Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (Equity) is the voice of nearly 6,000 professional artists working in theatre, opera, and dance across Canada. Equity’s national membership includes performers, directors, choreographers, fight directors, intimacy directors, and stage managers.
Who We Are
We are a member-driven association that empowers artists by advancing their professional, artistic, and economic interests in the live performance sector. In pursuing our objectives, we demonstrate and advocate for fairness, inclusivity, integrity, and collectivity.
A national Council of 23 Equity members from across Canada, representing different regions and artistic disciplines, form the Association’s leadership and determine Equity’s objectives.
Our Objectives
Ensuring Fair Wages & Working Conditions
Equity is responsible for negotiating and administering collective agreements for work in dance, opera, and theatre – ensuring artists are paid fairly, and their rights are respected. Equity also establishes engagement policies that encourage the development of independent production and make it easy for members to participate in small-scale projects.
Protecting Artists in the Workplace
Equity has a responsibility to keep artists working in live performance safe. This is accomplished through enforcing the terms of our agreements as well by creating anti-harassment and respectful workplace initiatives, such as our Not in Our Space! program.
Advocacy
Whether lobbying for sustainable funding in the not-for-profit live performance sector or encouraging public policy initiatives that promote artistic activities, Equity’s advocacy efforts focus on creating work opportunities for members and ensuring the needs and realities of artists working in live performance are always considered by the Canadian government.
Providing Member Benefits
Equity has an additional responsibility to support our members’ artistic and economic interests as they pursue a career in the arts. We do this by providing access to RRSP and insurance benefits, reciprocal agreements, professional development, discounts through our Members’ Advantage Program, community events, communication, and more.