Unless they hold a professorship, most academics at German universities are employed on a fxed-term basis. Regardless of their academic achievements such as publications, conferences, and lectures, they lose their job afer a few years. Art historians are no exception. Notwithstanding years-long criticism and protest by those afected, as well as professional associations and trade unions, the German government, the federal states, and the universities themselves do little to change this, as they believe they beneft from this system based on competitive pressure and selection. Te article is a plea for a joint commitment against poor working conditions in academia.