BACKGROUND

Since Spring 2017, Board Members of ACT have been researching an insurance policy that effectively meets the requirements of all of it’s member groups. Based on a previous policy held by ACT, the new policy sought has been an umbrella policy with certificates for all of our member groups providing:

a. at least $2 million in third-party liability insurance, so member groups could apply to events and/or use of facilities requiring such coverage;

 b. at least $1 million in third-party vehicle liability insurance, to cover usage of member or rental vehicles used to transport member group equipment, props, costumes, sets etc; and

 c. at least $10K property insurance to cover loss of group equipment, props, costumes, sets etc

Such a policy is not available through agencies and brokers, and had to be directed to the insurance companies themselves and addressed by their underwriters; a time consuming process. It should be noted that no other provincial theatre association provides insurance coverage to it’s member groups; the closest being BC and Ontario where they don’t provide coverage but have negotiated with a preferred insurance company for an optional but reduced coverage rate for it’s member groups.
 

As of June 2019, only one insurance company had agreed to review our requirements and provided a proposal. While the proposal is not unreasonable, it does require ACT to pay minimum premiums equivalent to coverage for 25 member groups, which is far greater than the number of member groups that ACT has had over the past number of years. From this the Board finds itself with a “catch-22” situation; we may not be retaining member-groups because we don’t have the benefit of group insurance but we not be able to afford the premiums on such a policy because we don’t have and may not retain enough member groups. 

At that time, the Board decided to re-examining the actual need for ACT to provide insurance to it’s member groups; again, no other provincial theatre association provides insurance coverage.  Member groups were approached and asked of their current insurance arrangements and needs; unfortunately, few member groups responded.

Consequently, the Board has tabled its efforts of securing an umbrella policy to provide certificates to all of our member groups but will continue to work on alternatives.

INTERIM POLICY

As an interim policy,  in order to ensure insurance coverage to those member groups that required it, the Board has agreed to assist any member group with event insurance coverage, as necessary for it’s activities:

• If you are are member group and find that you need financial assistance to obtain insurance coverage for an event such as a workshop, show or production, ACT may agree to fund all or part of the cost of the insurance policy for that event.

• In addition, since ACT acknowledges that many of its member groups are not registered or incorporated, ACT will work with and assist any such group to obtain insurance coverage for an event under the organizational umbrella of ACT

As with other theatre and performing arts-related topics, ACT will assist and advise any member group in determining their requirements and identifying options with respect to existing insurance policies and companies.  Note:  ACT does not promote any particular insurance product or company.

Member groups should contact us for more information.