Registration is still OPEN for AGMA’s upcoming free and public webinar “Organizing the Opera World.” Join AGMA on Monday, May 9, at 8:00 p.m. ET! This webinar welcomes all professional singers (principal artists/soloists and choristers), dancers, and staging staff in opera in the United States. The subject will be union organizing – what it is, how it’s done, who the decision-makers are, and why the opera world would be better, safer, and stronger if all opera artists in the United States unionized and became AGMA artists. Register for “Organizing the Opera world” by May 8 in order to receive the Zoom. SAFE SPACE: Participation in this webinar will be confidential. By utilizing the webinar platform, AG... Read More -->

NEW YORK CITY/CHICAGO - 04/21/2022 - The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and the Joffrey Ballet reached a new five-year collective bargaining agreement, beginning July 1, 2022, and running through June 30, 2027. This is currently a tentative agreement, pending ratification by the AGMA Board of Governors. The AGMA Joffrey Negotiating Committee, representing their fellow 46 Joffrey dancers and stage managers, and the Joffrey came to a mutually beneficial contract after just one week of negotiations and open dialogue, marking the second consecutive five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between AGMA and the Joffrey. “This is an extraordinary agreement, and one both parties should celebrate,” said Sam Wheeler, N... Read More -->

Any AGMA members employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization, and who have made 120 qualifying monthly payments, may be eligible to have their student loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.  The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, or PSLF, is a program from Federal Student Aid, or FSA, an Office of the U.S. Department of Education. With proper eligibility and verification, PSLF forgives the remaining balance on employee Federal Direct Student Loans after an employee has made 120 qualifying on-time, monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. AGMA is aware that some of its members have qual... Read More -->

AGMA’s first demographic census was sent to the AGMA members in good standing TODAY by Savanta! The census will only be open for TWO WEEKS and will close on Wednesday, May 4, at approximately 11:59 p.m. ET. Savanta advises that the census will take anywhere from 15 to 35 minutes to complete, depending on how members contribute to certain sections. Members who did not receive the census to their inbox should check their spam or promotions (Gmail) or other (Outlook) folder. An easy way to search for the census is to search for “Savanta Market Research censusinvite@savanta.com” and/or “Complete AGMA’s Demographic Census.” Members' participation in this historic census will help the Union improve the working lives of all... Read More -->

It has been over two years since the start of the pandemic, which shut down the performing arts industry. As we look ahead, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel and the return of some normalcy, but we are not out of the woods just yet. With positive cases rising around the country once again, employers must ensure that COVID protocols are in place and upheld. These protections have been vital to protecting Artists and helping organizations continue to perform throughout the pandemic. Unfortunately, the relaxation of city, state, and federal COVID standards has left many choirs and choruses (often non-union) vulnerable to the recent surge; we now face a substantial increase in positive cases in the singing community, spurred b... Read More -->

AGMA’s first demographic census in its 86-year history will be sent to AGMA members TOMORROW! AGMA commissioned Savanta, a third party, independent research and insights agency, to distribute, facilitate, and manage the Union’s census. Members should be aware that the census will be sent to them by Savanta. To prevent the census going to spam, AGMA recommends members add Savanta Market Research (censusinvite@savanta.com) to their contact list. Starting tomorrow, the census will only be open for TWO WEEKS and will close Wednesday, May 4, at approximately 11:59 p.m. ET. AGMA members' participation in this historic census will help the Union improve the working lives of all members. Here’s how: The census will collect a ... Read More -->

AGMA is hiring! We are seeking a New York Business Representative.  Under the direction of the National Organizing Director and assigned Negotiator, the AGMA Business Representative is responsible for infusing member engagement, participation, and education into all aspects of AGMA activities.  As a highly visible member of AGMA’s professional staff, the AGMA Business Representative will welcome new members into AGMA by providing educational materials and hosting member orientations and trainings. The AGMA Business Representative will also support and assist their assigned Negotiator in bargaining and enforcing contracts and in handling member issues and grievances.  The AGMA Business Representative will work with a... Read More -->

THE AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS WILL HOST TWO FREE “UNION ORGANIZING 101” WEBINARS OPEN TO THE PERFORMING ARTS SECTOR AT LARGE. Workers across the United States are coming together and exercising their right to speak collectively, form a union, and bargain with their employer to improve their working lives. Professional artists in opera, ballet and concert dance, and concert choral performance love what they do, but they are also workers who deserve a voice in their workplaces and an ability to collectively improve their industries. Griff Braun, National Organizing Director at AGMA, will lead "Organizing the Opera World" on Monday, May 9, and "Organizing the Dance World" on Wednesday, May 11. Each webinar will run for a... Read More -->

With an overwhelming majority of support, the Dancers of Boulder Ballet have signed cards in support of unionizing with the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). “Workers across the country are recognizing the value of speaking with one voice, organizing, and forming unions,” said Griff Braun, National Organizing Director at AGMA. “AGMA is very happy to support the dancers of Boulder Ballet as they take the first step in this journey, and we look forward to a productive working relationship with the management of the Company.” AGMA has officially notified Boulder Ballet management and is hopeful that the Company will voluntarily recognize the Union. The Company has until close of business on Friday, April 22, 2022, t... Read More -->

Over 2,000 letters have already been sent! ACTION ALERT. The Pandemic is not over for the Arts. Right now, Congress is making decisions that will affect next year’s funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and it needs to hear from you! Send a letter through Action Network. With DPE, we’ve drafted one that you can customize or send as-is! It only takes a minute. The NEA and NEH support job opportunities for union creative professionals in every state while providing all Americans with access to enriching programs that lift up local economies. Additionally, the NEA and NEH are critical to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts, entertainment, a... Read More -->