Do you want to sharpen your skills or learn new ones? Animation Guild members have access to several different free and low-cost training opportunities and resources.
Free Training Courses
As a result of COVID and the temporary suspension of the CSTAF skills program (see below), The Animation Guild is now offering free training courses funded by the Guild for our members. These courses are provided by our educational partners Eido and LAAFA. Priority will be given to all new, active, or honorable withdrawal TAG members. See current course offerings here.
Contract Services Skills Training Program
The Collective Bargaining Agreements require Union employers to fund job-related training programs for eligible industry employees. The Contract Services Administration Trust Fund (CSATF) that oversees these programs is controlled by Contract Services. Part of this program provided access to partially and fully funded training from a list of approved courses. Unfortunately, CSATF’s funds have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, and Contract Services has been forced to suspend the Skills Training program. Click here for more information.
Required CSATF Training
TAG members are required to participate in COVID-19 Prevention Training and Harassment Prevention Training. This training requirement is coordinated through Contract Services which is funded by all the Union studios.
For COVID-19 Prevention Training, click here.
For Harassment Prevention Training, click here.
LinkedIn Learning
Through the IATSE Training Trust Fund, active IATSE members and those working under IATSE agreements have unlimited access to the LinkedIn Learning online library with more than 15,000 expert-led online courses and video tutorials. To set up a free LinkedIn Learning account, download an application here. Email your completed application to lil@iatsetrainingtrust.org. You will receive a subscription request confirmation email followed by a welcome email containing a link to set up your LinkedIn Learning account. Learn more about IATSE’s LinkedIn program here.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) Grant
Studio Arts provides up to 240 hours of funded training through the State of California WIOA. If you have been a W-2 employee who was dislocated (fired or laid off) from work, a Studio Arts course of up to eight classes may be available at no cost to you. You may apply even if you are collecting unemployment, and if you become employed while taking the training, you are permitted to finish the training program.
For more information, email grants@studioarts.com. Make sure to provide your name, phone number, and your Union affiliation—member of The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839. You will be contacted with steps for how to proceed.
Are you looking for the American Animation Institute? Click here.