Participating companies
Creative Trust serves 21 companies with annual revenues between $400,000 and $4 million, dedicated to the creation, development and performance of Canadian theatre, dance and music. An additional 30 small and culturally diverse companies take part in our Outreach Initiative, which provides emerging artists with the learning opportunities at the core of the program.

Participating companies were chosen because of their strong artistic achievement and community support. Creative Trust’s role is to help them develop the administrative and financial stability and skills needed to support the artistic vision at the heart of each organization.

How the program is structured
Working Capital for the Arts combines funding to create financial stability; assistance to help participants understand and implement improvements to the way their organizations work; and group learning activities to share and develop management skills.

Financial assistance
Companies that meet the basic program requirements of breaking even every year (including the year they enter the program) and eliminating accumulated deficits within two fiscal years are eligible to receive one or two types of funding:
     • Deficit Reduction Matching Grants*: Creative Trust matches participants’ operating surpluses for up to two years until their accumulated deficit is eliminated (*of the 22 companies admitted into the program nine had an accumulated deficit upon entry, and were eligible for this type of funding)

     • Working Capital Awards: If companies maintain a balanced budget Creative Trust contributes 15% of their revenues in the year they entered the program, in equal annual payments over four years. These awards are maintained as working capital reserve funds on each company’s balance sheet.

Building healthy organizations
Each company is expected to work on making itself stronger and more sustainable with Creative Trust’s assistance and support. This includes one-on-one sessions with Technical Assistance Director Jane Marsland and Lead Associates George Thorn and Nello McDaniel, whose framework for healthy organizations underpins our work in this area.

These leading experts provide advice and coaching to each company as it develops an individual Work Plan setting out its organizational and artistic goals. They also provide ongoing support throughout the course of the program. This regular contact and conversation allows Creative Trust to monitor and help participants make strategic choices and deal with specific challenges.

Building skills
The individual sessions are complemented with a series of roundtables, workshops and seminars that address common needs for skills in board relations and governance; financial management; human relations; fundraising; audience development and marketing; and more. Participants become part of a learning network where experience, knowledge and skills are shared and developed.

Tapestry New Opera Works
Water Spirit from Iron Road
Photo: Michael Cooper
 

Ballet Jörgen Canada
Coppelia
Photo: David Hou