USITT is now accepting applications for its 2011 study tour, which will encompass travel from mysterious Istanbul to the ancient City of Ephesus in Egypt, and then fly to Prague for the 12th Prague Quadrennial. Travel dates are May 31 to June 19, 2011 and more information is here. For a complete itinerary, click here.

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The North American Association of Flying Effects Directors (NAAFED) 2010 Performer Rigging Workshop will be held Wednesday, May 19 through Saturday, May 22, at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. The cost to attend the workshop is $600, and there is a $50 discount for members of USITT in addition to a $50 discount for full-time students. Online registration is available at www.naafed.com.

The workshop is designed for all ages and skill levels. Practical application will follow lecture-based presentations to provide attendees with the opportunity to practice the theory they learn. By the end of the workshop, they will have progressed from learning the basics of rigging, physics, and mechanical advantage to flying each other safely. Taught by ETCP Recognized Trainers, all attendees will receive 1 ETCP renewal credit per hour. Instructors include Tracy Nunnally, Bill Auld, and Bill Sapsis, three of only 27 ETCP recognized trainers.

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Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for professional, not-for-profit theatre, released two reports dealing with the financial state of the field.

Taking Your Fiscal Pulse – Spring 2010 is an analysis of data from the recent TCG snapshot survey. Conducted in January, the survey measured recent financial trends in the field and marks TCG's third collaboration with the Association of the Performing Arts Service Organizations (APASO), the result of which was participation by 435 not-for-profit theatres and a greater sense of the state of the national theatre field.

The New Normal: One Year Later is based on conversations between the TCG board and 175 TCG member theatres. Conducted in January and February, the conversations focused on the field's response to last year's global economic crisis and where the field is now.

For more information on TCG's research efforts and reports, visit the Tools & Research and the Centerpieces/Special Reports sections of the TCG website.

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The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) rigging arena and entertainment examinations will be offered for the first time at InfoComm this year. The deadline for submitting applications is May 7. The entertainment electrical exam will be given at 9 a.m. and the arena rigging exam at 2 p.m. June 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ETCP provides testing for professional technicians who serve in lead positions as arena riggers, theatre riggers and entertainment electricians. Because of their commitment to a safer workplace, many venues and employers across North America are now requiring ETCP certified technicians for supervisory positions. All three exams are available at over 190 testing centers in the United States and Canada on most business days.

For more information, eligibility requirements, or applications, contact Meredith Moseley-Bennett, ETCP Certification Manager, at certification@esta.org or 212-244-1505. Complete information is also available on the ETCP website. The ETCP 50-question practice examinations are now available at www.esta.org/etcppracticeexams.

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The initial group of ETCP Certified Riggers is due to recertify this year with electricians following in 2011. To recertify, ETCP Certified Technicians must accumulate renewal credits which include continued training and professional development. ETCP's Training Recognition Programs are designed to assist candidates in finding quality training opportunities. A new designation, ETCP Recognized Training Provider, was implemented to accommodate organizations which offer multiple courses. The total fee for all submitted programs is $2,500. Organizations interested in having only a single course recognized may apply to have their course become a Recognized Training Program for a fee of $1,000. Recognition and fees are valid for two years.

Experienced instructors who are ETCP Certified may apply to become Recognized Trainers if they meet specific criteria. ETCP uses a point system to determine the qualifications for this designation, and it is appropriate for trainers who teach a variety of courses and adjust their curriculum to suit different audiences. Approved trainers are listed on the ETCP website with contact information and may use the Recognized Trainer logo in marketing materials. There is a one-time $250 fee, and recognized status is subject to review by ETCP.

Contact Meredith Moseley-Bennett, ETCP Certification Manager, at certification@esta.org or 212-244-1505 for more information, or visit the ETCP website.

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A pioneering two-day event to bring rigging, venue and safety communities together, the PLASA International Rigging Conference, will be held alongside two days of PLASA 2010, at Earls Court, London on September 13 and 14.

The aim of this technical conference, the first of its kind in the world, is to provide a unique specialist forum that will bring together entertainment rigging companies, riggers, venue operators, tour and event production managers, and more. It is the latest industry-specific forum to be presented by PLASA Events and reflects the PLASA organization's intent to reinvest in the entertainment and installation technology industries and deliver industry-relevant events.

The conference will focus specifically on entertainment rigging and working at height for temporary installations, and will be technically focused, with presentations from respected industry individuals and companies together with leading industry safety advisory groups from around the world.

There is a discounted early booking rate for delegate passes which can be booked online now at www.plasariggingconference.com.

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