In the U.S.A., artists are seldom public sector functionaries.  As a rule, they are “salaried workers” with a work contract or “independent workers”.  They do not have a specific status.

Generally, full-time employees of U.S. theatre arts organizations are the administrative staffs who are salaried employees.  Actors are hired as temporary employees for the duration of rehearsals and performances, as specified in their contracts.  Directors and designers are often hired as independent contractors, but can also be hired as temporary or full-time employees.  There have not been any significant changes in the numbers of salaried versus non-salaried workers in the U.S. theatre industry.

More about the working conditions of performing artists in the U.S.

More about the social protection for performing artists in the U.S.


Source : Theatre Communications Group
U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute
www.tcg.org

Useful links:

• Artist Help Network
• Arts and Cultural Council 
• Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety - ACTS (provides health and safety counselling for artists) 
• The Artists’ Health Insurance Resource Center - AHIRC
• Actor's Fund of America
  
  

Documents and standard-setting instruments:

• Labeling of Art Materials 1988
  Public Law 100-695 (H.R. 4847). Amends the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to require the labelling of chronically hazardous art materials, and for other purposes
  (U.S. Code Congressional and Administrative News, 1989-01, n° 10, p. 102 STAT. 4568).
• The Anatomy of a Contract (PDF) - St Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts
  Sponsored by the St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts. Copyright 1998.