Collective Action Then, Collective Action Now
In this installment of the AGMAzine Archive Series, we revisit the January 1951 issue of AGMAzine, which captured a union filled with momentum, urgency, and belief in the power of collective action. Just 14 or so years after AGMA’s founding, union leaders reflected on how far the Union had come.
The issue repeatedly emphasized evolution. AGMA described itself as “comparatively a young union,” still shaping the procedures and policies needed to best serve its members and protect the profession’s future. There was pride in the progress already achieved, like greater employment stability, stronger workplace protections, and the beginnings of safeguards for artists facing unemployment or dismissal. But there was also a clear understanding that the work was far from over and would always be.
Set against the backdrop of a world grappling with postwar instability and global conflict, AGMA’s leadership reminded us that the arts are essential. They spoke of the responsibility artists carried to bring “the cultural inspiration of music” to the public during difficult times, while also strengthening the Union itself through participation, solidarity, and democratic engagement.
Reading these pages today, the parallels are obvious. In AGMA’s 90th year, the Union continues to navigate change in an evolving performing arts industry during unprecedented times. The energy found in the January 1951 issue feels very connected to AGMA’s present moment. Even then, union leaders understood that progress required constant reinvention, collective effort, and a willingness to imagine a stronger future for the artists who make the performing arts everything it is.
Check out the issue here.