Alberta Theatre Projects: Governance in Times of Crisis

Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP) was a performing arts non-profit organization. It enjoyed a strong brand recognition as a socially liberal organization in a community with strong conservative values. With funding from the Alberta Performing Arts Stabilization Fund, ATP had paid down its accumulated deficit and expected to emerge from debt in 1999. However, in the 1998/99 season it lost over $400,000. By later 1999, ATP's accumulated deficit reached $600,000, including $300,000 owed to Canada's tax collection authority, Revenue Canada. Cash flow statements showed that ATP would be bankrupt by the spring of 2000 unless it could raise $1 million. There were concerns that ATP may not even meet its payroll obligations in the meantime.