ACTRA Toronto and Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada are launching a fund that will reduce barriers for performers from underrepresented communities to access full union membership.

Launching in July, the Permit Access Fund – supported by a $25,000 bursary from Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada – will cover 50% of the cost of up to 200 work permits for low-budget productions under ACTRA Toronto’s Low Budget Guideline (LBG), according to a news release.

The LBG is available to first-time and emerging producers working with emerging and diverse performers to create productions for theatrical or festival use, added the release.

A performer will be able to join ACTRA as an apprentice with their first qualifying work permit, and apply for full membership with their third qualifying work permit.

Qualifying productions are eligible to apply to the fund when “engaging an ACTRA Toronto Apprentice, ACTRA Additional Background Performer (AABP) or non-union performer under the LBG in a Principal Performer or Actor role when the Performer self-identifies as Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, and/or Persons with Disabilities/Disabled Persons,” said the release.

David Gale, president, ACTRA Toronto, said in a statement that the fund will “create a pathway to higher-paid work” and “allow more performers to access the benefits of full membership within the union, including protected wages and working conditions under ACTRA’s agreements, RRSP contributions, and access to health insurance and professional development.”

“The Fund is just one initiative ACTRA Toronto is thrilled to launch as part of our commitment to help create a more diverse, equitable and accessible industry for all performers,” Luisa Alvarez Restrepo, manager, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, ACTRA Toronto, added.

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