My name is Agnete Haaland and I am an actress. Acting is my job and what I have always wanted to do in life. I have worked hard but I have also been lucky to have a union behind me that has allowed me to make a living of my profession. It was only natural for me to give back some of what I received, which led me to become the President of my union in Norway some years ago.
With time, I realised how many challenges performers share around the world and how much we can support one another in this globalized economy. I learned about how many of us work with dedication in the most unacceptable conditions, with no social status, no contract, no health security or adequate safety, often with no remuneration and yet with bills to pay and children to feed at the end of the month, just like the rest of society. As my union is a resolute supporter of the International Federation of Actors, I asked myself: why not help there as well?
I am so proud and honoured to have been elected President of FIA at our 19th World Congress, which took place in Marrakesh, Morocco in October 2008. My predecessor, Tomas Bolme, has done an amazing job before me for the last 16 years. Thanks to him, to our devoted Secretariat and to our hard working Presidium and Executive Committee, FIA is now stronger and more united than ever.
The history of FIA, the International Federation of Actors, is an amazing adventure: from the vision of two pioneers in the early fifties - Jean Darcante of the Syndicat National des Acteurs Français and Gerald Croasdell of British Actors’ Equity – to a truly international, independent and non-governmental organisation representing performers in all continents, FIA is today the voice of performers around the world.
In all, we represent some 100 performers’ unions spreading from North America all the way over to Australia, and we are determined to continue to fight for the artistic, economic, social and legal interests of actors, singers, dancers, variety and circus artists, choreographers and broadcast professionals wherever they work!
Our members are the trade unions, guilds and associations that work hard every day to ensure that performers can work safely, earn a decent living from their profession and the commercial exploitation of their talent, train to adjust to a rapidly changing environment, enjoy an adequate social protection and equal opportunities and be granted intellectual property rights on their performances.
At international level, FIA steps in and brings these same values to a higher ground, where the lobbying machinery is intricate, national interests are traded and rules are bargained to shape our daily life. But FIA is not only an indispensable lobbying tool for all of us. It is, perhaps most importantly, a powerful heart for all its members, many of which have directly experienced the solidarity that has always been its trademark. Whether in the midst of industrial actions, facing sudden hardship, struggling against political regimes and in countless other occasions, the mutual support of our unions has been a critical asset for those members.
FIA is the collective effort of hundreds of dedicated trade unionists who have pursued the best interest of performers for decades with self-denial, enthusiasm and vision. In the years that I have witnessed, I have learned from each and single one of them lessons that today make me who I am: a strong believer in the key role that performers play in our societies, cultures and economies - but also a determined advocate of their right to make a decent living of their talent and skills.
Like many others before me, it is my will to continue to serve my union and FIA and to fight for the welfare and the working opportunities of performers, wherever they work in this world.
Yours in solidarity,
Agnete Haaland