ACTRA Toronto is proud to partner with Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada to launch the Permit Access Fund. This Fund is intended to help reduce barriers and create a pathway for performers from historically underrepresented communities (Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ and Persons with Disabilities/Disabled Persons) to work towards gaining access and full membership into the union. Producers and performers can apply to the fund to cover 50 per cent of a Principal Performer or Actor’s work permit fee for low-budget productions under ACTRA Toronto’s Low Budget Guideline.
How It Works
- The $25,000 bursary from Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada will cover 50 per cent of a Principal Performer or Actor’s work permit fee, for up to 200 work permits, for low-budget productions under ACTRA Toronto’s Low Budget Guideline* (LBG).
- Eligible productions engaging a qualifying performer as a Principal Performer or Actor under the LBG may apply to the Fund by connecting with their ACTRA Toronto Business Representative. ACTRA Toronto Apprentices and ACTRA Additional Background Performers (AABP) engaged in qualifying productions can apply to the PAF directly.
- Available to Performers who self-identify with one or more of the following communities: Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ and/or Persons with Disabilities/Disabled Persons.
*The LBG is available to first-time and emerging producers working with emerging and diverse performers to create productions for theatrical or festival use.
Eligibility Criteria
- The production must fall under ACTRA Toronto’s jurisdiction;
- The production must complete the signatory ACTRA Toronto paperwork to qualify for the Fund;*
- Only productions under the ACTRA Toronto Low Budget Guideline will be considered;
- Performer must reside in ACTRA Toronto’s jurisdiction;
- Performer must be an ACTRA Toronto Apprentice, ACTRA Additional Background Performer (AABP),+ or non-union performer;
- Performer must be eligible to become an ACTRA Apprentice or is already an Apprentice;+
- The role being cast must fall under the Principal Performer or Actor category;+
- Performer must self-identify with one or more of the following communities: Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ and/or Persons with Disabilities/Disabled Persons. If the performer has not already voluntarily self-identified themselves to the production, we ask that producers please respect the performer’s privacy by not asking specifics about how the performer identifies within these communities.
*If this is a barrier, producers are encouraged to contact ACTRA Toronto at PAF@actratoronto.com to discuss.
+For more information on these terms, please see our Glossary.
Application Process
Permits for ACTRA Toronto Apprentices and AABP
- After being cast in a qualifying production, performers can complete the PAF Performer Form where performers can self-identify confidentially.
- After the PAF Performer Form has been reviewed, and we confirm the production has submitted its qualifying LBG signatory paperwork, ACTRA Toronto Apprentices/AABP can expect to hear from us in five (5) business days.
Permits for non-union performers
- After completing the signatory ACTRA Toronto paperwork, eligible productions may then apply to the PAF through their ACTRA Toronto Business Representative.
- Once eligibility is confirmed, ACTRA Toronto will provide producers with a link to a form to share with performers where they can self-identify confidentially.
- The PAF funds will be issued as a rebate once all ACTRA Toronto paperwork has been filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Performers
Permits for ACTRA Toronto Apprentices and AABP: Since members pay their permit fees, you can apply directly to the Fund by completing this PAF Performer Form. Once a decision is made, the performer will be notified.
Permits for non-union performers: please refer to this heading under the Producer section of the FAQ.
Permits for ACTRA Toronto Apprentices and AABP: After ACTRA Toronto confirms we have received the required signatory paperwork from the Production, the performer should be notified if their application has been successful within five (5) business days.
Permits for non-union performers: After ACTRA Toronto receives the required signatory paperwork as well as the completed Permit Access Fund Performer Form, the producer should be notified if their application has been successful within five (5) business days.
This initiative is intended to support performers who identify as belonging to the Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ and/or Persons with Disabilities/Disabled Person communities.
ACTRA Toronto relies on the performer to self-identify and indicate the communities to which they belong.
The Performer Form allows for the performer to self-identify within these communities in a confidential manner.
ACTRA Toronto is committed to maintaining your confidentiality, and the details of how you self-identify will not be shared with the producer/production.
ACTRA is a national union of professional performers standing together to negotiate fair pay, decent working conditions and respectful treatment in the workplace. We welcome new members and look forward to working with you as you develop your career as a performer. To learn more about the process of joining ACTRA and the many benefits, click here.
After your first work permit, you now qualify to join ACTRA as an Apprentice! ACTRA’s Apprentice Program allows performers who are new to ACTRA to work on ACTRA sets and earn credits toward Full membership. To learn more, click here.
After your third qualifying work permit is processed, ACTRA Toronto's Membership Department will reach out to provide you with all the information you need to become a Full Member! Apprentice Members may deduct from their Full Membership fee the cost of any qualifying Apprentice Member credits used toward earning their Full Membership and their initial Apprentice Membership fee.
When a third qualifying work permit is issued through the Permit Access Fund, performers are automatically given extra time to join the union and qualify for installments on their Full membership fee. This option is open to all performers in need, not just those who are part of the Permit Access Fund. If you would like more information about this option, regardless of your Permit Access Fund involvement, please contact our Membership Department.
Producers
Permits for non-union performers: Producers are responsible for paying permit fees for non-union performers under the Low Budget Guideline. As such, it is the producer who starts the application process. After completing the signatory ACTRA Toronto paperwork, producers can talk to their ACTRA Toronto Business Representive about accessing the PAF. Once eligibility is confirmed, producers will receive a link to a PAF Performer Form to pass along to the performer so they can self-identify in a confidential manner. Applications for the Permit Access Fund are not considered complete until all signatory paperwork and the PAF Performer Form are received. Once a decision is made, the production will be notified.
Permits for ACTRA Toronto Apprentices and AABP: please refer to this heading under the Performer section of the FAQ.
Producers can submit up to two (2) permit requests for non-union performers per production and up to ten (10) permit requests in total across different productions within a period of twelve (12) months or until the Fund has been fully disbursed. Please note, one application must be submitted per permit request.
If this is a barrier, please contact us at PAF@actratoronto.com to discuss.
After ACTRA Toronto receives the required signatory paperwork as well as both completed PAF Producer and PAF Performer Forms, productions should be notified if their application has been successful within five (5) business days.
The Fund will initially be launched on a first come, first served basis. As we gauge the needs of productions, this may change. If that is the case, it will be communicated on the ACTRA Toronto Low Budget Guideline page. We encourage you to keep an eye on this page and sign-up for alerts.
Contact
Have a question not answered here? Please contact PAF@actratoronto.com for assistance.
