Creative Saskatchewan expands its grant eligibility guidelines
- EFN Staff | April 13, 2016
Creative Saskatchewan is pleased to announce a significant change to its policies that gives many organizations, for the first time, access to its grant programs. Previously, arts and culture organizations that received operational funding from either the Saskatchewan Arts Board or SaskCulture had not been permitted to apply to Creative Saskatchewan’s grant programs.
Effective immediately, that restriction has been lifted. The restriction had been part of Creative Saskatchewan’s grant guidelines since they were first created in 2013.
“I am pleased to see our provincial funding agencies working closely together with the goal of improving support to the province’s arts organizations,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Mark Docherty said. “This coordination reflects the growth of Creative Saskatchewan and is another example of how it is maturing into an even more responsive and effective organization.”
“When developing Creative Saskatchewan’s original grant programs we did not want to duplicate financial support that was already available from existing provincial agencies,” said Creative Saskatchewan Interim Board Chair Susan Whitney. “With a few years of operational experience behind us, and in close consultation with our colleagues at the Saskatchewan Arts Board and SaskCulture, we are now confident that lifting this particular restriction will allow us to fulfil our mandate even more effectively.”
“This change will be very well received by various organizations that receive operational funding through our agency,” said Michael Jones, CEO of the Saskatchewan Arts Board. “It will contribute to the success of these organizations and will ultimately strengthen our province’s arts community. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”
While this change in policy means many arts organizations now become newly eligible to apply for Creative Saskatchewan grants, proven commercial viability of every proposed project remains a critical component of all successful applications. Grants will continue to be awarded using criteria-based selection process that focuses on supporting commercial success.
Since the agency’s inception, nearly $15 million has been committed directly to creative producers in the province.
For more information on Creative Saskatchewan’s grants, please visit: www.creativesask.ca/pages/apply.html