Professional Groups
This is a selection of organizations related to work in the theatre. Professional organizations generally offer discounted student rates. Union organizations generally have employment and contract requirements for becoming a member.
Joining a professional organization adds to your professional knowledge (most offer continuing education and development opportunities), allows you to network in the field, and shows future employers you are engaged in the professional community.
- Expand your network: Make new connections with professionals who can hire or refer work to you. Participating in an organization should provide you with many opportunities to connect with professionals on a local, regional, national, and sometimes global level. Participating in special interest groups, sections, or discussion boards sponsored by an organization is another way to connect with people who are likeminded and/or working in the same niche you are.
- Boost your credibility and visibility: Being actively involved in your professional community can boost your credibility among your peers, your clients, and your prospects. Associations generally look to their members to share their unique expertise and their connections through their participation in the organization. Raise your hand for a leadership role to not only develop your skills as a leader but also to boost increase your visibility. Relating to other professionals who share common interests is a great way to strengthen your reputation.
- Professional development: Join a professional organization that directly aligns with your interests. Organizations often offer articles, webinars, reports, white papers, courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, and certifications to keep their members current on the latest industry research, innovations, and trends.
- Mentorship opportunities: Finding professionals—junior and senior—who can support your growth is a huge benefit in joining a professional association. There are also meaningful rewards in mentoring others, including honing your leadership abilities, learning new perspectives and insights, and feeling a sense of contribution.
- Build a support system: Making connections outside of your school who understand your circumstances and can offer guidance and insight is one of the most important reasons to join a professional organization. Strong bonds within professional organizations will improve your career opportunities, will help you garner more influence, and most importantly, will make work and life more fun.
Best practice: Don’t wait until you are in need to build your support system. Make the investment into developing authentic relationships early to build a network of advocates who want to see you succeed and are happy to help as needs arise.
- Actors' Equity Association (AFL-CIO Member, FIA affiliated)The labor union representing American actors and stage managers in the theatre.
- American Association of Community Theatre (AACT)Founded in 1986, AACT is a nonprofit corporation that serves both individuals and organizations by providing expertise, assistance and support so that community theatres can provide the best possible theatrical experience for participants and audience alike.
- Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP)APAP works to strengthen the field and advance careers through professional development, grant support, advocacy, networking and the annual APAP|NYC conference.
- Black Theatre NetworkThe Black Theatre Network is comprised of artists, educators, scholars, students and theatre lovers who are dedicated to the exploration and preservation of the theatrical visions of the African Diaspora. For 35 years, the Black Theatre Network has collected, processed and distributed information that supports the professional and personal development of its membership (comprised of individuals engaged in the full range of theatre professions, professional and community theatres and organizations, and academic institutions).
- Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA)HOLA is dedicated to expanding the presence of Latin/Hispanic artists in entertainment and media through their development, cultivation, education, empowerment, and recognition.
- SAG-AFTRASAG-AFTRA brings together two great American labor unions: Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Both were formed in the turmoil of the 1930s, with rich histories of fighting for and securing the strongest protections for media artists. Our members united to form the successor union in order to preserve those hard-won rights and to continue the struggle to extend and expand those protections into the 21st century and beyond.
- American Theatrical Costume AssociationThe goal of the American Theatrical Costume Association (ATCA) is to fill a gap in our professional organizations, and connect a community of costume educators, focusing on the dual responsibilities of teaching and research. This scholarship includes (but is not limited to) professional design & technical work, and this organization is an opportunity to push the boundaries of what costume scholarship looks like.
- Costume Designers Guild (IATSE Local 892)The Costume Designers Guild, IATSE Local 892, is a union of professional costume designers, assistant costume designers, and illustrators working in film, television, commercials and other media. The CDG is not an employment agency, it is a labor union. As a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the CDG protects member’s wages and working conditions through collective bargaining.
- Costume Society of AmericaWe are a varied group of professionals and informed enthusiasts representing museums, libraries, theaters, academia, apparel, merchandising, private collections, and re-enactment organizations. CSA promotes personal connections and collegial discovery about clothing, fashion, and costume--its history, design, construction, merchandising and preservation.
- USITT Costume Design & Technology CommissionUnited States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) was founded in 1960 as an organization to promote dialogue, research, and learning among practitioners of theatre design and technology.
The Costume Design & Technology Commission provides members with opportunities to share ideas, exchange information, develop professionally, and affect the future welfare and development of those in fields including, but not limited to Costume Design, Costume Technology, Management, Hair & Make-up Design and Technology, Wardrobe and Backstage Technologies, and Education in all aspects of the Entertainment Industries
- Art Directors Guild (ADG) (IATSE Local 800)The ADG is Union IATSE Local 800's goal is to improve the quality of its members lives through "collective bargaining". Simply stated, when we stand together we are able to negotiate wages, working conditions and benefits that are fair and reasonable. Health and welfare, retirement benefits and minimum wage scales and working conditions are negotiated by the union in the majority of our collective bargaining agreements, and the employers make contributions on behalf of covered employees, in accordance with those agreements.
- Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA)The Set Decorators Society of America is the only national nonprofit professional organization dedicated to the support of the past, present, and future of set decorators in motion pictures, television, commercials, and music videos.
- United Scenic Artists (IATSE Local 829)United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE, is a labor union and professional association of Designers, Artists, Craftspeople, and Department Coordinators, organized to protect craft standards, working conditions and wages for the entertainment and decorative arts industries. The members of Local USA 829 work in film, theatre, opera, ballet, television, industrial shows, commercials and exhibitions.
- American Alliance for Theatre & Education (AATE)Mission Statement: The American Alliance for Theatre & Education serves and inspires a growing collective of theatre artists, educators, and scholars committed to transforming young people and communities through the theatre arts.
- American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR)A U.S.-based professional organization that fosters scholarship on worldwide theatre and performance, both historical and contemporary. Members of the American Society for Theatre Research say the Society is a space to share scholarship and a home for networking within the profession. ASTR also sponsors or coordinates several awards, grants, fellowships, and prizes to support and recognize outstanding scholarship in theatre and performance studies.
- American Theatre Critics AssociationIs the only national association of professional theater critics in the United States. Our members work for newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and on-line services across the country. Membership is open to any writer who regularly publishes substantive pieces reviewing or otherwise critically covering theater.
- Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE)An advocate for the field of theatre and performance in higher education, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) serves as an intellectual and artistic center for producing new knowledge about theatre and performance-related disciplines, cultivating vital alliances with other scholarly and creative disciplines, linking with professional and community-based theatres, and promoting access and equity.
- Black Theatre NetworkThe Black Theatre Network is comprised of artists, educators, scholars, students and theatre lovers who are dedicated to the exploration and preservation of the theatrical visions of the African Diaspora. For 35 years, the Black Theatre Network has collected, processed and distributed information that supports the professional and personal development of its membership (comprised of individuals engaged in the full range of theatre professions, professional and community theatres and organizations, and academic institutions).
- Educational Theatre AssociationThe Educational Theatre Association is an international nonprofit that serves as the professional association for theatre educators.
- International Federation for Theatre ResearchThe International Federation for Theatre Research exists to facilitate communication and exchange between scholars of theatre and performance research throughout the world through its conference events and publishing activities.
- Theatre Library AssociationMission Statement: Founded in 1937, Theatre Library Association supports librarians and archivists affiliated with theatre, dance, performance studies, popular entertainment, motion picture and broadcasting collections. TLA promotes professional best practices in acquisition, organization, access and preservation of performing arts resources in libraries, archives, museums, private collections, and the digital environment. By producing publications, conferences, panels, and public events, TLA fosters creative and ethical use of performing arts materials to enhance research, live performance, and scholarly communication.
- Actors' Equity Association (AFL-CIO Member, FIA affiliated)The labor union representing American actors and stage managers in the theatre.
- Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP)APAP works to strengthen the field and advance careers through professional development, grant support, advocacy, networking and the annual APAP|NYC conference.
- Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032)A union, ATPAM members are press agents, publicity and marketing specialists, company managers and house and facilities managers who are devoted to the health, vitality and success of staged entertainment of all types.
- Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA)Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas was founded in 1985 as the volunteer membership organization for the professions of literary management and dramaturgy.
- Stage Managers' Association (SMA)The Stage Managers’ Association of the United States (SMA) is the only professional organization for working stage managers across the United States. Our mission is to recognize, advocate for, and provide continuing education and networking opportunities for stage managers across the USA.