Inside Out Theatre is an organization rooted in Deaf, Disability, and Mad culture, and committed to making theatre an accessible, collaborative, and community-led experience. Today, with the support of Calgary Foundation’s Impact Investing Program, the theatre is taking a major step forward: building The Erratics Indie Arts Club, a new and intentionally designed arts venue in Calgary’s Beltline neighbourhood.
Before you applied for the loan, what was Inside Out Theatre’s connection to Calgary Foundation?
Our programs have been supported by Calgary Foundation for several years through various granting streams. For The Erratics Indie Arts Club, a Major Grant served as our first confirmed capital campaign funding, which helped open doors to additional funders and donors. The Impact Loan became a natural next step in this growing relationship.
What made you choose Calgary Foundation’s Impact Investing Program, and why did a loan feel like the right fit for The Erratics Indie Arts Club?
The Impact Investing Program was our first choice for financing this project, as we knew Calgary Foundation would offer the flexibility that we need. Our financing conversations with Calgary Foundation started and ended with discussions about our mission and vision, not just our spreadsheets. Being able to talk about our programming, the stories we tell, and the benefits we bring to the community continues to reinforce that this loan is the right fit.
Did Inside Out Theatre run into any challenges trying to secure traditional financing?
We anticipated challenges with collateral and guarantees, so we decided not to pursue traditional lenders for this project. Working with Calgary Foundation makes us feel like we all share the same overall goal of building community – it’s a collaborative relationship.
How does the project you’re financing through the Impact Loan help move your mission forward and support the programs you deliver?
The Erratics Indie Arts Club allows us to take a major step forward as a leader and provider in the indie arts community. It creates a space where Deaf, Disabled, and Mad artists are not on the margins but at the center. Intentional design and equipment choices have made the back-of-house physically accessible, ensuring Disability is not a barrier to participating in production of professional-quality theatre. The Erratics allows us to dream bigger about what accessible, affordable arts infrastructure can make possible for the broader arts community.
What parts of the Impact Loan are most helpful for your organization?
The flexibility has been invaluable – especially being able to combine short‑term construction financing with longer‑term operational runway. The supportive relationship and mission‑first approach from Calgary Foundation make the process feel collaborative and human. It’s an effective, values‑focused way to finance this project.
What difference do you hope The Erratic Indie Arts Club will make for the people and communities you serve?
We hope it becomes a place where Deaf, Disabled, and Mad artists feel truly centered and supported. The venue is a physical expression of the cultural shift we have been working toward – one that recognizes Disability arts as rich, innovative, and artistically important. We also hope it gives the entire indie arts community a space built specifically for them.
Overall, how did borrowing from Calgary Foundation make a difference for your organization?
What felt like an impossible dream now feels possible. Without the Major Grant and the Impact Loan, we might still be imagining a future where we have control over our own accessible venue. Instead, we are building it – and building it in partnership with people who believe in our vision.
Col Cseke, Artistic & Executive Director, Inside Out Theatre