The Art of Solidarity

“A welcome addition to Canadian labour studies, The Art of Solidarity spotlights working-class cultural institutions that activists have built to sustain labour arts and heritage. Rooted in a refreshingly expansive view of working-class experience and the vital role of culture in labour movements, this inspiring collection gathers first-hand accounts from institution-builders, artists, and historians. Confronting the often-fraught cultural politics of labour, it powerfully affirms the necessity of public spaces that preserve and advance worker-centred visions of just and equitable futures.” – Greig de Peuter, associate professor, Department of Communication Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University

“Labour history and culture were once passed on informally in the workplace and the union hall. But those vital links were broken as work, unions, and community were eroded by capital. The memory of resistance and visions for the future are now being rebuilt more consciously and formally. Part history lesson, part how-to manual, part hope for the future, this book will help us rebuild those links of solidarity.” – Mark Leier, professor, Department of History, Simon Fraser University; coauthor of Roles of Resistance: Game Plans for Teachers and Troublemakers

“The Art of Solidarity is a landmark volume that documents the dynamic history and present of labour arts and heritage organizations in Canada. Kristofferson and Ross have brought together an impressive range of organizations, artists, and researchers to show that labour is not only the source of all creativity, but that creativity, in turn, nourishes the labour movement’s collective memory, tactics of resistance, and visions for a better future. This inspiring volume dignifies labour’s cultural history and imagines bold futures for movements rooted in economic and social justice—and in the labour, love, and joy of making art.” – Tanner Mirrlees, professor, Communication and Digital Media Studies, Ontario Tech University 

“All too often, art and heritage are cast as mere accessories to the pressing struggles to build a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world. This inspiring collection provides ample testimony to the contrary, showing us how diverse practices of remembering, celebration, and creative expression are central to the ongoing work of solidarity, activism, and community building.” – Simon Orpana, author of Gasoline Dreams: Waking Up from Petroculture and coauthor of Showdown! Making Modern Unions

“The culture of working people is often born through struggle to better their working conditions and advance their rights. From picket line songs to protest march placards, art allows workers to communicate with each other, to promote a key message, and to express their feelings in moments of conflict. The Art of Solidarity showcases historians, musicians, curators, and filmmakers who have dedicated themselves to presenting the workers’ side of the story in a volume that will inspire labour movement activists who want to follow in their footsteps.” – Peggy Nash, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; coauthor of Women United: Stories of Women’s Struggles for Equality in the Canadian Auto Workers Union