Several artists led by tenor Sebastien Guèze have joined forces to create Assocation UNiSSON, an independent association aimed at aiding opera soloists under contract in France during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The organization was formed in March 2019 when the outbreak forced the closure of all arts organizations. The result was that artists wound up losing their main sources of income. Many artists in these situations have nowhere to turn and often even lose sight of their rights under law.

Seeing the need to keep artists in the loop about their rights, Guèze joined forces with other French artists to ensure that everyone was kept informed.

Per an official press release, the organization wants to make artists fully aware that under French labor laws, artists with contracts signed in France are placed in a position as a salaried individual, which means that their rights are protected under the terms of general employment; in most other countries, artists are known as “self-employed” and thus subject to a different set of rules that doesn’t provide many protections from loss of employment.

In a message to OperaWire, Gueze emphasized that “80 percent of the artists who have a contract in France can be paid part of the contract: it’s the new law.”

He welcomed artists to reach out to UNiSSON for more information regarding this circumstance.