Cooperation Day: Freedom of Expression, Diversity & Solidarity
LIVE NOW
Monday, June 28
7 a.m. PT USA / 2 p.m. GMT / 5 p.m. TR
Presented by SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Union of Turkey, please join us via Zoom for an exclusive international symposium for members, partners and allies to discuss artistic freedom of expression, gender equity, the fight against sexual harassment and global unionization.
RSVP below to receive the Zoom link for the following three events.
Artistic Freedom of Expression
7 a.m. PT USA / 2 p.m. GMT / 5 p.m. TR
Moderator: Duncan Crabtree-Ireland - National Executive Director, SAG-AFTRA
Panelists:
- Wilson Cruz - Actor, SAG-AFTRA Member
- Sercan Gidişoğlu - Actor, Voice Actor and General Secretary, AUT
- Ulaş Karan - Associate Professor, Istanbul Bilgi University, Faculty of Law
Artists worldwide face regular challenges to their fundamental right of free expression -- whether those challenges come from the power of governments to censor or from the power of massive corporations to impose marketplace censorship. The panel will delve into the similar and different challenges artists face in Turkey and the U.S. from political and economic pressures that seek to curtail freedom of expression.
This panel is part of the Actors’ Union of Turkey’s project on artistic freedom of expression and new forms of censorship and auto-censorship in Turkey, which was funded by the MATRA Programme of the Kingdom of Netherlands.
Diversity, Gender Equality and the Fight Against Harassment
8 a.m. PT USA / 3 p.m. GMT / 6 p.m. TR
Moderator: Gabrielle Carteris, SAG-AFTRA President
Panelists:
- Meltem Cumbul - Actor, Former President of Actor's Union of Turkey (AUT), and SAG-AFTRA Member
- Michelle Hurd - Actor, SAG-AFTRA National Board Member
- Arden Ryshpan - Executive Director, Canadian Actors' Equity Association
- Gizem Erman Soysaldı - Actor, Activist and Member, Actors' Union of Turkey
Diversity, gender equality and the fight against sexual harassment are crucial initiatives to ensuring every performer can make a fair living and practice their craft in a safe environment. SAG-AFTRA will share the strides made in achieving diversity, equity and inclusion through collective bargaining, advocacy, education and technology. The Actors Union of Turkey will discuss its efforts over the past two years to promote gender equality and fight sexual harassment and bullying. The panel will facilitate an exchange of experience between two organizations, one of which has deeper experience, while the other is initiating its journey with strong intentions and ambitions.
Solidarity and Unionization
9 a.m. PT USA / 4 p.m. GMT / 7 p.m. TR
Moderator: Sercan Gidişoğlu, Actor, Voice Actor and General Secretary, AUT
Roundtable Participants:
- Gabrielle Carteris - SAG-AFTRA President
- Denys Fouqueray - Actor, Member of the General Delegation at SFA (Syndicat Français des Artistes-Interpretes) and Vice President, International Federation of Actors (FIA)
- Dominick Luquer - General Secretary, International Federation of Actors (FIA)
- David White - Senior Advisor, SAG-AFTRA
In this final, roundtable discussion, union leaders from around the world will address the concepts of “solidarity” and “unionization” as a response to major problems faced by performers globally.
RSVP: Reservations are required. Please complete form below to RSVP.
Virtual seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.