The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) is a Canadian trade union representing performers in English-language media. It has 25,000 members working in film, television, radio, and all other recorded media.[1] The organization negotiates, safeguards, and promotes the professional rights of its members. It also works to increase work opportunities for its members and lobbies for policy changes at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
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Quick Facts Abbreviation, Predecessor ...
Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists |
Abbreviation | ACTRA |
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Predecessor | Canadian Council of Authors and Artists |
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Formation | 1963; 58 years ago (1963) |
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Type | Trade union |
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Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Location | |
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Membership | 27,000 |
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Official language | English |
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President | Eleanor Noble |
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Executive director | Marie Kelly |
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Affiliations | |
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Website | actra.ca |
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Formerly called | Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists |
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ACTRA's regional chapters present ACTRA Awards to honour the best in Canadian radio and television performances in their local productions.
The earliest form of the organization represented radio performers in Toronto in the 1940s. This organization was called RATS: the Radio Artists of Toronto Society. In 1943, with wider involvement of groups from other Canadian cities, the Association of Canadian Radio Artists (ACRA) was formed.
ACRA over time evolved into the Association of Canadian Radio and Television Artists, the Canadian Council of Authors and Artists, the Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists, and, in 1984, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists.
Regional issues led to the creation of the Union of British Columbia Performers, a separate subunit of ACTRA for British Columbia only.[3]
Every year, ACTRA branches across the country present the ACTRA Awards, some of which are handed out for performances, while others are given for union-activism and contributions to the industry.
ACTRA is composed of professional actors, models (video only), singers, stunt performers, and other television and radio performers. Notable members include:
- SAG-AFTRA – similar US organization for motion picture, television and radio actors
- Union des artistes – ACTRA's francophone equivalent
- McQuarrie, Ruth (1985). Face to Face with Talent: Featuring 2400 Members of ACTRA of the Canadian Actors' Equity Association. Toronto: ACTRA. p. 618.