The SAG-AFTRA Conservatory is the union's low-cost training program for its own members, run by individual locals, with workshops, classes, panels and seminars on craft and the business. As of November 2026, the Los Angeles Conservatory costs $60 a year for adults and New York's costs $49 a season, and you need to be a member of that local in good standing. Shaan Sharma, who teaches in the LA Conservatory, and Ben Whitehair answered our questions on how it works.
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It's the union's own training program, run by individual SAG-AFTRA locals. The Los Angeles Conservatory describes itself as a low-cost way for members to hone their craft, with workshops, panels and seminars led by industry professionals all year round.
Ben Whitehair described it to us as a kind of acting school, run with volunteers through the union. Shaan Sharma, who teaches there, called it the training arm of the union and said it covers three things: craft, business and the health of the industry.
Only SAG-AFTRA members, and usually only members of the local that runs it. As of November 2026:
It's optional. Shaan and Ben both stressed that no one has to join; it's simply one of the resources your dues-paying membership opens up. Not a member yet? Start with how to join SAG-AFTRA.
Very little, compared with private classes. As of November 2026, the union's own pages list:
| Conservatory | Fee |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles, adults | $60 a year |
| Los Angeles, minors | $25 a year |
| New York | $49 for the season |
| Washington-Mid Atlantic | Free |
In LA, membership starts when you enrol and lasts a year, which matches what Shaan told us: a full year from the day you pay. New York's policy document says there are no prorated fees and no refunds. Our older videos quote lower LA fees, so go by the union's page. San Francisco-Northern California doesn't list a fee.
Online, through your SAG-AFTRA member account. For Los Angeles, the Conservatory page says to log in at sagaftra.org, complete enrolment on the Conservatory enrolment page, then register for each class on the Classes and Events page, where registration opens two weeks before the class at 10 a.m.
New York's 2026-27 season opened for enrolment on 1 September 2026. Each class opens for sign-up on the Monday a week before it meets, and you can book one class a week in advance; New York's policy says extra classes are by standby on the day.
A mix of craft, business and union education. The New York page lists Acting on Camera, Intro to Screenwriting, Preparation for On-Camera Work, Scene Study and Audition Technique, Self-Producing 101, Shakespeare cold reading and monologues, and Working in Commercials. LA's listings include stand-up and improv workshops and Actors Evening, a panel where performers talk about their careers.
Is it only for beginners? Shaan doesn't think so. He told us some of his guest instructors have worked at the highest levels of the industry, and said there are classes useful at any stage of a career.
The LA Conservatory's big annual event. Shaan described it as a free weekend of workshops, panels and classes, opening on a Friday night and running roughly nine to five on Saturday and Sunday, with teachers who don't usually teach there. It's included in your Conservatory membership, and he said about a thousand people take part.
The sessions cover all three of his buckets: craft (acting, cold reading, improv, on camera), business (agents, contracts, strategy) and the union itself.
In LA, it has. Shaan told us trained volunteers have read and run camera for members' self tapes at no charge, and that the program helped around 250 performers in two years. Because it's volunteer run, availability depends on who isn't booked that week. He also said the union's headquarters at 5757 Wilshire now has a classroom and self-taping rooms. Ask the Conservatory how to book before you count on it for a deadline.
It's the best-known perk. Ben and Shaan both told us that AFI's first-year Fellows cast their student films from LA Conservatory members, through the union's iActor database. Shaan said they cast about a thousand roles a year from Conservatory members, and can look elsewhere when they can't find the right person. The films are unpaid. Our AFI student film auditions page covers how casting works and what you get.
Take them seriously, because places are limited. As of November 2026: in LA, two no-shows suspend your class registration for 90 days, and small classes allow ten minutes' grace for late arrivals. New York asks you to cancel by 8 p.m. the night before, and a second unexcused absence suspends your membership for 30 days. Washington-Mid Atlantic asks for two full business days' notice or you may lose registration privileges for six months, and San Francisco-Northern California suspends privileges for six months for an improper cancellation.
They're separate. Ben told us the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is affiliated with the union but funded by fundraising, not by members' fees or dues. Its programs page lists free programs for members, including On-Camera Labs, Voiceover Labs, The Business and Casting Access.
Casting Access is the one actors ask about most: as of November 2026, the Foundation says it runs about 400 free audition prep classes a year with casting professionals in Los Angeles and New York and online, for SAG-AFTRA members. You complete a short profile with a headshot and resume first. Ben called these free workshops an amazing thing to do.
It is a low-cost training program run by SAG-AFTRA locals for their members, with workshops, classes, panels and seminars on acting craft, the business and the union.
As of November 2026, the Los Angeles Conservatory costs $60 a year for adults and $25 for minors, New York's costs $49 for the season, and Washington-Mid Atlantic's workshops are free to local members.
No. Each Conservatory is for SAG-AFTRA members in good standing, usually of the local that runs it.
Log in to your SAG-AFTRA member account, enrol through your local's Conservatory page and pay the fee, then register for individual classes online.
In Los Angeles, Conservatory members can be cast in AFI first-year student films through the union's iActor database. Those films are unpaid.
No. The Foundation is a separate charity funded by fundraising. It runs free programs for members, such as Casting Access audition prep classes.
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All rates current from sagaftra.org and sagaftra.org/new-york as of 9 November 2026.