TORONTO – Canadian performer Ferne Downey has been elected President of the International Federation of Actors (FIA), she is the first North American to head the global organization. She will lead the Brussels-based organization that represents performers from around 75 countries.
Downey takes on the FIA Presidency at a time when globalization and the digital revolution are creating profound challenges for performers. As producers consolidate their power becoming large, vertically integrated corporations with ever greater international reach, professional performers must build even stronger international solidarity and work towards global agreements to protect performers’ rights.
“I commit to you all that under my leadership, performers around the globe will stand together and stand strong; we will resist any power that conspires to work against our best interests. We will campaign to secure the right to freedom of expression for all performers in all countries,” said Downey. “We will stand together, pursue our ideals – and make them real.”
Downey has been the National President of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) since 2009. She has spent the past 30 years working as an actor in radio, television, film and theatre and is also a member of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, the voice of professional artists working in live performance.
Downey was elected at FIA’s 20th World Congress that brought performers and representatives from 75 countries together in Toronto September 27-30. The governing body of FIA, the Congress meets every four years. This year’s Congress was co-hosted by three Canadian performer unions – ACTRA, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (Equity), and Union des Artistes (UDA).
