Elsa Hiltner
@elsahiltner.bsky.social
She/her. Activist for pay equity in the arts. Co-founder of @onourteam.bsky.social Views are all mine, as some require us to say.
Pinned
Elsa Hiltner
@elsahiltner.bsky.social
· Feb 21
Is Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events on the ropes?
The department has lost about a quarter of its staff in the last year. Other signs point to problems at DCASE, which helps drives crucial economic activity for the city.
chicago.suntimes.com
My OpEd is out in the Sun-Times. I had a lot to say in 650 words, and there is so much more to be said. I hope others pick up the threads and start pulling.
Because DCASE is so important.
chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/...
Because DCASE is so important.
chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/...
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
As we work on our next judicial election guide, we want to hear from you: What should voters know about these attorneys and judges? If you recognize any of these names, send us your tips. buff.ly/DlOqYRA
November 25, 2025 at 2:01 PM
As we work on our next judicial election guide, we want to hear from you: What should voters know about these attorneys and judges? If you recognize any of these names, send us your tips. buff.ly/DlOqYRA
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
It’s useful to think about things like this in numbers of tenure track professors.
$53M is 575 assistant professors. Or more than thirty percent of the total number of full-time faculty at LSU.
$53M is 575 assistant professors. Or more than thirty percent of the total number of full-time faculty at LSU.
November 28, 2025 at 3:38 AM
It’s useful to think about things like this in numbers of tenure track professors.
$53M is 575 assistant professors. Or more than thirty percent of the total number of full-time faculty at LSU.
$53M is 575 assistant professors. Or more than thirty percent of the total number of full-time faculty at LSU.
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
These stories may help us feel better about our choice to engage with art that doesn't pay the creator. Or it may help us feel better when we allow our creativity to be exploited.
But either way, it's a tool to divide, exploit, and limit who has the resources to create and share their work. 2/2
But either way, it's a tool to divide, exploit, and limit who has the resources to create and share their work. 2/2
November 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
These stories may help us feel better about our choice to engage with art that doesn't pay the creator. Or it may help us feel better when we allow our creativity to be exploited.
But either way, it's a tool to divide, exploit, and limit who has the resources to create and share their work. 2/2
But either way, it's a tool to divide, exploit, and limit who has the resources to create and share their work. 2/2
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
We tell ourselves so many stories in order to justify low pay for creative workers.
"It's a passion, not a profession."
"You can make a killing, but not a living."
"Do it for the exposure."
And the below "class traitors" line,
Etc...
Both creative workers and consumers tell stories like this.1/2
"It's a passion, not a profession."
"You can make a killing, but not a living."
"Do it for the exposure."
And the below "class traitors" line,
Etc...
Both creative workers and consumers tell stories like this.1/2
Just saw someone claim that authors who want to be paid for their work are "class traitors" because we "only let the wealthy" read our books, and I think I need to go into the woods to scream into the night for a bit.
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
November 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
We tell ourselves so many stories in order to justify low pay for creative workers.
"It's a passion, not a profession."
"You can make a killing, but not a living."
"Do it for the exposure."
And the below "class traitors" line,
Etc...
Both creative workers and consumers tell stories like this.1/2
"It's a passion, not a profession."
"You can make a killing, but not a living."
"Do it for the exposure."
And the below "class traitors" line,
Etc...
Both creative workers and consumers tell stories like this.1/2
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
The problem with ICE is not that it's targeting people who aren't criminals. The problem with ICE is that it's an unaccountable secret deportation police. It cannot be reformed under a better president. It can be made less terrible, but the instrument of repression remains for the next tyrant.
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The problem with ICE is not that it's targeting people who aren't criminals. The problem with ICE is that it's an unaccountable secret deportation police. It cannot be reformed under a better president. It can be made less terrible, but the instrument of repression remains for the next tyrant.
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
Archeologists in Wisconsin found an ancient canoe that is over 5,000 years old!! The discovery was in a canoe “parking lot” along a popular waterway and trail system.
Wisconsin archaeologists identify 16 ancient canoes in a prehistoric lake 'parking lot'
Archaeologists have identified more than a dozen ancient canoes that Indigenous people apparently left behind in a prehistoric parking lot along a Wisconsin lakeshore.
apnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Archeologists in Wisconsin found an ancient canoe that is over 5,000 years old!! The discovery was in a canoe “parking lot” along a popular waterway and trail system.
While we're all talking about pies... Serviceberry (Amelanchier, Juneberry, etc...) is one of my top. Maybe the top. It's a tough call. I love pie.
Every year I plan to freeze some for later, but we end up eating them all in June.
Every year I plan to freeze some for later, but we end up eating them all in June.
November 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
While we're all talking about pies... Serviceberry (Amelanchier, Juneberry, etc...) is one of my top. Maybe the top. It's a tough call. I love pie.
Every year I plan to freeze some for later, but we end up eating them all in June.
Every year I plan to freeze some for later, but we end up eating them all in June.
Multiple theft accusations by and from the folks making the most (leadership/department heads and the board, wherever they work), all while many museum workers aren't making a living wage.
@hyperallergic.com
@onourteam.bsky.social
hyperallergic.com/1059426/phil...
@hyperallergic.com
@onourteam.bsky.social
hyperallergic.com/1059426/phil...
Philadelphia Art Museum Accuses Former Director of Theft
After Alexandra Suda accused the museum of wrongful termination, the institution said she misappropriated funds to increase her salary.
hyperallergic.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Multiple theft accusations by and from the folks making the most (leadership/department heads and the board, wherever they work), all while many museum workers aren't making a living wage.
@hyperallergic.com
@onourteam.bsky.social
hyperallergic.com/1059426/phil...
@hyperallergic.com
@onourteam.bsky.social
hyperallergic.com/1059426/phil...
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
We're working on re-balancing the scales in the arts. We all need to do our part to end pay inequity in all sectors.
Q4 is ripe with layoffs while CEO's continue to make 281 times as much as typical workers. It's time to re-balance the scales.
Read more: www.epi.org/publication/...
Read more: www.epi.org/publication/...
November 24, 2025 at 8:57 PM
We're working on re-balancing the scales in the arts. We all need to do our part to end pay inequity in all sectors.
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
An excellent piece by @yasminzacaria.bsky.social in @inthesetimes.com
inthesetimes.com/article/cult...
inthesetimes.com/article/cult...
Cultural Preservation as Resistance
A tribute concert for the late Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani celebrates SWANA creativity and liberation.
inthesetimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:26 AM
An excellent piece by @yasminzacaria.bsky.social in @inthesetimes.com
inthesetimes.com/article/cult...
inthesetimes.com/article/cult...
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
AI is going to use up all of our power and water, and all because tech bros are upset that no matter how much money they have, they will never have artistic talent. Why couldn’t they just invest in a Broadway show like normal rich people
November 18, 2025 at 2:36 AM
AI is going to use up all of our power and water, and all because tech bros are upset that no matter how much money they have, they will never have artistic talent. Why couldn’t they just invest in a Broadway show like normal rich people
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
Even though some federal agents are leaving the city, arts and culture executives want to be sure of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to protecting staff and visitors.
Chicago museum leaders — likening the moment to active shooter drills — practice what to do if ICE shows up
chicago.suntimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Even though some federal agents are leaving the city, arts and culture executives want to be sure of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to protecting staff and visitors.
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
She painted these during Hyde Park's urban renewal days, surrounding the house where she lived, when the doors of condemned buildings were used as worksite barriers.
Gertrude Abercrombie (1909-1977), “Demolition Doors” (1964), oil on masonite.
November 15, 2025 at 7:08 PM
She painted these during Hyde Park's urban renewal days, surrounding the house where she lived, when the doors of condemned buildings were used as worksite barriers.
Let's buy this weird castle and film The Traitors: Chicago Arts Edition! (I have some chaotic casts drafted up already...)
www.zillow.com/homedetails/...
www.zillow.com/homedetails/...
www.zillow.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Let's buy this weird castle and film The Traitors: Chicago Arts Edition! (I have some chaotic casts drafted up already...)
www.zillow.com/homedetails/...
www.zillow.com/homedetails/...
Homeland Security chatting it up with Chicago police at the Metra Electric Millennium Station just now.
November 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Homeland Security chatting it up with Chicago police at the Metra Electric Millennium Station just now.
As we say: Chuck Schumer is a call to action.
if democrats want to retain any amount of integrity they need to immediately vote out chuck schumer as party minority leader
November 10, 2025 at 4:29 AM
As we say: Chuck Schumer is a call to action.
Fuck @durbin.senate.gov. What a coward.
November 10, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Fuck @durbin.senate.gov. What a coward.
The real race to watch tonight is between Eric Adams and the Write-Ins. It's a total nail-biter.
November 5, 2025 at 3:12 AM
The real race to watch tonight is between Eric Adams and the Write-Ins. It's a total nail-biter.
I've almost forgotten how to process good news.
November 5, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I've almost forgotten how to process good news.
No joke, the kids were super excited to get an anti-ICE zine tonight.
November 1, 2025 at 2:16 AM
No joke, the kids were super excited to get an anti-ICE zine tonight.
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
On the occasion of Halloween, @newrepublic.com asked me to write about what’s going on in Chicago and I wanted you all to know what randomized terror feels like. And also that as the federal government fails our kids, everyday Chicagoans are showing the courage of trying to protect them.
ICE Is Terrorizing Chicago for Halloween—and Parents Are Fighting Back
Fear and a whiff of tear gas hang over festivities this year. In response, even people who aren’t usually politically engaged are mobilizing.
newrepublic.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:56 AM
On the occasion of Halloween, @newrepublic.com asked me to write about what’s going on in Chicago and I wanted you all to know what randomized terror feels like. And also that as the federal government fails our kids, everyday Chicagoans are showing the courage of trying to protect them.
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
we just did a FOIA workshop training limited to filing FOIAs in the State of Illinois but we do a power analysis that should hold across states with idiosyncratic exemptions or local rules
that way, you can look up local rules and still accomplish your goals even though we only talk about Illinois
that way, you can look up local rules and still accomplish your goals even though we only talk about Illinois
October 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
we just did a FOIA workshop training limited to filing FOIAs in the State of Illinois but we do a power analysis that should hold across states with idiosyncratic exemptions or local rules
that way, you can look up local rules and still accomplish your goals even though we only talk about Illinois
that way, you can look up local rules and still accomplish your goals even though we only talk about Illinois
Reposted by Elsa Hiltner
Ooohhh Andrea Faye Hart: “I believe that what we’ve called the ‘death of journalism’ is actually a return to its origins: propaganda tools for wealthy businessmen to shape public opinion in service of their interests.”
objectivejournalism.org/2025/10/jour...
objectivejournalism.org/2025/10/jour...
Journalism as a public good has always been an exception
Misdiagnosing journalism’s collapse means we’ve been mourning a myth and ignoring the radical legacy — and future — of people-powered media.
objectivejournalism.org
October 29, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Ooohhh Andrea Faye Hart: “I believe that what we’ve called the ‘death of journalism’ is actually a return to its origins: propaganda tools for wealthy businessmen to shape public opinion in service of their interests.”
objectivejournalism.org/2025/10/jour...
objectivejournalism.org/2025/10/jour...