resources for performers & stage managers
about the actors' fund
The Actors' Fund is the lifeline for Canada's entertainment industry. It provides encouragement and short-term financial aid to help entertainment industry workers maintain their health, housing and ability to work after an illness, injury or sudden unemployment. And it's not just for actors: the Fund helps performers, creators, technicians and other members of creative and production teams working in theatre, film & television, music and dance.
A career in the entertainment industry seems like a dream come true for many people. The all too frequent reality is that entertainment professionals face a precarious livelihood after years spent perfecting and practicing their crafts. The Fund believes that the risks that Canadian artists take as they create some of the finest live and recorded productions in the world should be recognized, valued and supported by all Canadians.
The Actors' Fund marked its 50th anniversary in 2008. Since it was founded over 50 years ago, financial aid from Fund has helped over 10,000 talented people to turn their lives around. In fact, the Fund has delivered over $600,000 in rent or mortgage payments, grocery money, utility payments, health care expenses and other basic living expenses to entertainment industry workers and their families over the past 12 months and over $3.7 million in the last 10 years.
The Actors' Fund receives no government funding and is wholly sustained by support from individuals and entertainment industry organizations. That's why your participation is so important.
the actors' fund is for you too
The Actors' Fund is not just for actors. The Fund helps performers, creators, technicians and other members of creative, administrative, and production teams working in theatre, film & television, music and dance. If you require assistance from the Actors' Fund, please read the FAQ and application documents online at http://www.actorsfund.ca/apply.php or contact the Actors' Fund by emailing contact@actorsfund.ca.
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donation information
Please consider making a donation to the Actors' Fund of Canada. You can arrange for regular deductions from your paycheque or from your bank account at regular intervals. Also consider making an Opening Night donation in lieu of gifts or flowers. It's a great way to show your support for your fellow artists and colleagues.
Make voluntary payroll deductions, pre-authorized donations, or Opening Night Donations online.
Or, download these forms to share with your colleagues:
fundraising information
A benefit performance is a regularly scheduled performance, or one in addition to the regular schedule of performances, for which the proceeds are donated to the Actors’ Fund of Canada. The CTA and ITA both contain provisions requiring either an annual benefit performance (or curtain speeches designed to solicit individual donations from the audience) to benefit the Fund. With appropriate notice, Equity members may rehearse and appear in Actors’ Fund benefit performances without remuneration. Provided that an Actors' Fund benefit performance has been scheduled for that season, the Theatre may schedule other benefit performances with the prior written approval of Equity.
By contributing to the Fund through benefit performances or curtain speeches and audience collections, your company is making a contribution to Canada’s theatre community and everyone in it. It’s not only in the CTA and ITA, it’s also the right thing to do.
Tell us what you’re doing in advance and we’ll do our best to publicize your efforts to help ensure your event is a success and spread the word about the important contribution your company has made to the health and welfare of Canada’s arts community.
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If you would like more information or resources from the Actors' Fund that you don't see here, please fill out a Resource Request form by clicking on the button to the left.