This article introduces a special section exploring precariousness and cultural work. It aims to bring together three key ideas: the work of the autonomous Marxist 'Italian laboratory'; activist writings on precariousness; and empirical research on cultural work. The paper is divided into three sections. The first introduces autonomous Marxist ideas, highlighting concepts like immaterial labour and the 'factory without walls'. The second section discusses the impact of these ideas on the precarity movement, which often views cultural workers as exemplifying new 'precariat' experiences. The third section examines empirical research on cultural work, highlighting its features and connecting them to the ideas discussed. The article discusses the concept of 'immaterial labour', where work produces intangible goods like services or knowledge. Autonomist Marxists argue that this form of labour is central to contemporary capitalism, with the 'social factory' and 'multitude' as key concepts. The article also explores the relationship between affect, temporality, subjectivity, and solidarity in cultural work. It critiques the notion of affective labour, arguing that it lacks conceptual clarity and fails to account for the diverse experiences of workers. The article also discusses the precarity movement, which has expanded beyond economic concerns to include issues like migration, citizenship, and gender. It highlights the tensions within the movement, including debates about solidarity across differences and the potential for political action. The article also addresses the challenges of building solidarity in a global context marked by inequality and the role of the state in providing support for precarious workers. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural work within the broader context of contemporary capitalism, highlighting the need for a dialogue between theory, activism, and empirical research. It underscores the significance of affect, temporality, subjectivity, and solidarity in understanding the experiences of cultural workers and the challenges they face in a precariat society.This article introduces a special section exploring precariousness and cultural work. It aims to bring together three key ideas: the work of the autonomous Marxist 'Italian laboratory'; activist writings on precariousness; and empirical research on cultural work. The paper is divided into three sections. The first introduces autonomous Marxist ideas, highlighting concepts like immaterial labour and the 'factory without walls'. The second section discusses the impact of these ideas on the precarity movement, which often views cultural workers as exemplifying new 'precariat' experiences. The third section examines empirical research on cultural work, highlighting its features and connecting them to the ideas discussed. The article discusses the concept of 'immaterial labour', where work produces intangible goods like services or knowledge. Autonomist Marxists argue that this form of labour is central to contemporary capitalism, with the 'social factory' and 'multitude' as key concepts. The article also explores the relationship between affect, temporality, subjectivity, and solidarity in cultural work. It critiques the notion of affective labour, arguing that it lacks conceptual clarity and fails to account for the diverse experiences of workers. The article also discusses the precarity movement, which has expanded beyond economic concerns to include issues like migration, citizenship, and gender. It highlights the tensions within the movement, including debates about solidarity across differences and the potential for political action. The article also addresses the challenges of building solidarity in a global context marked by inequality and the role of the state in providing support for precarious workers. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural work within the broader context of contemporary capitalism, highlighting the need for a dialogue between theory, activism, and empirical research. It underscores the significance of affect, temporality, subjectivity, and solidarity in understanding the experiences of cultural workers and the challenges they face in a precariat society.