The Association of Community Theatre – Central Ontario (ACT-CO) is a not-for-profit

organization serving the community of central Ontario. The Mandate of ACT-CO is to bring

member groups together and support them in their pursuit of continuous learning, education,

and improvement of the knowledge and skills necessary to run a community theatre company

and bring live theatre to the stage.

Any group who meets the membership criteria on the following page can apply to become an

organizational member of ACT-CO. Once approved, the group pays an annual ACT-CO

membership fee.

Membership Benefits

Groups who hold membership in ACT-CO (and their members in good standing) have access to:

• Reduced group insurance rates through the ACT-CO insurer;

• Periodic peer-to-peer discussion groups on community theatre, NPO, and charity topics;

• Periodic guest speaker discussion groups on exciting community theatre, NPO, and charity

topics;

• Periodic webinar discussion groups on exciting community theatre, NPO, and charity topics;

• Periodic in person community theatre skills workshops;

• Two annual theatre scholarships (one technical and one performance) available to students

who are:

• Individuals who are members in good standing of an ACT-CO member company; or

• Children of individuals who are members in good standing of an ACT-CO member

company;

• Ability to shape and contribute to ACT-CO’s future by participating on select off-Board

committees;

• Ability for unlimited members to attend any ACT-CO General Meeting (annual or otherwise);

• Ability for up to five (5) members to vote at any ACT-CO General Meeting (annual or

otherwise);

• Ability to be elected to and serve on the ACT-CO Board of Directors;

• Ability to share theatre materials, best practices, and skills with other ACT-CO member

groups;

• Participate in the annual ACT-CO Festival (additional fees apply);

• Attend the annual ACT-CO Gala/Celebration (ticket fees apply);

ACT-CO is always looking to enhance Member Benefits. If you have suggestions,

please send an email to president@actco.ca.

Membership Criteria

Theatre groups can apply for membership in ACT-CO if they meet the following criteria:

ACT-CO Membership

Criteria

What works

What doesn’t work

•

Groups that ONLY offer youth

programs

Groups that ONLY offer dance

programs

Groups that ONLY offer puppet

programs

Mandate includes to mount live plays

(comedies, dramas), musicals or

pantomimes.

What is the group’s

purpose?

•

Can be book or original musicals,

plays, or pantomimes

The organization should be one of:

What is the group’s

2. organizational

Organization should not be:

•

Registered charity

Registered not-for-profit

organization

•

Sole proprietorship

Limited partnership

structure

Anyone is allowed to:

•

Any membership that is unreasonably

restrictive

•

Join the general membership and

participate in the group in any

role for which they are qualified

3. Membership

•

Production staff can be paid via

honorarium

Select administrative roles could

be PTE or FTE or paid via an

informal honorarium

•

Board members (of charities) cannot

be paid for any reason

Actors cannot be paid unless it is via

an equity contract

4. Paying people

•

Production staff or actors could

be paid via an Equity contract

ACT-CO welcomes your questions and comments regarding the above. Please send any

questions to the ACT-CO Membership Director at membership@actco.ca or to info@actco.ca

Groups are encouraged to:

• Renew their ACT-CO membership; and

• Encourage group members to serve on either:

• The ACT-CO Board of Directors; or

• An ACT-CO off-Board committee