The National Society of Intimacy Professionals (NSIP) NSIP is a national voice for intimacy professionals in Canada. Where intimacy professionals can train, and collectively create best-practice standards and assist our industry partners in negotiating better, safer and more inclusive performance spaces in the performing arts industries; we are;
- a space where existing Intimacy Coordinators (ICs) and Intimacy Directors (IDs) working in the field can connect, network, and support one another
- a resource hub for intimacy-related education for creatives working in Canada’s performance industries, or other partner disciplines (directors, actors, etc.)
- a training and accreditation body for new IDs and ICs (future offering)
- advocates for the highest professional standards in performance spaces for intimacy and intimate content, both nationally and internationally with our industry partners in the sector (DGC, ACTRA, UBCP, Equity, etc.)
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NSIP Membership Criteria
Benefits of Membership
Fees and Financial Assistance
Process for Gaining Membership
Application Package Requirements
Membership Review Committee (MRC)
National Standards
NSIP Membership Criteria
Join Us!
Members of NSIP:
- are Intimacy Professionals (Intimacy Directors, Intimacy Coordinators, Intimacy Choreographers) who have met NSIP: National Standards for Intimacy*
- actively uphold and advance best practices and protocols
- work at any levels of production: professional, indie, community
- are legally able to work in Canada
*NSIP: NATIONAL STANDARDS: In order to qualify for membership in NSIP, all Intimacy Professionals have met the criteria for NSIP’s National Standards as Intimacy Professionals in Canada.
Benefits of Membership
- Visibility on our website: professional photo and website, tagged with location(s) of practice
- 10% Discount on professional training courses hosted by NSIP
- Active IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) training specific to our industry
- Integration into the society culture and operations through the member handbook
- Participate in the yearly Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) free training subsidized by NSIP
- Connection to a network of Intimacy Professionals across Canada
- Sharing of Best Practices
- Support among professional peers
- monthly open forums
- accesses industry resources
- Being part of a community that is committed to the uplifting of intimacy practices and people, and to the development of our workspaces.
- Voting Privileges at the Annual General Membership Meeting (AGM)
- Opportunity to run for the Board of Directors of NSIP, and to uplift intimacy practices in Canada
- Discounts with specific intimacy-related vendors
- Collaborative and reciprocal community relationship (NSIP Values)
Member Responsibilities
To maintain a membership in good standing a member needs to ensure the following;
- Annual membership fees must be paid by 10:00AM PST on the day of the AGM.
- Current mental health first aid certificate must be supplied within three (3) years of taking the course
- Submit your updated list of continuing education courses/experiences relevant research every year. (three (3) courses with a total of six (6) hours annually). Download the education tracker to utilize for your submission purposes below. Continuing Education Tracker – TEMPLATE
- Participating in the yearly inclusion Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Accessibility (IDEA) free training subsidies by NSIP. The workshop will be identified by the IDEA logo.
Fees and Financial Assistance:
Annual Membership Dues
Membership in NSIP is offered on a sliding scale from $75 to $120 and paid yearly prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of members.
Joining Administration Fee
NSIP has a one-time administrative joining fee offered on a sliding scale from $75 to $120.
SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER
NSIP will waive the joining administration fee until January of 2024
Financial Assistance and Bursaries:
One of NSIP’s core values is to make sure that participation in the society is accessible for all. If the joining administration fee or annual membership dues are a financial barrier, please contact the membership review committee (MRC) at; membership@intimacysociety.com. In a few sentences outline a short explanation of your current situation, what financial support you are needing, and any further details you feel relevant. When reviewed by the MRC and approved the agreement will be revisited the following calendar year.
The “Pay-It-Forward” Initiative
If you have financial resources to share, please consider supporting the “pay-it-forward” initiative. Here you can put funds towards the joining, membership or workshop fees of another Intimacy Professional.
Process for Gaining Membership
NSIP recognizes intimacy professionals, regardless of where they trained or gained their skills. Intimacy Professionals are recognized through body-of-work, training and/or certification. Prospective members submit an application for review to the Membership Review Committee.
Timeline for Membership Review
Applications for NSIP membership are open year-round! Applications are reviewed every quarter. The Membership Committee will respond with a decision within two (2) months of the submission.
- October 25, 2022
- January 30, 2023
- April 30, 2023
- July 30, 2023
- October 30, 2023
In the interim, applicants are encouraged to prepare their applications and supporting materials. For questions regarding application requirements please email membership@intimacysociety.com
Application Package Requirements
The application package is intended to show that your training and/or body of work upholds NSIP: NATIONAL STANDARDS
A successful application package must include:
- The Artist’s Application
- Resume including (when applicable):
- Intimacy Direction/Coordination/Choreography experience.
For recognition through body of work, see the appropriate list below for the minimum number of required credits.* - Experience in related subjects; such as acting, directing, fight directing, wardrobe, mental health support (or similar related professions).
- A “Training” section which details training related to NSIPs National Standard including such items as:
- Certification OR letter of recognition from an intimacy training program
- Letter of mentorship training
- Relevant courses supporting the NSIP National Standard
- Intimacy Direction/Coordination/Choreography experience.
Here is a sample resume and a resume template to assist you. Sample Resume
- Education tracker
- add all other recent IP training on this document
- A letter describing the applicants experience which demonstrates requirements from NSIP: National Standards, if not listed on resume, and if not demonstrated through documentation (certificate, email confirmation, receipt). Limit one (1) page, size 10 font in PDF format.
- Documentation confirming training and/or certification in the following*:
- Mental Health First Aid and/or Psychological First Aid
- Bystander training
- Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression training and/or Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Training
- Conflict resolution/compassionate communication training
- Performing Arts Safety Awareness Course, Respectful Workplace Training (or equivalent)*
- Any provincial Health and Safety training*
- Indigenous Cultural Training
- Documentation confirming safety training appropriate to the discipline you work in:
- Film/TV: Motion Picture Orientation Course/Crew Set Etiquette (or equivalent)*
- Theatre: Performing Arts Safety Awareness Course, Respectful Workplace Training (or equivalent )**
- References from four (4) industry partners (for example: producers, directors, actors, stage managers) who have worked with you when you were the Intimacy Professional in the form of:
- Two reference letters OR two reference form submissions
- This should speak to your character as a professional in the workplace and can touch on details such as collaboration, communication style, and how you create a safe workplace.
- Limit one (1) page, size 10 font in PDF format.
- Contact information for two additional references
- Two reference letters OR two reference form submissions
- Additional support that the applicant would like to add. These may include:
- Playbills/programmes
- Video documentation of work
- Website
- Social Media
- Other
*PLEASE NOTE: NSIP recognizes that folks have been doing this work for years — even decades — before the industry-recognized Intimacy Directors, Coordinators and Choreographers as a role. NSIPs membership application process will credit for work done as an Intimacy Director/Choreographer/Coordinator, whether or not the individual was credited as such on official documentation, providing that the applicant can describe how the work done was within the realm of “intimacy”.
**Please see “lists of additional training” for details Continuing Education Courses