Imagine This!

Expanded classroom and meeting space and an on-camera lab administered by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation for self-taping auditions are already completed and operational. Open to all members across the country, the on-camera lab is similar to the successful Foundation facility that was pilot-tested in New York, and which has produced more than 14,588 self-taping sessions for SAG-AFTRA members in just a few short years.

The classrooms and on-camera lab will be followed shortly by additional state-ofthe- art digital media facilities, including a full-size studio for SAG-AFTRA video production and member education, an intimate concert stage for performances by up-and-coming recording artist members with seating for VIP industry guests, a podcast recording suite and other learning facilities.

The Imagination Center will also serve members nationwide as a think-tank space equipped with digital media educational classes and distance learning capabilities to give members across the country a new and dynamic way to interface, hone their abilities and expand their knowledge.

With members who are younger and more digitally savvy than ever before, “this facility is being built with the understanding that our industry is evolving and we must be ready with vision, innovation, imagination and preparation,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris.

“This space brings together a number of essential themes that suffuse our work throughout the entire union,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White. “It will support our efforts to provide technology and training to our membership. It will help us bring the next generation of content creators, performers and other creative artists into the SAG-AFTRA family, and expand their networks and skills.”

Dedicated at a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Nov. 8, the Member Imagination Center is slated for completion in spring 2020.

This item was originally featured in the fall 2019 issue of the SAG-AFTRA magazine.