Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/508104
SAGAFTRA.org | Spring 2015 | SAG-AFTRA 17 NEW ACTORS CENTER BREAKS GROUND IN NEW YORK CITY T he Screen Actors Guild Foundation broke ground April 28 on a 4,000-square-foot flexible screening, performance and educational programming space located at 247 West 54th Street in New York. The SAG Foundation Actors Center will include a state-of-the-art, 158-seat theater that will house the SAG Foundation's free professional programs for SAG-AFTRA members, including Conversations screenings and Q&As, career retrospectives and The Business seminars and panels. The construction and design of the SAG Foundation Actors Center is the second phase of a multi-year effort to fully bring the SAG Foundation Actors Center to fruition. The first phase of the center opened in May 2014 at 1900 Broadway and provides a wide range of free professional and educational programs to SAG-AFTRA members, including casting workshops, computer classes and voiceover workshops in its state-of-the-art EIF Voiceover Lab. The Center on 54th Street is scheduled to open in spring 2016. Officiating the ceremony were SAG Foundation Executive Director Cyd Wilson, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and SAG Foundation Board member David White, Foundation Board members John McGuire, Rebecca Damon and Treasurer Maureen Donnelly. SAG-AFTRA New York Local President Mike Hodge was also present to celebrate the groundbreaking. "Since 2010, the SAG Foundation has quadrupled its free, educational programming for SAG-AFTRA New York members. The rate at which New York performers are taking advantage of our professional programs and resources is astounding. This dedicated theater space is our Actors Center of dreams," said Wilson. "We look forward to putting the SAG Foundation Actors Center on the map in one of the world's greatest performing arts and broadcasting communities." "When I joined the Foundation Board, New York members didn't even have one consistent program a month," said Damon, chair of the committee that has overseen the expansion of programming and plans for the new Actors Center. "Our increased programming has been a real game-changer, giving members access to casting directors and other industry professionals, including some of the most talented performers working today. Local production continues growing by leaps and bounds, making this the perfect time to break ground on a vibrant new home to serve not only New York members, but any SAG-AFTRA members who come here to work." "The expansion of the SAG Foundation Actors Center has long been in the making and adds to the plethora of programs and resources available to our members," said White. "The center's location is extremely convenient for any busy member on the go: in the heart of Manhattan near Broadway and not far from SAG-AFTRA's New York office. This center will play an important part for SAG-AFTRA members' career development and education." "The new facilities will be a fantastic addition to what already is a tremendous resource," said Fátima Ptacek, who voices Dora in the Dora the Explorer animated television series and volunteers with SAG Foundation BookPALS to promote literacy among children. "The SAG Foundation has done so much for members over the years, and it's great to see that support is only growing." The SAG Foundation will also increase its ability to live stream programs at times more convenient to members across the country as a result on this important step. From left, SAG Foundation Executive Director Cyd Wilson, SAG Foundation Board member Rebecca Damon, SAG Foundation Treasurer Maureen Donnelly, SAG Foundation Board member John McGuire and SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and SAG Foundation Board member David White at the April 28 groundbreaking in New York. ANDREW TOTH Discover all the SAG Foundation has to offer at sagfoundation.org. SAG-AFTRA IN ACTION > The Conference on Labor, Sports & Entertainment was held April 17-18 in Beverly Hills. Among the SAG-AFTRA members and staff participating were Executive Vice President Gabrielle Carteris and National Board member Jason George, chair of the SAG-AFTRA National Diversity Advisory Committee. > SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White spoke at the Association of National Advertisers' Advertising Law and Public Policy Conference, which took place March 31-April 1 in Washington, D.C. "Our increased programming has been a real game changer, giving members access to casting directors and other industry professionals, including some of the most talented performers working today." — Rebecca Damon