Today, the NEA and NEH announced that they will each create Chief Diversity Officer positions within their organizations. "This is a win for creative professionals and their unions who have advocated for the establishment of these positions because we know diversity is a strength." [continue reading] ... Read More -->

SUGAR HILL: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker Submission Deadline: 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday, June 13 Please email sugarhillnutcrackercasting@gmail.com Mungioli Theatricals is currently casting SUGAR HILL: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker. AGMA members' tapes will be downloaded and viewed first, and in-person appointments will be prioritized. You must note that you are an AGMA member in good standing. This is a SELF-TAPE REQUEST. In-person auditions will be by callback from video submissions. Audition Instructions and Materials can be found in the Dropbox folder at the following link: https://bit.ly/3mo0d0F  Please submit the following via EcoCast by 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday, June 13:  1) Vertical fu... Read More -->

Representation and visibility are important. AGMA’s Membership and Member Relations Committee (MMRC) invites all trans and non-binary artists and allies to an initial conversation about how AGMA can better represent and support our trans and non-binary members and colleagues. Participants do not need to be members of AGMA to join! So please share this information with your non-union colleagues working in opera, choral performance, and ballet/concert dance! This conversation will be held over Zoom, we will poll for a date. Tim Smith, MMRC Chair, will moderate the conversation. To join the Trans and Non-Binary Forum, please email mmrc@musicalartists.org by Friday, June 17. ... Read More -->

AGMA stands in solidarity with DCINY Orchestra Musicians of Local 802 AFM Attend the Rally in front of Carnegie Hall June 6, 6:00 p.m. ET Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY), a for-profit company, is holding concerts at Carnegie Hall and is NOT offering its musicians professional employment standards, including health benefits, retirement payments, recording or streaming payments, proper rest breaks, and job security. They are trying to replace the professional orchestra – musicians who have played this gig for 10 years  – and replace them with other musicians and a high school ensemble. This means the orchestra is essentially locked out and is fighting for a fair contract. If a full, profe... Read More -->

AGMA is proud to be a union with incredible LGBTQIA+ members. June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities, take stock of the progress we’ve made toward equality, and assess the work still to be done.  This year, we must recognize that, all across the country, there is a concerted and coordinated effort to roll back hard-fought freedoms for the LGBTQIA+ community and to attack the liberty and dignity of transgender and gay youth, in particular. In-state legislatures across the country there are hundreds of bills, some already enacted, that represent an all-out attack on the LGBTQIA+ community.   Governments across the country, notably in Texas and Florida, aim to deprive LGBTQIA+ individuals of t... Read More -->

The AGMA Black Caucus is holding a “21-22 Season in Review” Roundtable Discussion on Monday, June 6, at 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT. This roundtable discussion will focus on returning to the stage in the 21-22 season. All Black AGMA Artists in good standing are encouraged to participate in this conversation. Register here. If you have already registered, you do not need to do so again. The Zoom details will be sent in the days leading up to June 6. ... Read More -->

The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and Ballet West was ratified by AGMA leadership, after being overwhelmingly approved by the shop. There have been multiple additions and improvements to the contract language, particularly when it comes to compensation, including a signing bonus. A number of other beneficial gains, like an increase in paternity/spouse/partner leave, are also included. Note: Current Side Letter agreements regarding anti-harassment and discrimination, and DEI have been extended to cover this new CBA. Thank you to the negotiating committee and congratulations on this 3-year agreement! HIGHLIGHTS: COMPENSATION: A singing bonus for all Artists returning or joining for the 22-23 season of $7... Read More -->

AGMA's May 2022 Newsletter was emailed to AGMA members in good standing on May 26. (Members should check their spam/promotions/other folders!) Highlights include: how to join AGMA’s Trans and Non-Binary Forum; information on AGMA and SDC’s new partnership, The Actors Fund name change to the Entertainment Community Fund, our recent union organizing webinars, CBA highlights, and the Student Loan Forgiveness Program; and a recap of the May Board Governors Meeting. As a reminder, members can review ALL of AGMA’s past monthly newsletters by visiting the Newsletter Archive on the website (MyAGMA login required). ... Read More -->

WATCH Earlier this month, AGMA hosted two free and public webinars, "Organizing the Opera World" and “Organizing the Dance World.” These webinars were designed for those who have yet to form a union, so please feel free to share with your non-union friends! The webinars focused on union organizing – what it is, how it’s done, who the decision-makers are, and why the opera and dance worlds would be better, safer, and stronger if all artists in the United States unionized and became AGMA artists. Special thanks to Board members Helena Brown, Brian August, Eric Ferring, Daniel Pratt, and Corey Bourbonniere for their participation. A note of thanks also to Sarah Daley-Perdomo, one of AGMA's delegates for her participatio... Read More -->

The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and Cincinnati Opera was ratified by AGMA leadership, after being overwhelmingly approved by the shop. Let’s celebrate some gains! There have been multiple additions and improvements to the contract language, particularly when it comes to Principal Artists, Staging Staff, and Young Artists; DEI; compensation and reimbursements; and updated language regarding dues deductions and individual artist agreements, including the use of digital contracts. HIGHLIGHTS: COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 3% increase in Year 1 (which includes the 2022 summer season)3% increase in Year 22% increase in Year 3Compensation for commercial recording projectsIncreased retirement contribution rates,... Read More -->