Camaraderie. care. consistency.

Thanks for stopping by to learn more about ARTA!

 The Association of Regional Theater Artists is a membership association OF theater artists FOR theater artists, from all disciplines, working in theaters across Western New York. We’ve a common interest in the quality and value of our theatrical work and careers. 

The mission of ARTA is to provide its members with community, advocacy, education and opportunity, in turn enhancing the richness of the live theater produced in our region.

ARTA carries out its mission by:

*Advocating for and promoting an ethical standard of best practices for all theatrical employers

*Promoting and protecting the interests of theater artists, including their rights to proper working conditions, scheduling, contracts, and artistic integrity

*Working with theatrical institutions to educate them on the rights that theater artists have in their work

*Creating programs to educate both theatrical employers and employees, in order to help them develop their craft, enhance their understanding of the theater business, and expand their professional opportunities

*Enhancing--by virtue of the aforementioned community, advocacy, education, and opportunity--the Western New York theatrical experience for not just its employees, but also its patrons.

*Providing a resource of community professionals who can offer advice to members on preferred industry standards, local theater experience, etc.

*Speaking out as an organization, and through individual members, on issues that affect the role of theater artists in society and the workplace

WE ARE…

…an association of theater artists united in trade WITH those that produce our work.

…hoping to empower artists with important and accurate information regarding their potential employers and provide opportunities, resources and networking to help members find more work.

…aiming to work with theaters that will have us at the table, thoughtfully and respectfully.

…interested in making suggestions, creating guidelines, and offering theaters the opportunity to “sign on” to our standards.

…looking to increase the mindfulness of theaters and their boards as they address the value of working artists in their budgets.

WE ARE NOT…

…a labor union.

…hoping to dictate where artists work and do not work.

…aiming to “fight” theaters.

…interested in making demands.

…looking to adopt unreasonable remuneration standards that jeopardize the fiscal health of our theaters.

In the future we plan to have:

-industry networking events

-classes and workshops

-web space for artists

-performance showcases

-a suite of membership benefits, e.g. discounts at local merchants

-a tighter and more communicative and productive professional theater community.

ARTA is committed to identifying and eliminating unfair and unsafe practices in our industry. We foster a sense of camaraderie and community among our members in order to enrich, inspire, and empower them to advocate for themselves, their work, and each other. ARTA invites all members of the theater community to join us in taking concrete steps to encourage theaters to provide the work environments, care, and consistency we deserve and they are capable of providing.  In this way, members realize that to advance at all, we must advance together.

Yours in theater,

ARTA Council

Ben Michael Moran - President

Kristen Tripp-Kelley - Vice President

Charmagne Chi - Treasurer

Donna Hoke - Co-Secretary

Sabrina Kahwaty - Co-Secretary

Marie Costa - Member Council

Vivian Del Bello - Member Council

Diane Di Bernardo - Member Council

Marc-Jon Filippone - Member Council

Rich Kraemer - Member Council

Anna Krempholtz - Member Council

Aleks Malejs - Member Council

Pamela Rose Mangus - Member Council

Nathan Miller - Member Council

Derek Moran - Member Council

Jamie Nablo - Member Council

Bella Poynton - Member Council

Matt Refermat - Member Council

Amelia Scinta - Member Council

Michael Walline - Member Council

Adam Yellen - Member Council