Insurance for Arts and Culture Organisations
Theatre companies, galleries, orchestras, kapa haka groups, festivals and community arts trusts share a set of risks that ordinary business insurance handles poorly. They look after artworks, instruments, costumes and sets that are hard or impossible to replace, put audiences and volunteers in the same room as stage machinery and lighting rigs, tour equipment between venues, and commit money to productions months before the first ticket is sold. Many started small and grew into trusts with staff, premises and funding agreements while their insurance stayed much as it was.
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Key Coverage Points
What your policy needs to address for this type of organisation and risk profile.
- 1
Collections and fine art cover on an agreed-value basis, including works on loan to or from the organisation
- 2
Public liability for performances, exhibitions, workshops, festivals and audiences at hired venues
- 3
Equipment, instruments, costumes and sets covered on premises, in storage and in transit between venues
- 4
Event cancellation for productions and festivals with significant upfront costs
- 5
Trustee and management liability for board decisions on programming, leases, funding agreements and employment
- 6
Volunteer personal accident cover for front-of-house, backstage and festival volunteers
What Matters Most for This Risk
The exposure arts organisations most often misjudge is value. A building and contents policy written on a replacement-cost basis does not suit an artwork, a historic instrument or a set of handmade costumes, so collections are usually insured on an agreed-value basis with values reviewed regularly, and loan agreements often set out who must insure a work while it is away from its owner. Check that cover follows equipment and works in transit and at other venues, not just at your own premises. People are the other main exposure. WorkSafe's guidance on volunteers explains that volunteer workers are classed as workers, while casual volunteers are classed as other persons at a workplace, alongside visitors and customers, and organisations covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 must eliminate or minimise the risks to both, which for a performing company means rigging, lighting, stage machinery and get-ins. Volunteer accident cover matters because ACC weekly compensation is paid at up to 80% of earnings, which leaves little for retired or student volunteers who were not earning when injured. Rides or amusement devices at a festival bring their own requirements: WorkSafe advises organisers to use only operators who can demonstrate that the device is registered.
Why Use charityinsurance.co.nz?
charityinsurance.co.nz passes enquiries to Registered Financial Service Providers who place cover for not-for-profit organisations, including arts trusts, performing companies, galleries and festivals. A specialist will look at what you own, what you borrow, where you perform or exhibit and what your funders and venues require, and where the gaps are between your policies. Get a Quote and a specialist will be in touch within one business day.
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