Acting training is a very specific subsect of teaching. The acting training environment is different, because inherent in the acting craft is the exploration of the self which requires deeply personal connections. Educators and coaches need to hone their teaching craft to deal directly with the specific aspects of the craft that allow actors to be brave and feel safe to be vulnerable. Part of AACE’s mandate is to help coaches and educators find courses, workshops, seminars, lectures, podcasts and any other sector specific educational opportunities to help them fulfill their AACE commitment to ongoing education.
We have complied a resource list of all kinds of educational opportunities. We will add new ones as we learn of them.
Please if you know of any educational opportunities, sector specific to acting training that we should include email us!
Classes and workshops currently on offer are highlighted on our home page click here to see them!
COURSES – CLASSES – WORKSHOPS – LECTURES – PANELS – SEMINARS – VIDEOS
Applicable for AACE Membership
The following are sector-specific opportunities that can be viewed/taken and qualify as a one course for your AACE application. For previously recorded lectures/webinars please write some of your learning takeaways and send in as proof of completion.
*Please note, only 1 previously recorded course will be accepted as one of the required 2 courses for AACE membership.
Anti-Harassment, Bullying and Violence
- ACTRA Toronto: Respect on Set Workshop on zoom. FREE open to all ACTRA Toronto members – email me@actratoronto.com to register.
- Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC): Cultural Human Resources Video – Respectful Workplaces in the Arts – Training Video on Workplace Harassment. FREE
- Canadian Actors Equity – Members Meetings – Safer Workspaces Webinar – March 17, 2021 – scroll down the page until you see the title. FREE
Equity, Diversity, Allyship & Inclusion
- AACE 2023 Acting Educators Conference – How Evolving Dynamics of Power in the Industry are Changing Acing Training Panel – May 20, 2023 – Moderated by Lisa Karen Cox with panelists; Tovah Small, Millie Tom, Jennifer Wigmore, Kadon Douglas and Richard Lam. FREE
- AACE 2023 Acting Educators Conference – Gender Experience in the Learning Environment Panel – May 20, 2023 – Moderated by Ryan G Hinds with panelists; Kiara-Kumail, August Winter, Neta J. Rose, and Cole Alvis. FREE
- Got Your Back Acting Educators Conference: Contemporary & In Colour – Culturally Integrated Scene Study for Today and Tomorrow – Tanisha Taitt. FREE
- Got Your Back Acting Educators Conference: Room for Everyone Panel – Lara Arabian, Andrew Moodie, Alex Norton, Karlie Starchuk, and Brefney Caribou Curtain. FREE
- Brock University Speaker Series:Consciousness in Colour: Intercultural Scene Study for Contemporary Classrooms – Tanisha Taitt. FREE
- Canadian Actors Equity – Members Meetings – Anti-Oppression Training Webinar – August 26, 2020 – scroll down the page until you see the title. FREE
- Canadian Actors Equity – Considering Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in Your Work – Webinar – November 29, 2022. FREE
- Race, Equity & Inclusion in Musical Theatre – Webinar – Musical Theatre Educators Alliance – US. FREE
- Canadian Theatre Educators Conference – The Apple Cart; This Constant Race or A Classroom in Colour – Tanisha Taitt. Audio recording. FREE
- Disability Stage Right Podcast – SWAK Productions – Disability Stage Right (DSR) is a podcast about putting artists, access and disability on stage, right. DSR examines access to, and the barriers faced in, training, physical spaces and attitudes in theatre and performance through interviews and discussions with incredible Canadian artists with disabilities.
- SAG-AFTRA- Performers with Disabilities: Inclusion, Authenticity & Allyship. FREE
- Theatrical Intimacy- Working with Trans and Non Binary Artists – Digital workshop. Fee to participate in US $
- Indigenous Canada – Course through the University of Alberta. FREE
Intimacy, Respect and Consent
- AACE Panel Discussion – Creating Brave Spaces – Helping Actors Find Agency – YouTube
- Siobhan Richardson – Introduction to Intimacy in the Classroom for Coaches and Educators. Fee to participate.
- Intimacy Coordinators Canada – Consent and Intimacy Practices in the Audition and Rehearsal Space for Coaches and Educators. Fee to participate – AACE Member discount.
- NSIP – National Society of Intimacy Professionals – Consent in the Classroom: Workshop for Educators. Fee to participate – AACE Member discount.
- Canadian Actors Equity – Members Meetings – Scenes or Moments of Intimacy and Support for Performers Mental Health in the time of COVID – November 25, 2020 – scroll down the page until you see the title. FREE
- Theatrical Intimacy – Consent in the Classroom – Fee to participate in US $
Mental Health
- Theatrical Intimacy – Youth Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Trauma Informed Practices – Fee to participate in US $
Other Opportunities and Organizations for Learning
Anti-Harassment, Bullying and Violence
- Helping Survivors – Sexual Abuse and Assault Resources
- AfterMeToo – Symposium Episodes
- Danatec – Respectful Workplace – Preventing Harassment and Violence
- TCP Training – Sexual Harassment Course
- Compliance Training Group – Conflict Resolution in the Workplace for Supervisors and Employees
- Syntrio – Workplace Harassment and Bullying: Managing Threats to a Respectful Work Culture
- Compliance Training – Nationwide Sexual Harassment Awareness for Supervisors
Intimacy, Respect and Consent
- Red Cross – Respect Education Courses Theatrical Intimacy – Foundations of Race, Intimacy & Consent
- ACTRA Toronto: Best Practices in Scenes involving Nudity, Simulated Sex and Sexual Violence
- Intimacy Coordinators Canada – Resources and guides
- Intimacy Choreographers and their importance to the future of theatre performance -Article – OnStage Blog
- What Does Consent Look Like – Helping Survivors
- ACTSAFE: Support for Performers Mental Health, Before, During and After Covid 19
EDI, Anti-Oppression & Allyship
- Right To Be – Bystander Intervention, Conflict De-Escalation, Mitigate Implicit Bias
- JHup Theater – Culturally Competent and Trauma-Informed Teaching in the Age of MAGA and Brexit – Sylvan Baker, Stephen Buescher, and Kaja Dunn
- ArtReach – Anti-Oppression and Equity Training
- Race Forward – Racial Equity series is a collection of interactive training for those who wish to sharpen their skills and strategies to address structural racism and advance racial equity.
- People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond – PISAB is a national, multiracial, anti-racist collective of organizers and educators, is dedicated to building a movement for social transformation. Our aim is to undo racism and other forms of oppression.
- The Canadian Center for Gender and Sexual Diversity
- edX: University of British Columbia – Gender and Sexuality: Applications in Society
- SAG-AFTRA, Race & Storytelling Video –Naheyawin Centre
- The CARE Coalition – An Introductory Guide – Musical Theatre Educators Alliance – US.
Inclusion
- ACTRA Toronto: Working with Queer Performers.
- The 519: Glossary of Terms
- MyPronouns.org: What are Personal Pronouns and why do they matter?
Intimacy & Consent
- ACTRA Toronto: Best Practices in Scenes involving Nudity, Simulated Sex and Sexual Violence
- Intimacy Coordinators Canada – Resources and guides
- ACTSAFE: Support for Performers Mental Health, Before, During and After Covid 19
Mental Health
- Mental Health Commission of Canada – Mental Health First Aid
- Center for Adolescent Studies – Introduction to Compassion as a Resilience Tool for Helping Professionals
Minors
- AACE 2023 Acting Educators Conference – Coaching Young Performers in Commercials Workshop – Steven Mann, Sarah Sheps & Robert Kennedy.
- ACTRA Toronto – Stage Parents Survival Seminar – YouTube Panel Discussion – July 15, 2021
- Tips for Parents and Children on Set FAQ – ACTRA Toronto
- Behind the Scenes – A Nuts & Bolts Legal Clinic for Acting Studio Owner/Operators – YouTube Link
- Behind the Scenes – A Nuts & Bolts Legal Clinic for Acting Studio Owner/Operators – Resource List
- Designing Safe Spaces – Jennifer Wigmore – AACE Conference 2023 – Resource List
- Got Your Back: The State of Acting Training in Canada: A Summary of the Results from Got Your Back’s 2018 National Survey
- Canadian Theatre Educators Conference (CRTC) – Teaching Resources
- Musical Theatre Educators Alliance (MTEA) – Journal of Teaching Resources
Acting Teacher Resources
Other Resources
Articles & Open Letters:
- What to Consider When Choosing an Acting Class/Coach
- Acolytes Allege a Hollywood Acting Coach Became a False Prophet
- Actors, Beware: You May be in a Cult
- Why do we excuse abuse when it’s called ‘method acting’?
- #MeToo and the Method
- Open letter from Lisa Karen Cox to National Theatre School of Canada regarding their BLM statement (Jul. 7)
- Actor Training in Canada: An Appeal for Change
- Got Your Back, The State of Acting Training in Canada: A Summary of the Results from Got Your Back’s 2018 National Survey
- Cultural Human Resources Council, HR Management Toolkit for Workplace Harassment and Violence
Resources & Industry Partner Links
- ACTRA Toronto, Working with Queer Performers
- ACTRA Toronto, Best Practices in Scenes involving Nudity, Simulated Sex and Sexual Violence
- Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct: Read The Code (EN) / Lire Le Code (FR)
- Got Your Back, Canadian Training Institution Policies
- Got Your Back, Canadian Theatre and Union Harassment Policies & Codes of Conduct
- Find Your Acting Class – American organization committed to breaking the cycle of abuse in acting classes
Counselling and Support Services:
- HAVEN Helpline – available to ACTRA, EQUITY and DGC members
- ACTRA Toronto, Sexual Harassment Resources
- ACTRA Toronto, Mental Health Support
We are always looking for more sector-specific resources for acting coached and educators. Please feel free to share yours with us! – aacesteeringcommittee@gmail.com