In the current globalized economic and digital context, the concept of decent work has moved to the center of discussions about labor rights, the well-being of workers and the success of companies. At the same time, meaningful work — defined as work that provides a sense of purpose and meaning — has been identified as a crucial factor for employee job satisfaction and mental health. This study examines how perceptions of decent work, meaningful work and burnout differ among professionals in different occupations in the cultural and arts sector. The study aims to find out whether certain professional roles experience higher or lower levels of decent work and meaningful work and how these perceptions affect burnout rates. The study is based on a cross-sectional survey conducted with professionals from various cultural and artistic professions. A total of 152 participants, including individuals from the visual arts, performing arts and creative industries, were analyzed to examine their perceptions of decent work, meaningful work and burnout. Decent work was assessed using the Decent Work Scale, which analyzes safe working conditions, access to health care, adequate pay, leisure and recreation, and complementary values. Meaningful work was measured using the Work as Meaning Inventory, which measures, for example, positive meaning, meaning through work and motivations for a greater good. Burnout was measured with the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, which focuses on personal burnout, work-related burnout and customer-related burnout. Preliminary results indicate significant differences in the perception of decent work and meaningful work in different professions. Occupations such as visual artists and musicians had lower levels of decent work than other artistic occupations such as designers and actors. In addition, individuals who reported lower levels of decent and meaningful work also had higher rates of burnout, with performing artists showing the strongest symptoms of burnout. This finding confirms previous research suggesting that inadequate working conditions, low pay and few opportunities for career progression have a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of workers in high-pressure, low-control occupations. In addition, meaningful work has been shown to act as a protective factor and mitigate the link between decent work and burnout, particularly for those who perceive their work as having a strong personal or social purpose. The study highlights the challenges faced by workers in the cultural and arts sector, especially in relation to job insecurity, unconventional working hours and limited institutional support. These findings underscore the need for policies and interventions that promote decent working conditions and ensure that workers in these sectors not only receive fair pay and job security, but also a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their professional activities. The study also highlights the importance of tackling burnout in these professions, which can have a profound impact on individual health and organizational outcomes. Considering these findings, it is recommended that future policies consider strategies to increase meaningful work experiences and reduce burnout among cultural and arts professionals, with a particular focus on promoting a healthy work environment and opportunities for professional development.

Keywords: Decent work, meaningful work, burnout, cultural and artistic professions.