Creative Trust is a collaborative capacity building organization that helps Toronto’s mid-size and small performing arts companies develop skills and achieve financial health and balance. Its aim is to build vibrant, sustainable music, theatre and dance organizations that will continue to inspire, move and challenge audiences for years to come.

Our work is based on the following core beliefs:

• The artistic vision is at the heart of each organization

• Positive change for the arts comes when artists and arts professionals reclaim control, energy and self-esteem

• Economic balance is essential for arts organizations to advance and sustain their missions

• Each organization must take responsibility for finding its own, most effective balance between artistic mission and economic means

• Our model of organizational health should be flexible and holistic

Our History

Creative Trust has been working since 1998 to support and strengthen performing arts companies in Toronto. It was conceived by mid-size music, theatre and dance companies who wished to work together to improve their financial standing. After completing a successful three-year drive to raise endowment funds we turned our attention to the organizational health and sustainability of our companies.

Working Capital for the Arts, which began in 2003, has become a model for capacity building in the cultural sector. Through a combination of deficit reduction incentives and working capital awards with individual assistance, workshops, seminars and roundtables, we have assisted over 50 mid-size and small companies to eliminate deficits, create working capital reserves and improve their governance, planning and management skills.

In 2008 Creative Trust began two new initiatives essential to achieving our objective of building a sustainable community: helping companies undertake capital projects to upgrade and repair their aging facilities; and engaging companies in a comprehensive audience development program. Their goal, like that of the Working Capital program, is to ensure a thriving performing arts community.

Website: creativetrust.ca

Quote: “Communication with our members and beyond is one of the core activities of Creative Trust. Sumac has brought ease and efficiency to our contact management. Sumac’s personalized and hands-on customer service is an added bonus. We are also delighted to see that many of our member companies have adopted Sumac to manage their audiences and donors - which is a fundamental step in strengthening and growing our sector.”

Executive Director, Creative Trust.