural Workers’ Union. Our 17 founding members voted unanimously to form a B-Local (sub-local) of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). 

We chose IATSE as our union home given their expertise in representing freelance artists and technicians in the theatre, film and entertainment industries. And in February of 2020, we were granted our union charter from the IATSE International office in New York City. 

After forming ACWU, co-op members collaborated to develop a collective agreement. which outlines the terms of employment provided through the co-op. 

2020 was a year of incredible growth and momentum for the union. On July 28, 2020, workers at the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver voted unanimously to join ACWU. And since then, we have expanded to represent workers at Gallery Gachet, CARFAC BC, Love Intersections, the Vancouver Sewers’ Labour Union Cooperative, and various freelance artists and creative workers across BC and Canada.